Who were Classical Theorists?

Classical theorists were primarily lawyers and philosophers who focused on reforming criminal laws during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Their work laid the foundation for modern criminology by emphasizing rationality, free will, and the idea that individuals make choices based on the potential benefits and consequences of their actions. This perspective led to significant reforms in criminal justice systems, advocating for a more humane treatment of offenders and the introduction of proportional punishment.

The classical school of thought is often associated with key figures such as Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham, who argued against arbitrary punishment and for the idea that laws should be clear and known to the public. They believed that people are rational actors who weigh the costs and benefits of their actions, leading to the conclusion that punishment should serve as a deterrent to crime rather than as a tool for revenge.

In contrast, the other choices reflect different fields of study. Psychologists focus on the individual mental processes that may lead to criminal behavior, sociologists analyze broader social patterns and structures that influence crime, and investigators carry out fieldwork to gather empirical data about crime and criminal behavior. Each of these fields contributes to a comprehensive understanding of crime, but they do not align with the foundational concepts advocated by