NCJ Number
46032
Journal
CRIMINOLOGIA Volume: 3 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 49-64
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THE REASONS FOR CRIMINAL ACTS ARE VARIED, BUT OFTEN THEY ARE CAUSED BY A LACK OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTROL, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF HOMICIDES.
Abstract
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR CAN BE CAUSED BY SCHIZOPHRENIA, ALCOHOLIC PSYCHOSIS, AMNESIA, PSYCHOSIS DUE TO PHYSICAL TRAUMA, OR MANIC DEPRESSIVE PSYCHOSIS. THE HOMICIDAL CRIMINAL DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE A HISTORY OF CRIME, BUT ANALYSIS OF HIS PAST BEHAVIOR CAN REVEAL THAT HIS REACTIONS HAVE BEEN UNCONTROLLABLE AND IMPULSIVE. OR, A CRIMINAL MAY BE SUFFERING FROM PARANOIA WHICH CAUSES HIM TO BELIEVE HE IS GUILTY OF SOME CRIMINAL ACT THAT HE HAS NOT COMMITTED. BECAUSE HE FEELS HE IS CONTINUALLY PERSECUTED, THIS PERSON RARELY COMMITS A CRIME. DUE TO GENERALLY BIZARRE BEHAVIOR, THIS KIND OF PERSON IS USUALLY NOTICED AND CAN BE INSTITUTIONALIZED BEFORE COMMITTING A CRIME. ANOTHER TYPE OF PSYCHOTIC CRIMINAL, THE HOMICIDAL MANIAC, FEELS INTENSE GUILT AND SUFFERING, AND WILL RESORT TO SUICIDE OR SELF-PUNISHMENT TO ATONE FOR ANY SUFFERING THAT HE MIGHT CAUSE A LOVED ONE. HE COMMITS THESE ACTS TO BE FORCIBLY REMOVED BY THE LAW, THEREBY SAVING THE LOVED ONE FROM SUFFERING AS INTENSELY AS HE DOES. IN THE CASE OF THE AMNESIAC, NOTHING IS REMEMBERED, AND WHEN IN JAIL, THIS TYPE OF CRIMINAL DOES NOT EAT, OR COMMUNICATE, PREFERS TO STAY IN HIS CELL, SLEEPS VERY LITTLE, PREFERRING TO PAINT OR WRITE, IS NOT INTERESTED IN HIMSELF OR HIS FAMILY, AND IS OFTEN VICTIM OF SEXUAL ATTACKS AND THEFTS OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS. ALL THE INMATES AND GUARDS GENERALLY FEAR THESE VIOLENT, PSYCHOTIC PRISONERS. FOR THIS REASON, THEY ARE ISOLATED FROM THE OTHER PRISONERS AND ARE ALMOST ALWAYS HEAVILY SEDATED TO CONTROL THEIR BEHAVIOR. --IN SPANISH. (INL)