Elusive cases in forensic psychiatry? Exploring subgroups of schizophrenia spectrum disorder patients in Germany.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and criminal behaviour is a central issue in forensic psychiatry. People with mental illness face some of the same types of criminogenic factors as people without mental illness, albeit more frequently. The research question of this study is the extent to which a framework of early and late offender typology can be empirically reconstructed in a forensic psychiatric population, and whether there are any practical implications. METHOD: For N = 733 patients in six different forensic hospitals in Germany, the age at first psychiatric admission and the age at first registered offence were documented, as well as a number of other patient-related characteristics. Two clustering procedures were used to investigate whether forensic psychiatric patients could be classified according to these characteristics. RESULTS: A k-means cluster analysis using age at first psychiatric admission, age at first recorded offence, sociodemographic, clinical and criminological characteristics supported a 4-cluster solution. MANOVA analyses revealed further differences between the identified types. CONCLUSION: This study empirically confirms some of the sub-groups of the early and late starter typology described in the literature. In particular, the "early starters", "late starters" and "first presenters" were identified, but cluster four comprises individuals not previously described in the scientific literature. Each of these classes has group-specific characteristics that may have implications for forensic treatment, post-release aftercare, and the legal system.

Criminality in patients with autoimmune encephalitis: A case series.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite it being an immunotherapy-responsive neurological syndrome, patients with autoimmune encephalitis (AE) frequently exhibit residual neurobehavioural features. Here, we report criminal behaviours as a serious and novel postencephalitic association. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 301 AE patients. Five of who committed crimes underwent direct assessments and records review alongside autoantibody studies. RESULTS: Five of 301 patients (1.7%) with AE exhibited criminal behaviours, which included viewing child pornography (n = 3), repeated shoplifting, and conspiracy to commit murder. All five were adult males, with LGI1 autoantibodies (n = 3), CASPR2 autoantibodies, or seronegative AE. None had evidence of premorbid antisocial personality traits or psychiatric disorders. Criminal behaviours began a median of 18 months (range = 15 months-12 years) after encephalitis onset. At the time of crimes, two patients were immunotherapy-naïve, three had been administered late immunotherapies (at 5 weeks-4 months), many neurobehavioural features persisted, and new obsessive behaviours had appeared. However, cognition, seizure, and disability measures had improved, alongside reduced autoantibody levels. CONCLUSIONS: Criminal behaviours are a rare, novel, and stigmatizing residual neurobehavioural phenotype in AE, with significant social and legal implications. With caution towards overattribution, we suggest they occur as part of a postencephalitis limbic neurobehavioural syndrome.

Examining the Association between Medical Marijuana Legalization and Criminal Behaviors: Evidence from a U.S. Representative Sample.

Background: Medical marijuana legalization (MML) has been widely implemented in the past decade. However, the debates regarding the consequences of MML persist, especially criminal behaviors. Objectives: We examined the association between MML and criminal behaviors among adults in the United States. The criminal behaviors measured three past-year offenses: whether the adult (1) have sold illegal drugs, (2) have stolen anything worth > $50 USD, or (3) have attacked someone. Methods: Using the 2015-2020 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, we included 214,505 adults in our primary analysis for 2015-2019 and 27,170 adults in 2020 for supplemental analysis (age > = 18). Weighted multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association between MML and three criminal behaviors. Results: In our primary analysis, we observed no statistically significant association between MML and the three outcomes of criminal behavior. Nevertheless, our supplemental analysis of the 2020 data showed MML was associated with increasing odds of the three criminal behaviors (have sold illegal drugs: AOR [adjusted odds ratio] = 1.7; have stolen anything worth > $50 USD: AOR = 1.9; have attacked someone: AOR = 1.8; all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Surveys from 2015 to 2019 did not suggest MML as a risk factor for higher incidence of criminal behaviors. However, 2020 data showed statistically significant association between MML and selected criminal behaviors. Issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the U.S. economic downturn, could potentially explain this discrepancy. Further research efforts may be warranted.

