Introduction
Cesare Lombroso occupies a curious position in the history of criminology. In the late nineteenth century, he popularized the scientific study of criminal behaviour with a flawed aetiological theory, mistaken research methodology and misguided prevention schemes. His work, or rather, the critical response to his work, led to the development of criminology as a social science. As Rock observes, generations of criminologists have announced their projects by distancing themselves from Lombroso. Even biosocial criminologists, who advocate a body-centred approach to social science, make a point of declaring their opposition to Lombroso.
The starting point for rejecting Lombroso is the “born criminal”, a phrase often used as a summary of his theory of atavistic criminality. Lombroso proposed the origins of criminal behaviour are found in the remote past and pointed to vestiges of the evolutionary process within the criminal body. A point that has been made, yet not fully apprec...

