Inheritance of Human Deviance - Anti-Genetic Bias and the Facts (From Police Selection and Training, P 207-223, 1986, John C Yuille, ed. - See NCJ-104142)

• NCJ Number: 104155
• Author(s): S A Mednick
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 17 pages
• Sale Source: Martinus Nijhoff Publishing
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

To examine biological factors in criminality, an examination was conducted of registered criminality of the biological parents and their offspring, using data for 1,427 nonfamilial adoptions recorded in Denmark between 1924 and 1947.

Abstract

Results indicate a significant relationship between criminal convictions of biological parents and their adopted offspring. The relationship is particularly strong for offenders, both parent and adoptee. No evidence was found for a relationship between the type of parent and adoptee convictions. A number of potentially confounding variables were considered, but none proved sufficient to explain the genetic relationship. It is concluded that some factor is transmitted by the biological parent that increases the likelihood of the offspring's conviction for criminal offenses. This implies that biological factors are involved in the etiology of at least some criminal behaviors. 6 tables, 1 figure, and 18 references (Author summary modified)