Inflammation Markers in Patients with Bipolar Disorder Who Have Committed Offenses and Their Relationship with Criminal Behavior.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to examine the function of various inflammation parameters and their interactions in the pathology of Bipolar disorder (BD) and to assess whether they could be biomarkers in the relationship between criminal behavior and BD. Materials and Methods: Overall, 1029 participants, including 343 patients with BD who have committed offenses, 343 nonoffending patients with BD, and 343 healthy controls, were included in this retrospective study. Neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts; high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c) levels; systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein ratio (NHR), lymphocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (LHR), monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR), platelet to high-density lipoprotein ratio (PHR) were measured. Results: Significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of SII, SIRI, NHR, LHR, MHR, PHR, neutrophil, and monocyte values (p < 0.001). The lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in the patients with BD who committed offenses (p = 0.04). The platelet counts were significantly lower in the patients with BD who committed offenses compared to nonoffending patients with BD (p = 0.015). The HDL-c levels were significantly lower in the patients with BD who have committed offenses than those of nonoffending patients with BD (p < 0.001). Bipolar disorder, not receiving active psychiatric treatment, having a diagnosis of bipolar manic episodes, and having low platelet and HDL values constitute a risk of involvement in crime. Conclusions: The present study emphasizes the role of systemic inflammation in the pathophysiology of patients with BD with and without criminal offenses and the relationship between inflammation and criminal behavior.

A large-scale empirical investigation of specialization in criminal career.

We use a comprehensive longitudinal dataset on criminal acts over 6 years in a European country to study specialization in criminal careers. We present a method to cluster crime categories by their relative co-occurrence within criminal careers, deriving a natural, data-based taxonomy of criminal specialization. Defining specialists as active criminals who stay within one category of offending behavior, we study their socio-demographic attributes, geographic range, and positions in their collaboration networks relative to their generalist counterparts. Compared to generalists, specialists tend to be older, are more likely to be women, operate within a smaller geographic range, and collaborate in smaller, more tightly-knit local networks. We observe that specialists are more intensely embedded in criminal networks, suggesting a potential source of self-reinforcing dynamics in criminal careers.

Subjetivar-se em situação de violência: a violência de estado e a criminalidade na vida dos adolescentes da periferia autores de atos infracionais / Becoming subjects in a context of violence: state violence and criminality in the lives of adolescent offenders from the periphery / Subjetivación en situación de violencia: la violencia del estado y la criminalidad en la vida de los adolescentes de la periferia autores de actos infraccionales

Na pesquisa em questão, relaciona-se a violência de Estado com a criminalidade na vida dos adolescentes da periferia autores de atos infracionais, partindo do viés da Psicologia Social. Abordando a historicidade das violências estruturais no Brasil, enquanto configuração de um Estado democrático de exceção permanente - pela implementação de um projeto necropolítico -, o trabalho baseou-se em quatro eixos teóricos principais: a violência de Estado, a necropolítica, o racismo estrutural e os adolescentes autores de atos infracionais. Para pensar os efeitos psicossociais da segregação, da violência, do racismo e da criminalização da pobreza na construção da subjetividade dos adolescentes autores de atos infracionais, o trabalho teve como método a análise do livro "Memórias de um Sobrevivente", de Luiz Alberto Mendes. As discussões abrangem o crime enquanto status e visibilidade; as análises de uma vida imersa em violência generalizada; e as torturas policiais em relação com a violência por vingança. Conclui-se que os estigmas aprisionam o sujeito em crenças de que ele só tem capacidade de ser o "marginal esperado", quem reage violentamente como efeito psicossocial de uma violência estrutural que produz sujeitos agressivos. Assim, a criação de novas práticas de atuação em psicologia nas situações sociais críticas se faz imprescindível e urgente. (AU)

In the research at hand, we explore the relationship between State violence and criminality in the lives of adolescents residing in marginalized commu-nities who have committed delinquent acts, from the perspective of Social Psychology. Addressing the historical context of structural violence in Brazil as a manifestation of a democratic state of permanent exception - through the implementation of a necropolitical agenda - this study is founded on four primary theoretical pillars: State violence, necropolitics, structural racism, and adolescent offenders. To contemplate the psychosocial repercussions of segregation, violence, racism, and the criminalization of poverty in the formation of the subjectivity of adolescent delinquents, this work employs the analysis of the book "Memórias de um Sobrevivente" by Luiz Alberto Mendes as its methodology. Discussions encompass the concept of crime as a social status and its visibility; analyses of a life deeply entrenched in pervasive violence; and police brutality within the context of retaliatory violence. Our conclusion asserts that the societal stigmas ensnare these adolescents, confining them to the belief that they are destined to be the "expected delinquent," predisposed to react violently as a psychosocial response to the structural violence that fosters aggressive behaviors. Consequently, the development of novel psychological interventions in critical social contexts is both imperative and urgent. (AU)

