Who is considered the grandfather of modern criminology by most criminal justice scholars?

César Beccaria is widely regarded as the grandfather of modern criminology due to his significant contributions to the field in the 18th century. His work, particularly the influential book "On Crimes and Punishments," laid the foundations for modern criminological theories and the criminal justice system. Beccaria advocated for reforming the penal system and emphasized principles such as the importance of rationality in human behavior, the social contract, and the need for laws to be transparent and proportionate to the crimes committed. His ideas promoted the view that punishment should deter crime rather than be vengeful or arbitrary. This shift towards a more systematic and humane approach to understanding crime and legal systems marks him as a pivotal figure in the development of criminological thought.

The other individuals mentioned, while significant in their own fields, do not have the same foundational impact on criminology. Sigmund Freud's work focused primarily on psychology rather than criminology. César Chávez was a prominent labor leader and civil rights activist, not directly involved in criminological theory. Edwin Sutherland is known for his contributions to sociology and criminology, particularly the concept of white-collar crime, but his work built on the foundation that Beccaria and others had already established.