Q

QuestionCriminal Justice

Classical criminology is a theoretical approach to understanding crime developed in the 18th century by philosophers like Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham. Its key principles include: - Rational choice theory - Punishment as a deterrent - Emphasis on free will - Belief that individuals make conscious decisions about criminal behavior

Option A: "It relies too much on empirical evidence" - This is NOT a valid criticism - Classical criminology actually LACKS extensive empirical evidence - The theory is more philosophical and based on rational reasoning Option B: "It ignores the role of societal factors in crime" - This IS a valid criticism - Classical criminology focuses on individual rational choice - It minimizes the impact of social, economic, and environmental influences on criminal behavior - Later theories like social learning theory and strain theory would address these limitations Option C: "It promotes rehabilitation over punishment" - This is INCORRECT - Classical criminology emphasizes punishment as a deterrent - The primary goal is to create a rational system of punishment to discourage crime - Rehabilitation was not a primary focus of this approach Option D: "None of the above" - This is false, as Option B is a valid criticism

The correct answer is B. Classical criminology ignores the role of societal factors in crime.