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Published online 30 October 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.1050
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Lighter sentence for murderer with 'bad genes'
Italian court reduces jail term after tests identify genes linked to violent behaviour.
An Italian court has cut the sentence given to a convicted murderer by a year because he has genes linked to violent behaviour — the first time that behavioural genetics has affected a sentence passed by a European court. But researchers contacted by Nature have questioned whether the decision was based on sound science.
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Am I the only person who believes that murder accompanied by mental illness does not necessarily make someone less dangerous than a murderer who is not mentally ill? The current argument is that one should not be held to the same level of responsibility for performing actions that they are physiologically unable to regulate properly, compared to the level of responsibility expected from a person of physiologically-sound mind. I do agree with the compassion imbedded in this argument, and I feel that those with mental illness may not fully understand the consequences of their actions or may not have the same number of neurotransmitter receptors needed to properly regulate their actions in times of stress of shock. However I disagree with the logic. I believe that the danger presented to society is related to the propensity of the person in question to commit further harmful actions, and this risk value cannot [honestly] be discounted on the grounds that someone is unable to regulate their own actions. I certainly don't subscribe to the notion that a lack of mental soundness makes someone more likely to repeatedly harm others, as that kind of conculsion would be very prejudice without being based on some pretty heavy data and I am not in any way familiar with it if it existed. And I am not saying we need to keep those with mental illness in jail the same way or for the same amount of time as we treat those who are not mentally ill. What I am saying is that danger to society cannot be masked with compassion, and treatment of the person should involve emotionally-sound rehabilitation programs that don't automatically treat people with mental illness as either more or less harmless to society than someone of sound mind. It largely depends on the degree of malice involved, the ability to regulate or misregulate malice, and the propensity to perform acts of malice (just the same as anybody else).
ridiculous, its environment AND genes, not one or the other...isn't anyone mentally incorrect if they murder someone for some trivial asthetique reason
A historical decision by court of law.We all should have information regarding our MAOA level which can be medically regulated to control crime in the society just like any other disease.
A historical decision by court of law.We all should have information regarding our MAOA level which can be medically regulated to control crime in the society just like any other disease.
I agree that society needs to be protected from murderers with or without mental illness. However, rehab can definitely benefit from genetic information and brain imaging.
This is just a bad use of science! Why is it that people grasp hold so quickly to some idea and use it as the only way to explain complex events? Genes don't make you "bad". Genes make protiens!
What murderer or other such criminal (barring cultural crimes) could not be mentally ill or defective in some way? When did the entire human race completely forget about behavioral science? We'll when did they ever really learn about it!
Human behavior = nature + nurture + chaos.
There are only two ways to deal with crime, scientifically. First: create a society that does not produce criminals! Second: fix the criminals which are produced rather than stashing them away for a few years of "punnishment" so that they can come out again either the same or worse!
Our cultural technology is serious lagging behind our other technologies and the reason is not for a lack of knowledge about behavior.
We need much better care for mental health. Really, it is irrelevant whether behaviour stems from genes or upbringing – unless you have the exact same genes AND upbringing as someone else, you cannot say that you would not have acted or reacted in the same way as they did.
Many inmates (and homeless people) deserve compassion and treatment to help them overcome their inborn, or ingrained, traits. The whole notion of crime and punishment is flawed.
If one should follow this logic with genes, why isn't everybody in Australia violent, or criminals then?
Or more likely, that crime rates in Australia is over represented in the population. Remember which one's we sent there in the first place. Since genes are inherited, they ought to be a large degree of violent criminals in Australia. Wonder what they will find out next. What genes causes humans to become homosexual, or if there's a "faith" gene? That one have to have ONE gene in order to be prone to a belief system. I'd love to see that. If the right wing christian people in the US would go for an abortion, if no such gene could be found in the foteus... or if they found out that the kid is going to be gay due to genes and they would either have to decide for that or go for an abortion... that would be hilarious to watch how they reacted! Actually I am longing for it.