You are at a public lecture in 1700s Italy. The speaker argues that the goal of the criminal justice system should be to prevent future crimes by individuals who have already been caught and by members of the broader society who might contemplate committing a crime. Who is the likely speaker?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cesare Beccaria, an Italian criminologist, jurist, philosopher, and politician, is best known for his treatise "On Crimes and Punishments" (1764), where he argued that the purpose of the criminal justice system should be to prevent crime for the benefit of society and to deter others from committing similar offenses, rather than to exact retribution. This makes him the likely speaker in the scenario.

You Are at a Public Lecture in 1700s Italy