Lombroso's view is that criminals are born not made
Lombroso says that criminals are a biologically distinct group of people with specific features
criminal offenders are a biologically distinct group of people exhibiting primitive characteristics. they are a separate species with a primitive genetic form (atavistic)
the criminal offender's attributes had enabled their survival in the wild, but meant that they were not suited for civilised society
criminals had distinctive features like:
dark skin
hairiness
prominent jaw
high cheekbones and large ears
Lombroso's data was based on survey data of criminal heads and bodies
measured the bodies of 383 skulls of dead criminals and the heads of 3839 living ones
he found that 43% had 5 or more atavistic characteristics
