Respond to one of the essay prompts below:
1. Classical criminology placed great emphasis on punishment being a deterrent to criminal behavior. Is that the belief of the criminal justice system? Do we punish known offenders to deter them or society from wanting to commit crime? Or is there another purpose for punishment? Beccaria and Bentham indicated the need for a balance between pleasure and pain. Why not make all crimes punishable by death? Would that not be the ultimate deterrent?
2. There have been more than 140 people exonerated from death rows across the United States. What impact would the use of DNA analysis have upon capital cases in the future? Would people across the United States change their opinion about capital punishment because of this?
3. What is the history of biological theory in contemporary criminology? Utilize the text, lectures, and outside sources, particularly the Park Online Library.
4. Some biological theorists claimed to have identified a relationship between body type and criminal behavior. Might there be any truth to such claims? If so, how can we be sure? Utilize the text, lectures, and outside sources, particularly the Park Online Library.
