Cesare Beccaria Darshan XXIX9

Brief Introduction Full name: Cesare Bonesana-Beccaria, Marquis of Gualdrasco and Villareggio Born: Milan, Habsburg Empire, March 1738 Died: Milan, Habsburg Empire, March 1794 Age: 56 Cesare Beccaria

Occupation: Jurist, philosopher, politician, and criminologist Great thinker during Enlightenment Famous work: On Crimes and Punishments (1764) Critized tortured and dead penalty Father of penology and criminal justice Brief Introduction Cesare Beccaria

Reforming the criminal justice system: Formed an intellectual circle called “The Academy of Fists” Influenced by brothers Pietro and Alessandro Verri Alessandro- official of a prison Pietro- writing about history of torture Both provided first hand experience and sources to Beccaria Also influenced by Montesquieu and Helvétius Where His Idea Come From Cesare Beccaria

Dei delitti e delle pene Protest against: Torture Inconsistency and inequality of sentencing Using personal connections or money to get a lighter sentence Use capital punishment for minor crimes Translated into many languages

Cesare Beccaria Beccaria’s Ideas Social Contract Individuals agreed to surrender some freedom to the government in exchange for protection of their remaining rights Punishment is justified to defend social contract Utility (Utilitarianism) Pursue Maximum Happiness Punishment selected should be that which serves the greatest public good.

Cesare Beccaria Beccaria’s Ideas Punishment should be equal to the harm done Punishment should increase the total amount of happiness in the world -prevent criminals from making the same mistakes -punishment is for creating a better society probability of punishments prevent future crimes, not its severity Criminal convictions should be public, no torture Punishment should be prompt

Cesare Beccaria Effect of His Works Put forth some of the first arguments against the death penalty and reform of the criminal law system 1. It’s not useful and not necessary 2. A country have no right to take a man’s life Created Classical Criminology and Rational choice theory Scholars and European leaders hailed and followed it

Cesare Beccaria Other Beccaria’s Ideas Economics Influenced by Montesquieu Wanted to reform the economy in Milan because it was in disorder Religion Accepted all religion People should be allowed to follow their own religion Women’s Rights Women deserved rights Can serve as witness in court

Cesare Beccaria Other Beccaria’s Ideas Education A method to prevent children from involving into criminal activities when they grow up War Violence of war was partially influenced by death penalty Gun Control Against gun control laws

Fin

References Beccaria, Cesare. On Crimes and Punishments Print. Anonymous. Cesare Beccaria. New World Encyclopedia < New International Encyclopedia - Beccaria, Cesare Bonesano. Dodd, Mead and Company Print. Bessler,John. The Birth of American Law: An Italian Philosopher and the American Revolution. Carolina Academic Press Print. Hemmens,Craig and Stephen G. Tibbetts. Criminological Theory: A Text/Reader. SAGE Publications, Inc Print.