Crime and punishment

No one knows why crime occurs. The oldest theory, based on theology and ethics, is that criminals are perverse persons who deliberately commit crimes or who do so at the instigation of the devil or other evil spirits.

A more sophisticated theory - a biological one - was developed late in the 19th century by the Italian criminologist Cesare Lombroso, who asserted that crime were committed by person who are born with certain recognizable hereditary physical traits.

Another approach to an explanation of crime was initiated by the French political philosopher Montesquieu, who attempted to relate criminal behavior to natural, or physical environment.

Many prominent criminologists of the 19th century, particularly those associated with the Socialist movement, attributed crime mainly to the influence of poverty. They pointed out that person who is unable to provide adequately for himself and his family through normal legal channels are frequently drive into theft, burglary, prostitution and other offences.

The final major group of theories is psychological and psychiatric. Studies by such 20th century investigators have indicated that about one-forth of a typical convict population is psychotic, neurotic, or emotionally unstable and another one-fourth is mentally deficient.

Since the mid-20th century, the notion that crime can be explained by any single theory has fallen into disfavor among investigators. Instead, experts incline to so-called multiple factor, or multiple causation theories. They reason that crime springs from a multiplicity of conflicting and converging influences - biological, psychological, cultural, economic and political.

The multiple causation explanations seem more credible than the earlier, simpler theories. An understanding of the causes of crime is still elusive, however, because the interrelationship of causes is difficult to determine. Punishment describes the imposition by some authority of a deprivation - usually painful - on a person who has violated a law, a rule, or other norm. When the violation is of the criminal law of society there is a formal process of accusation and proof followed by imposition of a sentence by a designated official. Informally, any organized group - most typically the family, may punish perceived wrongdoers.

Because punishment is both painful and guilt producing, its application calls for justification. There are four basic justifications have been given retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, and incapacitation.

Criminal sentences ordinarily embrace four basic modes of punishment. In descending order of severity these are: incarceration, community supervision, fine, and restitution. The death penalty is now possible only for certain types of atrocious murder and treason.

Punishment is an ancient practice whose presence in modern cultures may appear to be out of place because it purposefully inflicts pain. In the minds of most people, however, it continues to find justification.

I. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What are the theories explaining the reasons of crime?

2. In your opinion, what does “punishment” mean?

3. What kind of punishment do you know?

4. What are four basic justifications?

5. How do you understand the purpose of state punishment?

6. How should state punishment be organized?

II. Дайте русские эквиваленты:

perceived wrongdoer, death penalty, to inflict pain, to find justification, a designated official

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