2010, ISBN: 9781904380634

In eighteenth century continental Europe penal law was barbaric. Gallows were a regular feature of the landscape, branding and mutilation common and there existed the ghastly spectacle of… Mehr…

In eighteenth century continental Europe penal law was barbaric. Gallows were a regular feature of the landscape, branding and mutilation common and there existed the ghastly spectacle of men being broken on the wheel. To make matters worse, people were often tortured or put to death (sometimes both) for minor crimes and often without any trial at all. Like a bombshell a book entitled On Crimes and Punishments exploded onto the scene in 1764 with shattering effect. Its author was a young nobleman named Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794). A central message of that-now classic-work was that such punishments belonged to 'a war of nations against their citizens' and should be abolished. It was a cri de coeur for thorough reform of the law affecting punishments and it swept across the continent of Europe like wildfire, being adopted by one ruler after another. It even crossed the Atlantic to the new United States of America into the hands of President Thomas Jefferson. In a wonderful sentence which concludes Beccaria's book, he sums up matters as follows: In order that every punishment may not be an act of violence, committed by one man or by many against a single individual, it ought to be above all things public, speedy, necessary, the least possible in the given circumstances, proportioned to its crime [and] dictated by the laws. Civilising penal law remains a topical issue but it began with Cesare Beccaria. Author John Hostettler is one of the UK's leading legal biographers. He was a practising solicitor in London for 35 years as well as undertaking political and civil liberties cases in Nigeria, Germany and Aden. His earlier books include several biographical and historical works among them A History of Criminal Justice in England and Wales (2009) and Sir William Garrow (2010) (with Richard Braby). Trade Books>Trade Paperback>Reference>Legal Reference>Legal Reference, Waterside Press Core >1<

ISBN: 9781904380634

In 18th-century continental Europe, penal law and what passed for justice were barbaric: gallows were a regular feature of the landscape, branding and mutilation were common, and there ex… Mehr…

In 18th-century continental Europe, penal law and what passed for justice were barbaric: gallows were a regular feature of the landscape, branding and mutilation were common, and there existed the ghastly spectacle of people being broken on the wheel. To make matters worse, offenders were often tortured or put to death for quite minor crimes and often without any semblance of a proper trial. Like a bombshell, a book entitled On Crimes and Punishments exploded onto the scene in 1764 with shattering effect. Its author was a young man from a privileged background, named Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794). A central message of that now classic work was that such punishments belonged to 'a war of nations against their citizens' and should be abolished. It was a cri de coeur for thorough reform of the law affecting penal law and punishments, and it swept across the continent of Europe like wildfire, being adopted by one ruler after another. It even crossed the Atlantic to the new United States, into the hands of President Thomas Jefferson. Civilized penal law remains a highly topical issue, and this book examines where it all began, with the influence of Cesare Beccaria. Books, [PU: Waterside Press]<

ISBN: 9781904380634

Paperback / softback. New. Targeted to highlight matters of both universal and current relevance - will be of considerable interest to anyone wishing to trace the development of the righ… Mehr…

Paperback / softback. New. Targeted to highlight matters of both universal and current relevance - will be of considerable interest to anyone wishing to trace the development of the rights of individuals charged with or convicted of crimes, and of the importance of fairness, proportionality, decency and similar matters which may be at-risk in the wrong hands., 6<

2010, ISBN: 1904380638

Kartoniert / Broschiert, mit Schutzumschlag 11, [PU:Waterside Press]