Question

Describe how you think Beccaria would react to our current criminal justice system’s high incarceration, use of the death penalty, incarceration of mentally ill, and racial and social class disparities.

Answer 1

Beccaria is a person who is related with criminology. He is also considered as the father of modern criminal law. He is known for his deep insights in the field of criminal justice. He says that social construct plays an important role in a person's life.

Rational people can not remain alone. They choose society for living purpose. He says that if society remains filled with criminal activities then rational people prefer to move out from that society. There remains a need to control crime.

Crime can be controlled through punishing criminals. If punishment can reform criminals then only it can be considered as meaningful. Punishment should not be given in a random fashion. It should have a motive.

It should be able to protect society from ill impacts of crime. His ideals became the main pillars for framing of various criminal laws and regulations. He also emphasized on the swiftness of punishment. He discussed the importance of certainty in punishment.

In present scenarios his ideals seem very much effective. Today is a need to fix time for solution of criminal case. Justice delayed is justice denied. People should be able to get justice in stipulated time frame.

Violent punishment can not restrict crime. Certainty of punishment reduces crime rates. Responsibilities of authorities should be fixed then only harmony in criminal justice can be ensured.