Perspectives
Nature Reviews Neuroscience 7, 311-318 (April 2006) | doi:10.1038/nrn1887
Science and society: Neuroscience and legal determination of criminal responsibility
Nigel Eastman1 & Colin Campbell2 About the authors
Abstract
Neuroscience is increasingly identifying associations between biology and violence that appear to offer courts evidence relevant to criminal responsibility. In addition, in a policy era of 'zero tolerance of risk', evidence of biological abnormality in some of those who are violent, or biological markers of violence, may be seized on as a possible basis for preventive detention in the interest of public safety. However, there is a mismatch between questions that the courts and society wish answered and those that neuroscience is capable of answering. This poses a risk to the proper exercise of justice and to civil liberties.
Author affiliations
- Nigel Eastman is at St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK.
- Colin Campbell is at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
Correspondence to: Nigel Eastman1 Email: neastman@sgul.ac.uk
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