Traumatic brain injury: a potential cause of violent crime?

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the biggest cause of death and disability in children and young people. TBI compromises important neurological functions for self-regulation and social behaviour and increases risk of behavioural disorder and psychiatric morbidity. Crime in young people is a major social issue. So-called early starters often continue for a lifetime. A substantial majority of young offenders are reconvicted soon after release. Multiple factors play a role in crime. We show how TBI is a risk factor for earlier, more violent, offending. TBI is linked to poor engagement in treatment, in-custody infractions, and reconviction. Schemes to assess and manage TBI are under development. These might improve engagement of offenders in forensic psychotherapeutic rehabilitation and reduce crime.

Traumatic brain injury and adverse psychological effects: Examining a potential pathway to aggressive offending

“…In some studies, the findings suggest that individuals who experienced TBI had upwards of a 200% increase in the odds of committing aggressive crimes (Fazel, Lichtenstein, Grann, & Långström, 2011). Nevertheless, as noted by Williams et al, 2018 (pg. 9) “[t]he causal mechanisms that link TBI and crime are unclear”.…”

“…For instance, various psychosocial problems, such as aggressive behavior (Grafman et al, 1996), impulsivity (Schwartz, Connolly, & Brauer, 2017), and aggression (Bryant & Harvey, 1999; Grafman et al, 1996) have been associated with exposure to TBI. Consequently, scholars have proposed a potential indirect pathway between TBI and antisocial behavior (Williams et al, 2018). Nevertheless, mechanisms linking the two processes have yet to be consistently identified (Williams et al, 2018).…”

“…Consequently, scholars have proposed a potential indirect pathway between TBI and antisocial behavior (Williams et al, 2018). Nevertheless, mechanisms linking the two processes have yet to be consistently identified (Williams et al, 2018). Concentrating on this gap in the literature, the current study examined the pathway between TBI and aggressive offending through psychological processes.…”

“…Furthermore, approximately 30% of juvenile offenders report experiencing TBI (Farrer, Frost, & Hedges, 2013). Recent data from Finland, New Zealand, England, Canada, and the United States suggest that TBI is strongly associated with both nonaggressive and aggressive criminal behavior (Davies, Williams, Hinder, Burgess, & Mounce, 2012; McIsaac et al, 2016; McKinlay, Corrigan, Horwood, & Fergusson, 2014; Moore, Indig, & Haysom, 2014; Stoddard and Zimmerman, 2011; Williams et al, 2018). In some studies, the findings suggest that individuals who experienced TBI had upwards of a 200% increase in the odds of committing aggressive crimes (Fazel, Lichtenstein, Grann, & Långström, 2011).…”

“…As highlighted in a recent review of the literature, TBI during adolescence has substantive effects on neurological systems and could manifest as poor self‐regulation and negative psychological outcomes (Moore et al, 2014; Williams, Cordan, Mewse, Tonks, & Burgess, 2010; Williams et al, 2018). Consistent with the prior research, we postulate that psychological mechanisms mediate the association between TBI during adolescence and aggressive offending (Moore et al, 2014; Perron & Howard, 2008; Schoenhuber & Gentilini, 1988; Scholten et al, 2016; Schwartz et al, 2017).…”