What potential influence would a genetic predisposition to crime have on traditional moral and legal accounts of responsibility?
Keywords: criminal/antisocial behavior; genetic determinism; free will; responsibility; law
Criminal Responsibility and Genetics
Jennifer Bostock, Kings College London, London, UK
Gwen Adshead, Broadmoor Hospital, Crowthorne, UK
Published online: July 2006
DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0005194
| References | |
| book Botkin JR, McMahon WM and Pickering FL (eds.) (1999) Genetics and Criminality, p. 182. Washington DC: American Psychological Association. | |
| Brunner HG, Nelen M, Breakefield XO, Ropers HH and van Oost BA (1993) Abnormal behavior associated with a point mutation in the structural gene for monoamine oxidase A. Science 262: 578–580. | |
| book Carson R and Rothstein M (1999) Behavioral Genetics: The Clash of Culture and Biology, p. 189. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. | |
| book Christie A (1930/1977) A Murder at the Vicarage. London, UK: HarperCollins Publishers Limited. | |
| book Department of Health (2000) The Review of the Mental Health Act 1983. London, UK: Department of Health. | |
| Ellis R (1994) She's not a cold-blooded killer: unique defense frees mom convicted of killing son. The Atlanta Journal – Constitution 127: 1. | |
| Fishbein D (1996) Prospects for the application of genetic findings to crime and violence prevention. Politics and the Life Sciences: The Journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences March, 15(1): 91–94. | |
| Franklin D (1989) What a child is given. New York Times Magazine 3 September: 36. | |
| book Jones S (1997) In the Blood – God, Genes and Destiny, p. 236. London, UK: HarperCollins Publishers Limited. | |
| book Nelkin D and Lindee MS (1995) The DNA Mystique. New York, NY: WH Freeman and Company. | |
| book Recer P (2001) Peter McGuffin on the Genome and Psychiatry: Genome Map may Revolutionize Some Health Care. Washington DC: Associated Press, 11 February [http://taxa.psyc.missouri.edu/bgnews/2001/msg00037.html]. | |
| book Reznek L (1997) Evil or Ill? Justifying the Insanity Defense, p. 136. London, UK: Routledge. | |
| Spallone P (1998) The new biology of violence. Body and Society 4(4): 47–65. | |
| book Summer D (1999) "The use of human genome research in criminal defense and mitigation of punishment". In: Botkin JR, McMahon WM and Pickering FL (eds.) Genetics and Criminality, pp. 182–191. Washington DC: American Psychological Association | |
| Wasserman D (1996) Research into Genetics and Crime: Consensus and Controversy. Politics and the Life Sciences: The Journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences 15(1): 107–109. | |
| Zimring F (1996) The genetics of crime: a sceptic's vision of the future. Politics and the Life Sciences: The Journal of the Association for Politics and the Life SciencesMarch, 15(1): 105–106. | |
| Further Reading | |
| Alper J (1998) Genes, free will and criminal responsibility. Social Science and Medicine 46(12): 1599–1611. | |
| Avshalom C, McClay J, Moffitt TE, et al. (2002) Role of Genotype in the cycle of violence maltreated children. Science Aug 2: 851–854. | |
| book Buchanan A, Brock D, Daniels N and Wilker D (2000) From Chance to Choice – Genetics and Justice. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. | |
| Caspi A, et al. (2002) Role of genotype in the cycle of violence in maltreated children Science Aug 2: 851–854. | |
| Coffey MP (1993) Notes: the genetic defense: excuse or explanation? William and Mary Law Review 35: 353–399. | |
| book Denno DW (1996) "Legal implications of genetics and crime research". In: Botkin GR and Goode JA (eds.) Genetics of Criminal and Antisocial Behavior, pp. 248–264. Ciba Foundation Symposium, vol. 194. Chichester, UK: Wiley | |
| Dreyfuss R and Nelkin D (1992) The jurisprudence of genetics. Vanderbilt Law Review 45(2): 313–348. | |
| Farrell PT (1969) The XYY syndrome in criminal law: an introduction. St John's Law Review 44: 215–235. | |
| book Glover J (1996) "The implications for responsibility of possible genetic factors in the explanation of violence". In: Bock GR and Goode JA (eds.) Genetics of Criminal and Antisocial Behaviour, pp. 237–242. Ciba Foundation Symposium. Chichester, UK: Wiley | |
| book Raine A (1993) The Psychopathology of Crime: Criminal Behavior as a Clinical Disorder,. pp. 47–79. San Diego, CA: Academic Press. | |
| Rose N (2000) The biology of culpability: pathological identity and crime control in a biological culture. Theoretical Criminology 4(1): 5–34. | |
| book Wasserman D and Wachbroit R (2001) Genetics and Criminal Behavior. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. | |
