Summary Of Cesare Bonesana's Deterrence Theory

Cesare Bonesana is mostly known for the classical criminology. His work was based on a kind of free-will rationalistic hedonism. Deterrence theory of crime is to deject an individual from doing something bad through terror or hesitation, the prevention of crime. Two basic types of deterrence are general and specific. General deterrence is to stop a specific criminal from appealing in repeat crime, for example driving under the influence. Specific deterrence is the criminal punishing to stop a specific criminal from appealing in a repeat crime. One key assumption of deterrence theory is self-interest which is the knowledge that an occasion will most likely not take place unless the individual have a feeling they will value from it. Beccaria

wrote on Crimes and Punishment stating that the purpose of punishment should be deterrence, rather than retribution, and that such punishment should be swift, should fit the crime, and should be certain. He believed that punishment should always be equal to the seriousness of offenses. Offenders than would be deterred meaning it would lead them to avoid committing crimes in the future. Deterrence theory was one of the theories that made the criminal justice more logical and rational.

Bonesana had eight great ideas to make the criminal justice system effective which the first one was he explain the crime should be to define crimes and know the specific punishment of each crime. The second one was that he believe the judges should be to determine guilt saying that they should have no discretion. The third one was the seriousness of the crime is determine of the cause of the society. Next one he believe that the punishment should be equal to the seriousness of the crime. The following one he said that punishment is unjust when severity exceeds what is necessary to achieve deterrence. The sixth one he believe that excessive severity not only failed but it was increasing the crime rate. After that one he said that punishment should be more prompt meaning that the punishment should be more closely to the crime and it will be useful. Finally the last one is that he believe the punishment should be certain. He also believed that the laws should be published so people can know what they are. The main argument for deterrence theory many people trust that individuals don’t commit criminalities because they are scared of getting in

trouble. It’s called rational choice theory which we as humans have. People that chose to commit crime are usually people that need personal need, mental personal need, mental state, lack of legitimate economic alternatives. There are 3 types of deterrence research that Nagin came up with which the first one is that they target specific types of crime, for example drunk driving which they have certain checkpoints for that. The second type is they involve surveys which individuals are asked about their views of being punished for crimes and if they actually committed the crime or just envisioned to. The last type is they examine the criminal justice rules in different powers and the crimes rates to see if there is a deterrent effect which they are pretty much comparing and contrasting. At the end, there’s no way to measure the amount of effective deterrence but it does decrease the crime rates. We learned that certainty, severity, swiftness decreases crimes.
A great scenario to apply the deterrence theory will be two kids trying to steal a corner store.

They were both walking back from the park when one of the kid name Bob decide to steal the corner store since none of them had money to buy anything. As they got closer to the store, one of the kid name Greg decide to back off the plan because he thought of the punishment of committing the crime that would happen to him if he committed it. As Bob didn’t really care because the punishment of the crime didn’t really fear him but did fear for Greg. As the other kid left, Bob that did committed the crime end up getting arrested and book into jails about 4 months. The punishment he got was certainty, severity and swiftness. Later, when he gotten out of jail he didn’t commit any more crimes in the future because he feared the punishment now that would happen to him if he commits another crime. So when you know the punishment of the crime, you fear for it so you won’t commit it. That’s how most crimes decreases because the fear of the punishment. You also have to think to yourself about committing the crime worth it? Does it benefit you or not? Another great scenario for deterrence theory is driving past the speed limit. Knowing what can be the punishment for driving over the speed limit may slow people down to drive the speed limit because you are fear of the punishment because maybe you don’t want to deal with a ticket or the police in your face. For example, I’m driving to Dixie

State University on a Friday morning to my 10am class which I’m already late and the drive is about 20 minutes. As I’m driving to Dixie I decided to drive a little faster because I’m already late and I know that the speed limit is 35 which I’m going at a 50 speed and I get pulled over as I pull up to the school. The officer gives me a big ticket for driving past the speed limit and for driving recklessly. As I come out to find out the ticket fine is about 2,000 dollars. So the next time I’m driving, I’m making sure I’m driving the speed limit because I know what the punishment can be for driving over the speed limit now so I fear for committing the crime. Another great example is drunk driving. The one commercial saying that the police are watching you everywhere when you are driving under the influence. The police appears to be hiding behind the walls and the side of the street. Anywhere you drive the police are there watching you. The whole point of this commercial is to stop people from driving under the influence. It’s to fear people that police are actually watching you everywhere so you won’t drive under the influence. Also the commercial gives a message saying is it worth driving under the influence when the police are everywhere. It’s not worth driving under the influence when you know the police are watching you everywhere. Here is the link to that commercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCNxgzZac80 . We use deterrence theory for pretty much everything in the criminal world. We want people to fear for the punishment so they won’t commit any crimes. I think deterrence theory actually does help because it decreases the crime rates.