En la investigación en cuestión, la violencia estatal está relacionada con la criminalidad en la vida de los adolescentes de la periferia que cometieron delitos, por la perspectiva de la Psicología Social. Abordando la historicidad de la violencia estructural, en Brasil, como una configuración de un estado democrático de excepción permanente - a través de la implementación de un proyecto necropolítico. El trabajo se basó en cuatro ejes teóricos: la violencia de Estado, necropolítica, racismo estructural y adolescentes autores de actos infraccionales. Para reflexionar sobre los efectos psicosociales de la segregación, violencia, racismo y criminalización de la pobreza en la construcción de la subjetividad de los adolescentes en conflicto con la ley, fue utilizado el análisis del libro "Memórias de um Sobrevivente", de Luiz Alberto Mendes. Los debates abarcan el crimen como estatus y visibilidad; análisis de una vida inmersa en la violencia generalizada; y tortura policial en relación con la violencia por venganza. Se concluye que los estigmas aprisionan al sujeto en creencias de que solo tiene la capacidad de ser el "marginal esperado", que reacciona violentamente como efecto psicosocial de una violencia estructural que produce sujetos agresivos. Así, la creación de nuevas prácticas en psicología en situaciones sociales críticas es fundamental y urgente. (AU)

Primary and Secondary Capacities in the Context of Positive Psychotherapy in Individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder: The Relationship with Criminal Behaviors and Anger. / Antisosyal Kisilik Bozuklugu Olan Bireylerde Pozitif Psikoterapi Baglaminda Birincil ve Ikincil Yetenekler: Suç Isleme Davranislari ve Öfke ile Iliskisi.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of primary (PCs) and secondary capacities (SCs) in individuals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and the effects of these capacities on delinquent behaviors and anger levels. METHODS: 101 male patients aged 18 years and over with a diagnosis of ASPD were divided into two groups as those with a criminal ASPD (cASPD) diagnosis (n=37) and those with a non-criminal ASPD (ncASPD) diagnosis (n=64). Participants were evaluated using a sociodemographic form, Wiesbaden's Inventory of Positive Psychotherapy and Family Therapy (WIPPF-2) and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI). Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 22.0 program; significance level was taken as p0.05. RESULTS: PCs, SCs and anger control levels of people with ASPD were lower while trait anger, anger expression and anger import were higher than the control group. In cASPD, among the PCs, belief (ß=0.796, p=0.032), hope (ß=-1.069, p=0.011), relationship (ß=-0.980, p=0.007) and sexuality (ß=0.937, p=0.021) predicted anger-out, and among the SAs politeness (ß=-1.020, p=0.002) and reliability (ß=1.140, p=0.001) predicted trait anger level. In ncASPD, patience predicted anger-out (ß=-1.752, p=0.001) and anger control (ß=1.468, p=0.002); belief (ß=1.468, p=0.005) and trust (ß=-0.845, p=0.002) predicted anger control. CONCLUSIONS: Positive psychotherapy can be effective in improving PCs and SCs of individuals with ASPD, improving interpersonal relationships, reducing criminal behaviors, anger management and psychotherapeutic treatment of ASPD.

Criminology and identity: A theoretical review / Criminología e identidad: una revisión teórica / Criminologia e identidade: uma revisão teórica

This article is a literature review describing and analysing the main theoretical and empirical developments that have addressed the concept of identity and its role in crime based on criminology and other disciplines. The literature review was based on a search both in Spanish and English in the Web of Knowledge, Scopus, and Scielo databases. The exposition of theoretical proposals follows a chronological and disciplinary field order, including identity perspective, the sociology of deviance, developmental criminology, and several of the leading contemporary approaches. It highlights the dissemination and importance of identity perspective between the 1950s and 1970s and the subsequent criticism that it was reductionist, lacking theoretical support, and not in dialogue with other criminological proposals. Thereupon, emphasis is placed on the subsequent contributions and proposals, which demonstrate the consistency of the concept, as well as its versatility and articulation with different disciplinary approaches to the understanding of the criminal phenomenon. The conclusion highlights the richness of the concept, its projections, and the importance of its revitalisation.

