Deterrence, Theory of

The theory of deterrence attempts to answer one of the most fundamental questions concerning crime: Why do individuals commit criminal and/or deviant acts? Deterrence theory attempts to answer this question by examining the choices and subsequent actions of the offender. Deterrence theory has its roots in the historical evolution of crime and punishment.

Judicial systems within feudal states were ruthless in their approach to crime control. During the Middle Ages and into the late 1700s, judicial representatives often punished criminals in an extremely harsh manner with little concern for the circumstances surrounding the act. The goal of the punishment during this time period was to punish all criminals so brutally that the criminal and others witnessing the punishment would not commit similar acts. This approach to punishment was effective in terms of preventing the accused from committing further criminal acts because the offender was often killed or incapacitated. However, this approach to handling crime was not effective at preventing future crime by other individuals.

During the late 18 th century, scholars began to recognize this shortcoming, and began to recognize the need for reform that would eliminate the long-standing injustices present in the justice system. These changes largely came through the writings of two classical criminologists—Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham.

Cesare Beccaria was a visionary scholar in that he recognized the torturous and biased way that justice was being administered during his time. Beccaria subsequently pioneered discourse that guides the justice system to this day. His seminal work, On Crimes and Punishment, was published in 1776 and has since been recognized as the founding doctrine for what scholars now label deterrence theory.

The ideas that Beccaria discussed in On Crimes and Punishment were simple, yet groundbreaking for his era. The general idea that Beccaria outlined in his work was that crime and deviance occur when the potential positive rewards for committing a certain act outweigh the potential negative consequences. Since Beccaria's time, the theory has advanced and evolved as societies have [Page 456]experienced social change, and it is now one of the most researched and cited theories in criminology.

The theory of deterrence has been widely used in the field of criminology to conduct research on various types of deviant acts. The deviant acts that have been examined in the past range from speeding to homicide. In addition to being used in academe, the theory of deterrence has gained popularity among politicians, criminal justice practitioners, and criminal justice policy makers.