Notes on Why People Commit Crimes (copy)

Why People Commit Crimes

Importance of Understanding Crime

• Crime as a Symptom: Crime should be viewed not just as a problem, but as a symptom of deeper issues.

• Key Roles of Deficits: Understanding crime involves identifying various deficits, disorders, and impairments that play crucial roles in criminal behavior. These factors serve as reasons or facilitators but are not excuses.

• Basis for Intervention: Understanding these factors aids in developing interventions and promoting behavioral change.

Key Considerations for Crime

• Factors:

  • Substance Use and Abuse

  • Mental Illness

  • Neurodevelopmental and Neurocognitive Impairments

  • Intellectual Deficits

  • Poverty/Disadvantage

  • Trauma (Child, Adolescent, Adult)

  • Exposure to Environmental Toxins

  • Educational Deficits

  • Employment Problems

  • Housing and Homelessness

• Prevalence of Impairments: Most criminal offenders exhibit one or more of these issues, with complex comorbidities making intervention challenging.

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs)

• Magnitude: 27 million Americans aged 12 and older are current users of illicit drugs (nearly 10% of the U.S. population).

• Alcohol Usage: Half of Americans are current drinkers, with 60 million binge drinkers and 17 million heavy drinkers.

• Impact on Crime: Around 80% of offenders in the justice system abuse drugs/alcohol, a rate 6-8 times higher than in the general population.

The Disease Model of Substance Abuse

• Neuroscience Basis: The disease model is supported by research on how substance use affects brain function and structure.

• Dopamine's Role: Addictive substances stimulate dopamine release in the brain's reward regions, leading to a heightened feeling of pleasure.

Neuroplasticity and the Brain's Response

• Definition: Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to change in response to various stimuli throughout life.

• Impact of Substance Abuse: Substance abuse alters both the structure and functioning of the brain, leading to cognitive impairments.

Neurocognitive Impairments from Substance Abuse

• Affected Abilities:

  • Sustained Attention

  • Self-Control

  • Valuing Future Events

  • Cognitive Flexibility

  • Working Memory

  • Planning

  • Higher Order Cognitive Skills

• Consequences: Impaired cognitive abilities can lead to behaviors associated with criminal activity, such as lack of self-control and attention deficits.

Mental Illness in the Population

• Prevalence: 25% of the U.S. population has a diagnosable mental disorder; around 6% suffer from serious mental illnesses (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder).

• CJS Statistics: 73% of women and 55% of men in state prisons have mental health problems. Serious mental illness prevalence is higher in the CJS compared to the general population.

Connection Between Mental Illness and Crime

• Recidivism Rates: 80% of mentally ill inmates released from prison re-offend within four years.

• Comorbidity: Criminality is more linked to the combination of mental illness and substance abuse rather than mental illness alone.

Neurocognitive Considerations

• Brain Function: Neurocognitive development is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, with trauma playing a significant role.

• Prefrontal Cortex Functionality: The prefrontal cortex is critical for executive functioning, moral judgment, and regulating emotions.

Impact of Poverty on Crime

• Wider Effects: Poverty adversely affects educational outcomes, employment, and family stability, contributing to crime-related issues and criminal behavior.

• Educational Deficits: Educational outcomes heavily influence incarceration rates; dropouts are significantly more likely to face legal issues.

Employment and Housing Issues

• Incarceration Rates: The homeless population faces dramatically higher rates of incarceration and often struggles with mental health and substance abuse issues.

• Employment Barriers: Many ex-offenders encounter significant barriers to employment post-incarceration, further perpetuating cycles of crime and poverty.

Conclusion

• Addressing Root Causes: Many criminal offenders exhibit multiple underlying problems related to impairment and socio-economic conditions that contribute to recidivism. Recognizing and addressing these issues is crucial in minimizing crime.