Question

Identify the correct statements related to the Positive School of Criminology. A. It placed reliance on free-will theory of criminology as an explanation of crime.
B. It rejected legal definition of crime and preferred sociological definition, explaining crime in terms of biological determination.
C. The main exponents were Lombroso, Ferri and Garofalo.
D. It laid greater emphasis on personality of the offender rather than his criminal act.
E. It believed in deterrent and definite punishment for each offence. Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, B & C Only
• B. A, D & E Only
• C. B, C & D Only
• D. A, C & E Only

Hint:

Positive School focuses on the criminal and causes of crime, whereas Classical School focuses on punishment for the crime.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept:

• The Positive School (Italian School) emerged in the 19th century as a reaction to the Classical School.
• It shifted the focus from the crime (the act) to the criminal (the person).
• It utilized scientific methods (biology, sociology, psychology) to study the causes of crime.

Step 1: Evaluate Statement A and E
Reliance on "free-will" and "deterrent/definite punishment" are the core tenets of the Classical School (Beccaria). The Positive School believed in Determinism (that factors beyond a person's control cause crime), not free-will. Thus, A and E are incorrect.

Step 2: Evaluate Statement B
Positivists rejected the purely legal definition of crime. They looked for "natural" or "social" definitions and used biological factors (Lombroso's atavism) to explain behavior. Thus, B is correct.

Step 3: Evaluate Statement C
The Positive School was founded by the "Holy Trinity" of criminology: Cesare Lombroso (Biological focus), Enrico Ferri (Sociological focus), and Raffaele Garofalo (Psychological/Legal focus). Thus, C is correct.

Step 4: Evaluate Statement D
A major contribution of this school was the shift of emphasis from the "crime" to the "criminal." They believed in treating the offender's personality/condition rather than just punishing the act. Thus, D is correct.

Step 5: Final Selection
Statements B, C, and D are correct. This leads to option (C).