Cesare Beccaria's work

Cesare Beccaria was an Italian philosopher and criminologist who, in the 18th century, published "On Crimes and Punishments." He argued against torture and the death penalty, advocating for a justice system based on reason and fairness. Beccaria believed that laws should deter crime rather than punish individuals harshly, emphasizing the importance of due process and legal rights. His ideas laid the groundwork for modern criminal justice, promoting the principle that punishment should fit the crime, serve a societal purpose, and focus on rehabilitation rather than retribution. His work influenced Enlightenment thinking and reform movements across Europe.