Abstract

The main schools of thought on crime and punishment have significantly influenced the criminal justice system of many countries. Various legal systems have defined crime and prescribed the corresponding punishment accordingly. Although the definition of crimes and the related punishments may differ across legal systems, they generally derive their content from these schools of thought in one way or another. There are also different theories of punishment, including deterrence, rehabilitation, incapacitation and retribution. Like many other legal jurisdictions, Ethiopia’s criminal justice system has been influenced by these main schools of criminology and theories of punishment.