SOCL 3371 Chapter : Chapter 3 Notes
Document Summary
Justice and law differ and change according to societal norms, cultural shifts, and. Codes of conduct have been around for centuries. Barbaric punishments and strange trials were common in early world history. People accused of crime often faced trial by ordeal. Outcome rested in hands of god; if you passed test/survived stoning. New age of reason: you"re probably innocent. Age of enlightenment: new ways of thinking. Classical school: critiqued the existing approach to law and punishment. Citizens should be willing to sacrifice a minimum amount of liberty to help prevent anarchy and chaos. For punishment, it should be certain, swift, and proportional. Believed free will, logic, and rationality were central in decisions to commit crime. Promoted the idea of deterrence and establishing punishments proportional to the crime. Believed it was better to prevent crimes than to punish. Specific deterrence: directed toward the individual offender to stop bad behavior. It may be accomplished through restitution or incapacitation.
