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On the Heritability of Criminal Justice Processing

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  • Brian B. Boutwell
  • Eric J. Connolly

Abstract

An impressive number of researchers have devoted a great amount of effort toward examining various predictors of criminal justice (CJ) processing outcomes. Indeed, a vast amount of research has examined various individual- and aggregate-level predictors of arrests, incarceration, and sentencing decisions. To this point, less attention has been devoted toward uncovering the relative contribution of genetic and environmental effects on variation in risk for CJ processing. As a result, the current study employs a behavioral genetic design to help fill this void in the existing literature. Using twin data from a national sample of youth, the current study produced evidence suggesting that genetic factors accounted for at least a portion of variance in risk for incarceration among female twins and probation among male twins. Shared and nonshared environmental influences accounted for the variance in risk for arrest among both female and male twins, probation among female twins, and incarceration among male twins. Ultimately, it appears that risk for contact with the CJ system and CJ processing is structured by a combination of factors beyond shared cultural and neighborhood environments, and appears to also include genetic factors. Moving forward, continuing to not use genetically sensitive research designs capable of estimating the role of genetic and nonshared environmental influences on CJ outcomes may result in misleading results.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian B. Boutwell & Eric J. Connolly, 2017. "On the Heritability of Criminal Justice Processing," SAGE Open, , vol. 7(3), pages 21582440177, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:7:y:2017:i:3:p:2158244017723408
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244017723408
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Schwartz, Joseph A. & Beaver, Kevin M., 2011. "Evidence of a gene × environment interaction between perceived prejudice and MAOA genotype in the prediction of criminal arrests," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 378-384.
    2. Chabris, C. F. & Lee, J. J. & Cesarini, D. & Benjamin, D. J. & Laibson, David I., 2015. "The Fourth Law of Behavior Genetics," Scholarly Articles 30780203, Harvard University Department of Economics.
    3. DeLisi, Matt & Beaver, Kevin M. & Wright, John Paul & Vaughn, Michael G., 2008. "The etiology of criminal onset: The enduring salience of nature and nurture," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 217-223, July.
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