How did Jeremy Bentham's ideas influence the goal of preventing crime?

Jeremy Bentham, a foundational figure in utilitarianism, shifted the focus of criminal law from retribution to the pragmatic goal of crime prevention. His approach was rooted in the belief that human behavior is governed by the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain.123

Bentham argued that for law to effectively guide conduct, it must be clear, accessible, and declared in advance. He criticized the common law system as "dog law," comparing it to punishing a dog after the fact without providing rational guidance on how to avoid future liability. To Bentham, law should function as a system of commands that allows citizens to understand the consequences of their actions, thereby deterring them from committing offenses.4

His influence also extended to penal design; he proposed the panopticon, a prison structure intended to facilitate constant surveillance. By ensuring that inmates could be observed at all times without knowing when they were being watched, the design aimed to encourage self-regulation and reform. Ultimately, Bentham’s work emphasized that the purpose of punishment is not to satisfy moral guilt but to serve as a rational tool for protecting society and preventing future harm.1536