Behavioral genetics and criminal responsibility at the courtroom

Roberto Tatarelli; Antonio Del Casale; Caterina Tatarelli; Daniele Serata; Chiara Rapinesi; Gabriele Sani; Georgios D Kotzalidis; Paolo Girardi

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.01.011

Behavioral genetics and criminal responsibility at the courtroom

Forensic Sci Int. 2014 Apr:237:40-5. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.01.011. Epub 2014 Jan 31.

Authors

Roberto Tatarelli¹, Antonio Del Casale², Caterina Tatarelli³, Daniele Serata⁴, Chiara Rapinesi⁴, Gabriele Sani⁵, Georgios D Kotzalidis⁵, Paolo Girardi⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Fondazione "P. Alberto Mileno Onlus", Vasto, CH, Italy.
³ Unit of Hematology, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
⁴ Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Villa Rosa, Suore Ospedaliere of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Viterbo, Italy.
⁵ Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.

PMID: 24561558
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.01.011

Abstract

Several questions arise from the recent use of behavioral genetic research data in the courtroom. Ethical issues concerning the influence of biological factors on human free will, must be considered when specific gene patterns are advocated to constrain court's judgment, especially regarding violent crimes. Aggression genetics studies are both difficult to interpret and inconsistent, hence, in the absence of a psychiatric diagnosis, genetic data are currently difficult to prioritize in the courtroom. The judge's probabilistic considerations in formulating a sentence must take into account causality, and the latter cannot be currently ensured by genetic data.

Keywords: Criminal responsibility; Genetics; Liability; Sentence; Violent crimes.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aggression
Crime / legislation & jurisprudence*
Crime / psychology*
Genetic Determinism*
Genetics, Behavioral*
Humans
Impulsive Behavior