Exploring whether genetic differences between siblings explain sibling differences in criminal justice outcomes

Forensic Value of Genetic Variants Associated with Anti-Social Behavior

Insanity defense is sometimes invoked in criminal cases, and its demonstration is usually based on a multifactorial contribution of behavioural, clinical, and neurological elements. Neuroradiological evidence of structural alterations in cerebral areas that involve decision-making and moral reasoning is often accepted as a useful tool in these evaluations. On the other hand, the genetic predisposition to anti-social behavior is still controversial. In this paper, we describe two cases of violent crimes committed by young carriers of genetic variants associated with personality disorder; both the defendants claimed to be insane at the time of the crime. We discuss these cases and review the scientific literature regarding the relationship between legal incapacity/predisposition to criminal behavior and genetic mutations. In conclusion, despite some genetic variants being able to influence several cognitive processes (like moral judgement and impulse control), there is currently no evidence that carriers of these mutations are, per se, incapable of intentionally committing crimes.

Parental History of Disruptive Life Events and Household Food Insecurity

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether a history of disruptive life events (ie, school suspension or expulsion, job termination, hospitalization for mental health, and/or criminal justice involvement) among parents is positively associated with household food insecurity.

DESIGN

Structured interviews and self-report surveys.

SETTING

Households across all 50 states in the US.

PARTICIPANTS

Subsample of 6,270 households that participated in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort with valid maternal and paternal data.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Food insecurity was measured when children were aged 9 months (wave 1), 2 years (wave 2), and 4 years (wave 3). Parental history of disruptive life events was measured at wave 1.

ANALYSIS

Logistic regression was used to carry out the analyses.

RESULTS

Each examined disruptive life event was associated with a significant increase in the odds of persistent household food insecurity (P < .05). The probability of persistent household food insecurity was >6 times as large in households with 1 or both parents reporting the occurrence of each of the disruptive life events, relative to households with none of these parental risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Practitioners may want to consider parental history of various disruptive life events in their assessment of familial risk of household food insecurity. Future policy efforts might include a cost-benefit estimate analysis of intervening earlier in the food insecurity-disruptive life events nexus to advocate for savings to the taxpayer for prevention services. Moreover, future research could evaluate these practice and policy-driven efforts using quasi-experimental designs.

Sibling differences in low birth weight, dopaminergic polymorphisms, and ADHD symptomatology: evidence of GxE

Low birth weight has been found to increase the risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. However, few studies adequately control for shared environmental influences (e.g., concentrated disadvantage, family structure) or examine whether interactions between birth weight and genetic factors predict ADHD. The present study addresses these limitations in prior research by examining a) whether sibling differences in low birth weight status are significantly predictive of sibling differences in behaviors symptomatic of ADHD and b) whether sibling differences in dopaminergic genes interact with sibling differences in low birth weight status to predict sibling differences in ADHD symptomatology. The results suggest that low birth weight siblings are at significantly greater risk of exhibiting symptoms of ADHD during childhood relative to their normal birth weight siblings. Moreover, possessing greater genetic risk on three dopaminergic genes (DAT1, DRD2, and DRD4) relative to a sibling appears to exacerbate the link between sibling differences in birth weight and sibling differences in ADHD symptomatology. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

Neurobiological correlates in forensic assessment: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

With the increased knowledge of biological risk factors, interest in including this information in forensic assessments is growing. Currently, forensic assessments are predominantly focused on psychosocial factors. A better understanding of the neurobiology of violent criminal behaviour and biological risk factors could improve forensic assessments.

OBJECTIVE

To provide an overview of the current evidence about biological risk factors that predispose people to antisocial and violent behaviour, and determine its usefulness in forensic assessment.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted using articles from PsycINFO, Embase and Pubmed published between 2000 and 2013.

RESULTS

This review shows that much research on the relationship between genetic predisposition and neurobiological alterations with aggression is performed on psychiatric patients or normal populations. However, the number of studies comparing offenders is limited. There is still a great need to understand how genetic and neurobiological alterations and/or deficits are related to violent behaviour, specifically criminality. Most studies focus on only one of the genetic or neurobiological fields related to antisocial and/or violent behaviour. To reliably correlate the findings of these fields, a standardization of methodology is urgently needed.

CONCLUSION

Findings from the current review suggest that violent aggression, like all forms of human behaviour, both develops under specific genetic and environmental conditions, and requires interplay between these conditions. Violence should be considered as the end product of a chain of life events, during which risks accumulate and potentially reinforce each other, displaying or triggering a specific situation. This systematic review did not find evidence of predispositions or neurobiological alterations that solely explain antisocial or violent behaviour. With better designed studies, more correlation between diverse fields, and more standardisation, it might be possible to elucidate underlying mechanisms. Thus, we advocate maintaining the current case-by-case differentiated approach to evidence-based forensic assessment.