CMY3701 – The Explanation of Crime | Assignment 1
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
Department of Criminology and Security Science
CMY3701 – THE EXPLANATION OF CRIME
COMPLETE SOLUTION RECENTLY UPDATED
(PASS GUARANTEE)
ASSIGNMENT 1
Unique Number: [INSERT UNIQUE NUMBER]
Student Name: [Your Full Name]
Student Number: [Your Student Number]
Submission Date: [Date of Submission]
Page 1 of 6
, CMY3701 – The Explanation of Crime | Assignment 1
1. INTRODUCTION
Criminology, as a multidisciplinary field of study, seeks to understand the nature, causes,
extent, and control of criminal behaviour in society. The explanation of crime has been a
central concern for criminologists, sociologists, psychologists, and legal scholars alike.
CMY3701 – The Explanation of Crime invites students to critically engage with the major
theoretical frameworks that have been developed to explain why individuals engage in
criminal behaviour and why crime is unevenly distributed across society.
This assignment focuses on classical and positivist criminological theories, with particular
emphasis on how these perspectives explain criminal behaviour. The assignment further
critically evaluates the relevance of these theories in the South African context, where
crime remains a significant social challenge.
2. CLASSICAL CRIMINOLOGY
2.1 Overview and Origins
Classical criminology emerged during the Enlightenment period of the 18th century as a
reaction against the arbitrary and often brutal system of justice that was prevalent in Europe
at the time. Two key thinkers who shaped classical criminology are Cesare Beccaria (1738–
1794) and Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832). Their work laid the foundation for a rational,
humane, and systematic approach to crime and punishment.
Beccaria, in his seminal work On Crimes and Punishments (1764), argued that punishment
should be proportional to the crime committed, and that its primary purpose should be
deterrence rather than retribution. He advocated for swift, certain, and proportionate
punishment as the most effective means of preventing crime.
2.2 Core Assumptions of Classical Theory
Page 2 of 6
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
Department of Criminology and Security Science
CMY3701 – THE EXPLANATION OF CRIME
COMPLETE SOLUTION RECENTLY UPDATED
(PASS GUARANTEE)
ASSIGNMENT 1
Unique Number: [INSERT UNIQUE NUMBER]
Student Name: [Your Full Name]
Student Number: [Your Student Number]
Submission Date: [Date of Submission]
Page 1 of 6
, CMY3701 – The Explanation of Crime | Assignment 1
1. INTRODUCTION
Criminology, as a multidisciplinary field of study, seeks to understand the nature, causes,
extent, and control of criminal behaviour in society. The explanation of crime has been a
central concern for criminologists, sociologists, psychologists, and legal scholars alike.
CMY3701 – The Explanation of Crime invites students to critically engage with the major
theoretical frameworks that have been developed to explain why individuals engage in
criminal behaviour and why crime is unevenly distributed across society.
This assignment focuses on classical and positivist criminological theories, with particular
emphasis on how these perspectives explain criminal behaviour. The assignment further
critically evaluates the relevance of these theories in the South African context, where
crime remains a significant social challenge.
2. CLASSICAL CRIMINOLOGY
2.1 Overview and Origins
Classical criminology emerged during the Enlightenment period of the 18th century as a
reaction against the arbitrary and often brutal system of justice that was prevalent in Europe
at the time. Two key thinkers who shaped classical criminology are Cesare Beccaria (1738–
1794) and Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832). Their work laid the foundation for a rational,
humane, and systematic approach to crime and punishment.
Beccaria, in his seminal work On Crimes and Punishments (1764), argued that punishment
should be proportional to the crime committed, and that its primary purpose should be
deterrence rather than retribution. He advocated for swift, certain, and proportionate
punishment as the most effective means of preventing crime.
2.2 Core Assumptions of Classical Theory
Page 2 of 6