Este artículo es una revisión bibliográfica en la que se describen y analizan los principales desarrollos tanto teóricos como empíricos que han abordado el concepto de identidad y su rol asociado a la delincuencia, desde la criminología y otras disciplinas. La revisión bibliográfica se basó en una búsqueda en español e inglés en las bases de datos Web of Knowledge, Scopus y Scielo. La exposición de propuestas teóricas sigue un orden cronológico y de campo disciplinar, incluyendo la perspectiva de la identidad, la sociología de la desviación, la criminología del desarrollo y algunos de los principales planteamientos contemporáneos. Se destaca la difusión e importancia que tuvo la perspectiva de la identidad entre los años cincuenta y setenta, y la posterior crítica que la señaló como reduccionista, carente de sustento teórico y poco dialogante con otras propuestas criminológicas. Luego se enfatiza en las contribuciones y propuestas posteriores, las que dan cuenta de la consistencia del concepto, así como de su versatilidad y articulación con distintas aproximaciones disciplinares abocadas a la comprensión del fenómeno delictivo. Se concluye destacando la riqueza del concepto, sus proyecciones y la importancia de su revitalización.

Este artigo é uma revisão bibliográfica que descreve e analisa os principais desenvolvimentos teóricos e empíricos que abordaram o conceito de identidade e seu papel associado ao crime, a partir da criminologia e de outras disciplinas. A revisão bibliográfica baseou-se em uma busca em espanhol e inglês nas bases de dados Web of Knowledge, Scopus e Scielo. A apresentação das propostas teóricas segue uma ordem cronológica e disciplinar de campo, incluindo a perspectiva identitária, a sociologia do desvio, a criminologia do desenvolvimento e algumas das principais abordagens contemporâneas. Destaca-se a difusão e importância que a perspectiva identitária teve entre as décadas de 1950 e 1970. E as críticas posteriores que a apontaram como reducionista, carente de respaldo teórico e pouco diálogo com outras propostas criminológicas. Em seguida, destacam-se as contribuições e propostas subsequentes, que dão conta da consistência do conceito, bem como da sua versatilidade e articulação com diferentes abordagens disciplinares destinadas à compreensão do fenómeno criminal. Conclui-se destacando a riqueza do conceito, suas projeções e a importância de sua revitalização.

Aproximación al ciberdelincuente desde la perspectiva del control social / Approaching the cybercriminal from a perspective of social control / Abordagem do criminoso cibernético a partir de uma perspectiva de controle social

El presente artículo aporta un acercamiento al ciberdelincuente identificando las características comunes en la personalidad de quienes delinquen en este escenario. Para llevar a cabo la investigación, se tomó una muestra de diecinueve expertos que forman parte de la Dirección de Investigación Criminal e INTERPOL, abordados por entrevista en profundidad. Los datos obtenidos fueron tratados desde un diseño hermenéutico con énfasis en la teoría fundamentada, por medio de tres fases elaboradas en análisis matricial de codificación abierta, selectiva y teórica; a partir de las cuales se establecen algunas de las tácticas del ciberdelincuente desplegadas en el ciberespacio a través de tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones; su descripción desde el modelo big five y se identifican algunas de sus características como la falta de empatía, escrúpulos, incapacidad para el control de emociones, confianza y capacidad de innovar sus modus operandi(Sánchez y Robles, 2013). Finalmente, desde las teorías del control social se han estudiado el ciberdelito y los actos del ciberdelincuente de una manera formal que vela por encontrar estrategias de control del Estado, según González (2010), o informal, que busca los motivos que conducen a cometer delitos, como lo afirma López (2015), a partir de lo cual, al final, se presentan algunas recomendaciones.

