1. Failure to understand the "theoretical basis" of criminal justice policies leads to at least two
undesirable consequences. List the two consequences. (1) If policy makers do not know the
theory on which their proposed policies are based, then they will be unaware of the problems
that are likely to undermine the success of the policies. (2) Criminal justice policies invariably
intrude on people’s lives (People are arrested and imprisoned).
2. "Classical Theory" of criminal justice is a product of the "Enlightenment Period" (The Age of
Reason, 1500-1700 A.D.). Prior to the Enlightenment Period, what was the general theory
based on? religious beliefs. The Enlightenment Thinkers assumed that human beings could
understand the world through science, or the human capacity to observe and to reason.
Classical criminologists, as Enlightenment Thinkers, were concerned with protecting the rights
of human kind from the corruption and excesses of the existing legal institutions. Please read
about the social contract in accordance with Cesare Beccaria on Page 63.
3. We have two different types of "deterrence" concepts: Special or Specific Deterrence and
General Deterrence. What is meant by "General Deterrence?" (1) Enact laws that are clear,
simple, unbiased and reflect the consensus of the population. (2) To educate the public.
4. In "Neo-Classical Theory", what was introduced in this theory? (Hint: There are two
different concepts introduced. List both concepts). is the introduction and assumption of “Free
Will.” It was conceded that factors such as insanity might inhibit the exercise of free will.
Therefore, the idea of premeditation was introduced as a measure of the degree of free will
exercised.
5. In reference to the "Positivist Approach," there was an explicit rejection of the critical and
negative philosophy of the Enlightenment Thinkers. What is Auguste Comte credited with the
founding of? (Hint: One Word). Sociology.
(1) 6. There are five problems with "Positivism". In a very concise (short) version, please
list all five problems associated with "Positivism". Overprediction. Accounts for too
much crime and does not explain exceptions very well. For example, this theory
suggests crime is caused by poverty. That is an overprediction because not all poor
people commit crimes.
(2) It ignores the criminalization process, meaning the process by which certain behavior
are made illegal.
(3) Consensual world overview. Meaning the belief that most people agree most of the
time about what is good and bad and right and wrong. But, this belief ignores the
multitude of fundamental conflicts of value and interest in society. It also leads to a
blind acceptance of the status quo. (4) The belief in Determinism. The idea that choice
of acting is not free but is determined by causes independent of a person’s will.
Positivists assume that humans only adapt or react but humans also create. (5) The
ability of the social scientists to be objective or value-neutral Positivists fail to recognize
that to describe and evaluate human actions as criminal behavior is fundamentally a
moral endeavor and subject to bias.
7. In reference to "Biological Theories", please provide the definition of "Biological Theory".
Physiologically different from non-criminals.
8. In Cesare Lombroso's "Criminal Anthropology Theory," what is the time period that this
theory was widely popular in the United States? (Hint: From what year to what year). 1876.
9. Also in Cesare Lombroso's "Criminal Anthropology Theory," there are five different aspects
that Lombroso associated with this theory. Please list three of the five aspects associated with
the "Criminal Anthropology Theory." theory was popular in the United States until 1915.
10. An extension of Lombroso's "Criminal Anthropology Theory" was published by
William Sheldon in the 1940's called the "Body-Type Theory." William Sheldon argued
that humans can be divided into three basic body types. Please list all three body types
that William Sheldon defined in his argument.
(1) Endomorphic, or soft.
(2) Mesomorphic, or athletically built.
(3) Ectomorphic, or tall and skinny.