On Crimes and Punishments and Other Writings

Published in 1764, On Crimes and Punishments by Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794) was greeted with much attention and debate in Europe and North America. Intellectuals and rulers alike commended the work and looked to it for ideas that might help guide the various reform projects of the day. The equality of every citizen before the law, the right to a fair trial, the abolition of the death penalty, and the elimination of the use of torture in criminal interrogations are but a few of the fundamental concepts articulated by Beccaria." "This volume provides a new English translation of Beccaria's classic treatise as well as responses by a number of his contemporaries. Of particular interest is Voltaire's commentary on Beccaria's text, included in its entirety. The supplementary materials testify not only to the power and significance of Beccaria's ideas, but to their controversial nature. While many supporters proclaimed that the work established principles of enduring importance to any society grappling with matters of political and criminal justice, a number of critics roundly denounced it, fearing that the book's attack on feudal traditions and its call to separate law from religion (and thus crime from sin) would result in political instability and undermine the longstanding privileges and powers of church and state." "Long appreciated as a foundational text in criminology, Beccaria's arguments still resonate with current debates over capital punishment, political torture, and human rights abuses. This splendid new translation brings Beccaria's influential work to a wider audience, while providing important historical and political context.