This article provides an approach to cybercriminals by identifying the common characteristics in the personality of those who commit crimes in this scenario. In order to carry out the research, a sample of nineteen experts from the Criminal Investigation Directorate and INTERPOL were interviewed in depth. The data obtained were treated based on a hermeneutic design with emphasis on grounded theory, by means of three phases elaborated in matrix analysis of open, selective and theoretical coding; from which some of the tactics of cybercriminals deployed in cyberspace through information and communication technologies are established; their description based on the big five model and the identification of several of their characteristics such as lack of empathy, scruples, the inability to control emotions, confidence and the ability to innovate their modus operandi (Sánchez y Robles, 2013). Finally, theories of social control have studied cybercrime and the acts of cybercriminals in a formal way that seeks to find strategies to control the State, according to González (2010), or informally, seeking the motives that lead to committing crimes, as stated by López (2015), on the basis of which, at the end, some recommendations are presented.

Este artigo traz uma abordagem sobre os cibercriminosos, identificando as características comuns na personalidade de quem comete crimes nesse cenário. Para a realização da investigação foi recolhida uma amostra de dezanove peritos que integram a Direcção de Investigação Criminal e a INTERPOL, abordados através de entrevista em profundidade. Os dados obtidos foram tratados a partir de um desenho hermenêutico com ênfase na teoria fundamentada, por meio de três fases desenvolvidas em análise matricial de codificação aberta, seletiva e teórica; a partir da qual se estabelecem algumas das táticas cibercriminosas implantadas no ciberespaço através das tecnologias de informação e comunicação; A sua descrição baseia-se no modelo dos big five e são identificadas algumas das suas características, como a falta de empatia, escrúpulos, incapacidade de controlar emoções, confiança e capacidade de inovar o seu modus operandi (Sánchez y Robles, 2013). Por fim, a partir das teorias de controle social, o cibercrime e os atos dos cibercriminosos têm sido estudados de forma formal, que busca encontrar estratégias de controle do Estado, segundo González (2010), ou informalmente, que busca os motivos que levam ao cometimento dos crimes. , conforme afirma López (2015), a partir do qual, ao final, são apresentadas algumas recomendações.

The risk of criminal behavior in the elderly and patients with neurodegenerative disease.

Behavioral changes are commonly observed in patients with dementia and can lead to criminal offenses, even without a history of criminal or antisocial behavior. Due to the growth of the aging population, this poses a rising problem to deal with for the criminal justice system and in general for society. Criminal behavior may include minor crimes such as theft or traffic violations, but also serious crimes such as physical abuse, sexual offense, or murder. In the assessment of criminal behavior among elderly (first-time) offenders, it is important to be aware of possible neurodegenerative diseases at the time of the crime. This book chapter provides an overview on criminal behavior in the elderly and specifically discusses existing literature on patients suffering from a neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson disease, and Huntington disease. Each section is introduced by a true case to illustrate how the presence of a neurodegenerative disease may affect the criminal judgment. The chapter ends with a summary, multifactorial model of crime risk, future perspectives, and concluding remarks.

Cognition, criminal conduct, and virtual reality: Understanding and reducing offending using simulated environments.

Over the past years, research has shown that virtual reality (VR) technology can be used to observe, interpret, and change human behavior and cognition in a variety of domains. This chapter explores the potential of VR as a tool to observe, interpret, and change human behavior and cognition as they relate to antisocial behavior. We review the criminological research literature as well as research literature from related disciplines on VR applications that has focused on observing and reducing antisocial behavior. The main findings of our review suggest that the key merits of VR in the domain of crime and antisocial behavior are its ability to provide safe learning environments that would otherwise involve risk, the possibility of generating ethical and ecologically valid virtual alternatives for real-life situations, and the development of stimuli that are impossible to create in real life. These unique characteristics make VR a promising tool to observe criminal behavior as it takes place and develop intervention programs to reduce antisocial behavior.

The effect of functional remission and cognitive insight on criminal behavior in patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTiVE: This study was planned to determine the relationship of functional remission with a criminal history and determine its effect on criminal behavior in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 132 patients with schizophrenia (66 with and 66 without a criminal history). Data were collected between November 2020 and April 2021 using a personal information form, the Functional Remission of General Schizophrenia (FROGS), the Taylor Crime Violence Rating Scale, the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale, and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to collect data. RESULTS: In terms of all scale variables, there were significant differences between the groups with and without a criminal history (p < 0.05). These differences were mostly clearly observed in the FROGS-social functionality (effect size: 16.79), PANSS-positive (effect size: 2.62) and FROGS-health and treatment (effect size: 2) subscales. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was determined that as the symptoms of the illness increased in schizophrenia, the patients' functional remission and insight decreased, and their tendency to commit crimes increased. Psychiatric nurses can plan therapeutic interventions to increase the functionality and insight levels of patients with schizophrenia.

