“while we read history we make it”… G.W. Curtis (1842-1892)

The History and Pioneers of Criminology

Roots of Criminological Theory

Karl Popper: “Theories are the nets cast to catch the world, to rationalize, to explain, and to master it”

two schools of criminological thought…

all theories can trace their influence/roots

CLASSICAL vs. POSITIVIST

Roots of Social Reform

Basis of ‘all’ Criminological Theory

Response to harsh retributive punishment (Dark Ages)

Wergild - 1st victim compensation

Ordeals – duals to the death

Oath-helpers: testify your innocence

… punishment harsh, often brutal, and inconsistent

CLASSICAL… period of Enlightment

Cesare Becarria (1734-1794) - Box 4.1

“On crimes and punishment” in 1764 (age 26)

sought naturalistic explanations

FOUR Grand Principles:

Equality “lei-motiv”

Liberty

… nullum crimen sin lege

… nulla poena sine lege

… “social contract” J.J. Rousseau

Utilitarianism “greatest good”

… certainty, severity, & swiftness

Humanitarianism – death penalty?

Evaluation of the Classical School:Enduring influence –Canadian social/criminal justice policyEmerged during time of turmoilIntuitive based (heuristic)/ unverifiable? Role of motivation

Importance of: conflict, law, economy = theory

Work influenced: Voltaire, J. Bentham, J. Howard, E. Kant

Concept of deterrence: (Box 4.3)

… social cost – commitment cost, attachment costs, and stigma

Jeremy Bentham “felicitous calculus” - math and greatest happiness for the … number (Box 4.2)premise of free-will…specific: individualgeneral: future criminality… evaluations - inconclusive… ? Commitment/attachment, cost, and stigma

Neo-classical School

Rossi (I), Gerrad, & Joly (Fr)…

flexibility into legal system (discretion)

intro subjective element (soft-determinism)

rational choice theory

French Revolution (1791) and French Penal Code of 1812

Canadian legal system

! Singapore - swift & certain (flogging)

? Role of corporal punishmentvon Hirsch “just deserts” modelP. Erhlich & W. Bonger - economic theoryH. Becker - labellingC. Cornich - rational choiceA.Cohen & M. Felson - RAT!!Risk of punishment as a deterrentNeo-classical approach and plea bargainSUMMARYSocial contract, deterrence, and plea bargain

Scientific School/Positivist

Adolphe Quetelet & Michel Guerryschool of CARTOLOGY… social statistics… crime is a product of social conditions (Environment)CPTEDPOSITIVISM… the role of determinism and scienceCesare Lombroso, R. Garafalo, E. Ferrithe “holy three”

Father of Modern CriminologyAtavism… born criminal vs. occasional criminal, insane, and criminal by passion… first to write about the female offenderEnduring influence on criminology… sociobiology (Sarnoff Mednick)… biopsychology (C.R. Jeffery)… bio-environmental (Adrian Raine)… evolutive theory (Lee Ellis)Concept of parens patriae

Law vs. Science

Classicism = retribution and revenge

Positivism = reform and rehabilitation

… study Figure 4-1

? best of both worlds… possible

integration interdisciplinary approach

CRIMINOLOGY AT WORK

Pioneers in criminal justice

PRISON REFORM:

Alexander Maconochie (1787-1860)

… Australia and penal reforms (rights)

… prisoners earn all they receive

… prison industries (e.g., chain gangs, building owe institutions, farming, etc…)

!not punish but serve out their punishment

John Howard (1726-1790) – J.H. Society

… classification & vocational training

… humane treatment & constructive work

LAW ENFORCEMENT:

Sir Robert Peel - prime minister

formalized policing Uniforms and discipline

community policing… foundation today

Key principles of conduct Use minimal force, impartial service of law,

efficiency is an absence of crime!

LEGAL REFORM:

Charles Doe - criminal responsibility

Pedro Montereo - train lawyers & judges in social sciences

Issac Ray

… mitigating circumstances

… expert testimony (insanity, forensics, DNA)

… one of the founders of APA

Criminalistics…

Alphonse Bertillon – anthropometryHans Gross – Austrian School and victimology Modus operandi

Marc Ansel – social defence… UN’s stand in 1948…protection over punishment… respect breeds responsibility (Box 4.17)

Prevention as a School of Thought:Oscar Newman – modify the environmentC.R. Jeffery – interaction of biology, behaviour, and environmentproactive vs. reactive process… Police - ‘geoprofiling’, target hardening… address the OPPORTUNITY (real or perceived) to prevent… “fixing broken windows”

“Canadian” Pioneers (Appendix 4)

Making their mark…

Denise Szabo (1929-…)

“father of Canadian criminology”

psychological and historical context

criminology and criminal policy are inseparable

Ezzat Fattah (1929-…)lawyer and Austrian School (victimology)Against the death penaltyAmnesty Internationalrestorative justiceGwynne Nettler (1913-…) - U of Abridge psychology and sociology“Explaining crime” ‘74!Always prepared to challenge existing ideas of justice and explanations

Tadeusz Grygier (1915-…) – Ottawa

Influenced by life experience – Gulag

Social protection code – mercy, fairness, & understanding

Champion of sentencing reform

James Hackler (1930-…)“doing less is probably better than doing more!”orientation ‘left-realism’comparative work in youth justicestrong concern for humanityAndre Normandeau (1942-…)Empirical criminologySellin’s index of crimeBlends European and N.A. ideas

Paul and Pat Brantinghams

… environmental criminology

new emerging pioneers such as:

… R. Menzies, A. Doob, M. LeBlanc, R. Trembley...

SUMMARY

History of criminology is diverse and complex

Two major schools of thought

Most theories trace their roots to either Classical or Positivist ideas

Disciplines calls for an integrated and interdisciplinary approach

Canadian ‘pioneers’ making their mark

Had enough for this week?