Personally, I think that the positivist school of thought has influenced the criminal justice system the most. I say this due to its emphasis on scientific evidence and data in understanding criminal behavior. I think that this approach allows for more objective and effective strategies in crime prevention and rehabilitation. "This school posits that human behavior is determined by forces beyond individual control and that it is possible to measure those forces" (Adler, 2019). Unlike the classical school who views crime as stemming from rational choice, "the positivist school views criminal behavior stemming from biological, psychological, and social factors" (Adler, 2019). All of those things bring me back mentally to my other classes where I learned nature vs nurture and how criminal behavior can stem from both of those.
For example, if you are brought up in a household where there is drugs, and you see your parents or siblings commit crime, you are abused physically, mentally and emotionally, you are more likely to do the same things as an adult because it's all you know, it's what you were raised in as opposed to someone who grew up in a loving and caring environment with structure, empathy, communication and understanding. I also think it has a lot to do with who you hang around, which brings in the social factors. If you are hanging around people who are doing crime, you are more likely do commit crime as well. If you hang around people who don't commit crime and are positive people, then you are more likely to not commit crime and be a good member of society. These are just some examples of why I think that the positivist school of thought has influenced the criminal justice system the most.
The positivist school of thought helps to reduce crime rates by focusing on the root causes of crime, like social factors as well as personal circumstances. This allows for prevention strategies. Another way is through rehabilitation. Positivism believes that people can change, so it promotes treatment and rehab programs to help offenders reintegrate into society, depending on the crime that was committed.
References:
Adler, F. (20210219). Criminology, 10th Edition. [[VitalSource Bookshelf version]]. Retrieved from vbk://9781264169658
In your responses to your peers, consider how well they justified their positions, making use of available resources. Consider the following questions in your response post:
- Did they support their position convincingly using appropriate resources?
- Which of their points make the most sense to you, even if you made a case for the opposing viewpoint?