Criminality rates in those sentenced for femicide in Mexico / Niveles de criminalidad en personas sentenciadas por el delito de feminicidio en México / Níveis de criminalidade em pessoas condenadas pelocrime de feminicídio no México

Introduction:Violence against women is a problem that affects the worldwide population, with its maximum expression being femicide. Due to the recent and unequal legislation regarding this phenomenon, recent studies have focused on identifying types of aggressors where criminal behavior plays an important role as a risk factor. Likewise, very few studies exist with people who have committed femicide. Objective:To determine the criminality rates in those sentenced for the crime of femicide. Materials and methods:A list with 20 dimensions was used to evaluate 62 people arrested for the crime of femicide. Results:4 levels of criminality were found, which can be classified from low to high; the principal indicators that marked differences between these levels where domestic violence and a history of alcohol and drug use. Conclusion:The indicators that marked the differences between the levels of criminality are a history of intimate partner violence used to resolve conflicts which is associated with use of alcohol and psychoactive drugs.

Introducción: La violencia en contra de la mujer es un problema que afecta a la población mundial, teniendo su máxima expresión a través del feminicidio. Debido a la reciente y desigual legislación de este fenómeno, estudios al respecto son recientes y han girado en torno a determinar tipologías de agresores donde la criminalidad juega un papel importante como factor de riesgo. Así mismo, existen muy pocos estudios directos con personas que han cometido feminicidio.Objetivo: Conocer el nivel de criminalidad en sentenciados por el delito de feminicidio. Materiales y métodos: A través de una lista con 20 dimensiones se evaluó a 62 personas privadas de su libertad por el delito de feminicidio.Resultados: Se encontraron cuatro niveles de criminalidad que van de baja a muy alta, los principales indicadores que marcan la diferencia entre estos niveles son los que se refieren a la violencia de pareja e historia de consumo de alcohol y drogas.Conclusión: Los indicadores que marcan la diferencia entre los niveles de criminalidad, se encuentran una historia de violencia hacia la pareja como una forma de resolver conflictos, asociada al consumo de alcohol y sustancias psicoactivas.

Introdução:A violência contra a mulher é um problema que afeta a população mundial, tendo sua expressão máxima por meio do feminicídio. Devido à recente e desigual legislação sobre o fenômeno, os estudos a respeito são recentes e têm girado em torno da determinação de tipos de agressores onde a criminalidade desempenha um papel importante como fator de risco. Da mesma forma, são poucos os estudos diretos com pessoas que cometeram feminicídio. Objetivo:Conhecer o nível de criminalidade em condenados pelo crime de feminicídio. Materiais e métodos:Através de uma lista com 20 dimensões, foram avaliadas 62 pessoas privadas de liberdade pelo crime de feminicídio. Resultados:Foram encontrados quatro níveis de criminalidade, que variam de baixo a muito alto, sendo que os principais indicadores que fazem a diferença entre esses níveis são aqueles relacionados à violência por parceiro íntimo e histórico de uso de álcool e drogas. Conclusão:A criminalidade surge como uma categoria de análise, que busca explicar algumas características nas pessoas que cometeram esse crime, porém, é preciso considerar outros fatores como cultura, estrutura social e características da população reclusa por feminicídio.

Tax rules on wealth imbalance and the investigation of money laundering in Peru / Las reglas tributarias sobre desbalances patrimoniales y la investigación del lavado de activos: el caso peruano / Regras tributárias sobre desproporções patrimoniais e investigação de lavagem de dinheiro: o caso peruano

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using the tax methodology for determining unjustified increases in assets in money laundering cases heard in the courts. It also seeks to identify the errors made by the Tax Authority with the purpose of ascertaining whether these errors could hinder the successful application of the methodology in investigations of money laundering cases. In order to achieve these objectives, a mixed research methodology was conducted that included the analysis of rulings issued during the years 2020 and 2021 by the Peruvian Tax Court and sentences issued by the judiciary. This was complemented by semi-structured interviews with experts from the public sector, academia and accounting with relevant experience on the subject. The study found that there are some practical issues in the application of the methodology that can be overcome and that do not represent an insurmountable constraint. The study also found that the tax methodology allows for a more effective clarification of asset imbalances, and concludes that, once implementation errors have been overcome, the tax methodology can be feasibly employed to the benefit of money laundering investigations.

