NCJ Number
191099
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 45 Issue: 5 Dated: October 2001 Pages: 556-573
Date Published
October 2001
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study investigated whether violent offenders were significantly more likely than nonviolent offenders to have abused animals during childhood.
Abstract
The question was whether the phenomenon of cruelty to animals might serve as an early warning sign of predictable future violence against humans. Institutional staff members randomly selected 50 violent and 50 nonviolent inmates incarcerated in a maximum-security facility. Two data collection instruments were used: demographic and social history of the participants and information gathered regarding cruelty to animals as categorized into four types (wild, farm, pet, and stray). Results supported previous research efforts indicating a relationship between cruelty to animals committed during childhood and later violence perpetuated against humans. Findings indicated that offenders who committed violent crimes as adults were significantly more likely than adult nonviolent offenders as children to have committed acts of cruelty against animals in general and pet and stray animals in particular. The study indicated that cruelty to animals committed by children could provide insights into violent behavior that may or may not translate into later violence directed against humans. The type of cruelty committed, the type of animal targeted, the motivation for the cruelty, and the perpetrator’s response to the cruelty committed are critical factors that must be considered. Each and every act should be investigated as a specific act committed by a specific individual against a specific animal. Through this approach, acts of cruelty to animals that are relevant to the relationship of cruelty to animals and later violence against humans could be distinguished from those that are not. 4 tables, 29 references