The Classical School of criminology emphasizes that offenders ________.

The Classical School of criminology argues that offenders rationally decide to commit crime, viewing individuals as rational beings who weigh the potential benefits and costs of their actions before engaging in criminal behavior. This perspective is rooted in the idea of free will, suggesting that people have the agency to make choices and are thus responsible for their actions.

The emphasis on rational decision-making implies that crime can be deterred through a system that enforces suitable punishments, which are designed to outweigh the potential benefits of committing the crime. This approach marks a significant shift from earlier theories that attributed criminal behavior to innate characteristics or external influences, thereby focusing instead on personal accountability and the deterrence of crime through predictable and proportional consequences.