Esta investigación tiene como objetivos evaluar la factibilidad de utilizar la metodología tributaria de determinación de incrementos patrimoniales no justificados en la investigación de desbalances patrimoniales de casos de lavado de dinero ventilados en la vía jurisdiccional e identificar los errores que ha cometido la Administración Tributaria, a fin de establecer si estos representan problemas que pudieran dificultar la aplicación de la metodología a la investigación de casos de lavado de dinero. Con el propósito de lograr estos objetivos se condujo una investigación mixta que incluyó el análisis de las resoluciones emitidas durante los años 2020 y 2021 por el Tribunal Fiscal y sentencias emitidas por el poder judicial. Esto se complementó con entrevistas semiestructuradas a expertos del sector público, la academia y peritos contables con experiencia relevante sobre el tema. La investigación encontró que existen algunos empirismos aplicativos que pueden ser superados y que no representan ninguna restricción que no pueda ser gestionada. Se halló también que la metodología tributaria permite esclarecer de manera más efectiva los desbalances patrimoniales. La investigación concluye que, superados los errores de ejecución, es factible utilizar con ventaja la metodología tributaria en las investigaciones de lavado de dinero.

O objetivo desta pesquisa é avaliar a viabilidade do uso da metodología tributária para determinar aumentos injustificados de patrimônio na investigação de desproporções patrimoniais em casos de lavagem de dinheiro julgados nos tribunais e identificar os erros cometidos pela Administração Tributária, a fim de estabelecer se estes representam problemas que poderiam dificultar a aplicação da metodologia na investigação de casos de lavagem de dinheiro. Para atingir esses objetivos, foi realizada uma pesquisa mista que incluiu a análise de decisões emitidas durante 2020 e 2021 pelo Tribunal Tributário e sentenças emitidas pelo judiciário. Isso foi complementado por entrevistas semiestruturadas com especialistas do setor público, acadêmicos e especialistas em contabilidade com experiência relevante no assunto. A pesquisa constatou que existem alguns empirismos de aplicação que podem ser superados e que não representam nenhuma restrição que não possa ser gerenciada. Também foi constatado que a metodología tributária permite um esclarecimento mais eficaz das desproporções patrimoniais. Na pesquisa, conclui-se que, uma vez superados os erros de implementação, é viável utilizar a metodologia tributária com vantagem nas investigações de lavagem de dinheiro.

Reporting Ethics Approval in Articles on Criminality. An Audit of Adherence to Swedish Legislation.

According to the Swedish Ethics Review Act, research involving personal data on crimes should undergo independent ethics review. To explore the reporting of ethics approval, we extracted information from articles with Swedish personal data on crimes published in 2013-2021. Of the identified 298 articles, 92 (31%) failed to report ethics approval. Failures were particularly common in articles with a qualitative design, single or few authors and when there was a social science focus. Failures varied markedly between universities. We conclude that failures to report compulsory ethics approval are common in articles involving personal data on crime and that these failures vary markedly with the research setting. Several indicators of poor adherence to the Ethics Review Act have been identified.

