Which criminal justice reform was advocated by Cesare Beccaria?

Cesare Beccaria, an Enlightenment philosopher, is best known for his influential work on criminal justice reform, particularly articulated in his treatise "On Crimes and Punishments." One of his central arguments was against capital punishment, which he believed was both inhumane and ineffective as a deterrent against crime. He argued that the state should not impose the death penalty because it devalues human life and does not provide an opportunity for rehabilitation. Beccaria championed the principle that punishment should be proportional to the crime and focused on reforming the criminal justice system to promote prevention and rehabilitation rather than retribution.

His advocacy for the abolition of capital punishment aligns with his broader philosophical views on justice and the social contract, contributing to the modern philosophical foundations of human rights and humane treatment within the justice system. This stance highlights the importance of rational and humane responses to crime rather than extreme measures such as the death penalty.

In contrast, the other options, while also relevant to discussions of criminal justice reform, do not specifically reflect Beccaria's primary contributions, as his work focused significantly on the moral and rational basis for penal reform, particularly in relation to capital punishment.