NAME: PACHECO YUANNE B.

SECTION: D016

Discuss classical theory according to Cesare Beccaria; explain difference between classical
theory and neo-classical theory.

The new era, ushered in by the Enlightenment thinkers, there are five schools of
thoughts that discuss with different philosophers the first one is classic school, Cesare Beccaria
became known as the Father of Classical Criminology. Cesare Beccaria in full Cesare Bonesana,
marchese (marquess) di Beccaria, he was born at March 15, 1738 in Milan, Italy he was also
died at November 28, 1794, Milan). Classical crime theory, especially according to Beccaria, is
based on the assumption that people are free of will and thus completely responsible for their
own actions, and that they also have the ability to rationally weigh up their abilities. Crime is
therefore the result of free and rational decisions of the acting individuals. Beccaria claimed
that although most criminals are punished based upon an assessment of their criminal intent,
they should also be punished based on their crimes that they did he also said that should be
deterrence rather than retribution, and punishment should impose. In Neo-Classical school or
theory (Schmalleger, 2011) stated that humans are creatures guided by reason, possessing free
will, therefore responsible for their crimes and can be controlled by fear of punishment. In
other words the difference between Classical theory and Neo-classical theory of criminology is
that Neo-Classical and classical theory takes an account contextual circumstances of the
individual or situation that allows for increase or decrease in the punishment.