A test for implicit bias in discretionary criminal justice decisions.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to develop a framework to test for implicit racial bias in discretionary decisions made by community supervision agents in conditions with increasing information ambiguity. HYPOTHESES: We reasoned that as in-person contact decreases, community supervision officers' specific knowledge of clients would be replaced by heuristics that lead to racially disproportionate outcomes in higher discretion events. Officers' implicit biases would lead to disproportionately higher technical violation rates among Black community corrections' clients when they have less personal contact, but we expected no analogous increase in nondiscretionary decisions. METHOD: Using data from Black and White clients entering probation and postrelease supervision in North Carolina from 2012 through 2016, we estimated the difference in racial disparities in discretionary versus nondiscretionary decisions across five levels of supervision. We evaluated the robustness of our main fixed-effects model using an alternative regression discontinuity design. RESULTS: Racial disparities in discretionary decisions grew as supervision intensity decreased, and the bias was larger for women than men. There was no similar pattern of increased disparity for nondiscretionary decisions. CONCLUSIONS: Criminal justice system actors have a great deal of discretion, particularly in how they deal with less serious criminal behavior. Although decentralized decisions are foundational to the function of the criminal justice system, they provide an opportunity for implicit bias to seep in. Shortcuts and mental heuristics are more influential when the decision-maker's mental resources are already strained-for instance, if someone is tired, distracted, or overworked. Therefore, limiting discretion and increasing oversight and accountability may reduce the impact of implicit bias on criminal justice system outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Criminal Behaviour After Diagnosis of a Neurocognitive Disorder: A Nationwide Finnish Register Study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore criminal behavior of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), or Lewy body dementias (LBD) after the diagnosis. DESIGN: Nationwide register study. SETTING: Information on diagnoses and criminality was received from Finnish registers. Crime types and incidences were compared between disorders and the general population. PARTICIPANTS: All Finnish individuals diagnosed with AD, LBD, or FTD (n = 92 189) during 1998-2015. MEASUREMENTS: Types of crimes and incidences, the standardized criminality ratio (SCR, number of actual crimes per number of expected crimes), numbers of observed cases, and person-years at risk counted in 5-year age groups and for both sexes and yearly. RESULTS: Among men, at least one crime was committed by 2.8% of AD, 7.2% of FTD, and 4.8% of LBD patients. Among women, the corresponding figures were 0.4%, 2.0%, and 2.1%. The most frequent type of crime was traffic offence, followed by property crime. After age adjustment, the relative number of crimes between groups did not differ, except that men with FTD and LBD committed more crimes than those with AD. The SCR (95% CI) among men were 0.40 (0.38-0.42) in AD, 0.45 (0.33-0.60) in FTD, and 0.52 (0.48-0.56) in LBD. Among women, these were 0.34 (0.30-0.38), 0.68 (0.39-1.09), and 0.59 (0.51-0.68). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of a neurocognitive disorder does not increase criminal behavior, but rather reduces it by up to 50%. Differences in crime activity are present between different neurocognitive disorders and between the sexes.

The Suitability of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire in Criminal Offender Samples.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common in community samples and are associated with various dysfunctional physical, psychological, and behavioral consequences. In this regard, criminal offenders are at specific risk, considering their elevated ACE rates compared with community samples and the associations of ACEs with criminal behaviors. However, assessing ACEs in offender samples by self-reports has been criticized with regard to their validity and reliability. We examined the suitability of ACE-self-reports using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) in a sample of 231 male offenders involved in the German criminal justice system by comparing self-reported to externally rated ACEs to externally rated ACEs based on the information from the offenders' criminal and health-related files and on interviews conducted by forensically trained psychological/psychiatric experts. The accordance between self-ratings and expert ratings was examined considering mean differences, correlations, inter-rater agreement measures, and regression analyses. Offenders themselves reported a higher ACE burden than the one that was rated externally, but there was a strong relationship between CTQ self-assessments and external assessments. However, associations were stronger in offenders seen for risk assessment than in those evaluated for criminal responsibility. Overall, the CTQ seems suitable for use in forensic samples. However, reporting bias in self-reports of ACEs should be expected. Therefore, the combination of self-assessments and external assessments seems appropriate.

A Moderated Mediation Analysis to Further Examine the Role of Verbal Intelligence in the Association Between Psychopathic Personality and Crime.

The current study examined the association between psychopathy, criminal behavior, and the role of verbal intelligence. One promising approach is to examine alternative links between psychopathic traits and criminality like moderation and mediation effects by considering the potential relevance of verbal intelligence as a possible moderating variable. We hypothesized that psychopathic traits linearly predict antisocial behavior (ASB) but that a conviction because of ASB is moderated by verbal intelligence. To test a path model of this hypothesis, N = 305 participants (42% women; n = 172 inmates of German correctional facilities) filled in questionnaires to assess psychopathic traits, ASB, criminal behavior, and verbal intelligence. The moderated mediation analysis revealed that high psychopathic traits go along with a higher number of ASB, whereas individuals with higher verbal intelligence were more likely to evade detection, thus being more successful in their antisocial acts. These results sheds further light on the construct of adaptive psychopathy, supporting the notion that also non-incarcerated psychopathic individuals act highly antisocial. Only separate factors like verbal intelligence might mitigate negative consequences. Further implications for the concept of successful psychopathy are discussed.