How did Cesare Lombroso’s positive school affect the study of criminals?

Cesare Lombroso’s positive school fundamentally shifted the study of criminals from the classical school’s legalistic focus on the crime itself to a scientific investigation of the individual offender. By applying the methods of modern science, Lombroso moved criminology toward a search for the underlying causes of criminal behavior.123

While his specific theory—that certain individuals were "born criminals" due to atavistic, hereditary traits—was eventually discredited, his influence on penology remains significant. His work established several lasting impacts:123

• Individualized Diagnosis: He pioneered the practice of making the mental study of the criminal an essential part of the diagnostic process.3
• Role of Experts: His approach elevated the roles of psychologists and psychiatrists in developing modern penological theory.3
• Individualization of Treatment: The focus shifted from the "individualization of punishment" to the "individualization of treatment," emphasizing that no single formula accounts for all offenders.3
• Research Focus: He encouraged a transition toward researching the individual and social factors that determine criminal activity, aiming for dispositions that protect society while rehabilitating the offender.3