Who Is Known as the Father of Criminology?

Cesare Lombroso is widely known as the Father of Criminology. He pioneered the scientific study of criminals, linking biology with criminal behavior and founding the Positivist School of Criminology in the 19th century.

Who is Cesare Lombroso?

Cesare Lombroso (1835–1909) was an Italian physician and criminologist who revolutionized the study of crime. He is considered the founder of modern criminology due to his scientific approach to understanding criminal behavior. Unlike earlier beliefs that crime was a moral failing, Lombroso introduced the idea that criminals could be born with specific physical traits that made them more likely to commit crimes.

Contribution to Criminology

Lombroso’s most notable work, “L’Uomo Delinquente” (The Criminal Man), laid the foundation for criminology as a scientific discipline. He focused on:

• Biological causes of crime
• Anthropological measurements of criminals
• Criminal profiling techniques

This approach led to the birth of the Positivist School of Criminology, making him a central figure in the history of criminology.