Beccaria argued that punishment should never be excessive, because overly harsh punishment can push offenders to take further, more extreme actions to avoid being caught and punished for the initial crime. Effective deterrence instead depends on punishment being swift and certain: it is the certainty of being punished, not the severity of the punishment, that most effectively prevents crime.

Beccaria's Principle of Swift and Certain Punishment

- Specific reforms desired by Beccaria - Punishment should not be excessive, since excessive punishment breeds more crime as offenders take further, more extreme actions to avoid consequences for the first crime - Punishment should be swift and certain - It is the certainty of punishment, not its severity, that most effectively prevents crime - Everyone should be equal in the eyes of the law - Judges should only determine guilt, not interpret or make the law - Legislatures alone make the laws

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- Authority (government, legislatures, kings) had too much power in granting punishment when crimes were committed (Death penalty and torture were abused)
- Laws/Punishment are not a deterrent if the populace are not aware of them
- Need reforms to the criminal justice system
- Introduced Rational Choice Theory into Criminology

Cesare Beccaria Contributions to Classical Criminology

Other Contributions from Cesare Beccaria

Rational choice theory in criminology holds that criminal behavior results from a rational cost-benefit calculation: an individual chooses to commit a crime when they believe the potential benefits (rewards) of the act outweigh its potential costs (repercussions, such as detection or punishment).

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