Monday, August 20, 2012

Lighter sentencing for genetic predispositions

This NY Times article discusses new experimental evidence that suggests that when judges (not juries) sentence criminals for whom there is evidence of genetic predisposition to violence and crime (in this experiment, psychopaths), they give lighter sentences than they otherwise would:

The new experiment focused on sentencing by judges, not jury verdicts. It found that neurobiological evidence reduced judges’ sentences by an average of about 7 percent for a fictional defendant convicted of battery and identified as a psychopath.


In the study, three researchers at the University of Utah tracked down 181 state judges from 19 states who agreed to read a fictional case file and assign a sentence to an offender, “Jonathan Donahue,” convicted of beating a restaurant manager senseless with the butt of a gun. All of the judges learned in their files that Mr. Donahue had been identified as a psychopath based on a standard interview — that is, he had a history of aggressive acts without showing empathy.

The case files distributed to the judges were identical, except that half included testimony from a scientist described as “a neurobiologist and renowned expert on the causes of psychopathy,” who said that the defendant had inherited a gene linked to violent, aggressive behavior. This testimony described how the gene variant altered the development of brain areas that generate and manage emotion.
***
The judges who read this testimony gave Mr. Donahue sentences that ranged from one to 41 years in prison, a number that varied with state guidelines. But the average was 13 years — a full year less than the average sentence issued by the judges who had not seen the testimony about genetics and the brain.
***
“But then those who read about the biological mechanism subtracted a year, as if to say, ‘This guy is really dangerous and scary, and we should treat him as such, but the biological evidence suggests that we can’t hold him as responsible for the behavior,’ ” said James Tabery, an assistant professor of philosophy at Utah.
***
This mixed result — added punishment for the defendant’s being identified as a psychopath, tempered by empathy for his having a possible genetic predisposition — provides a good illustration of what legal researchers call the double-edged sword of biobehavioral evidence. On one hand, a biological predisposition suggests that a person is likely to be dangerous in the future and should get a longer sentence; on the other, it implies a lower threshold of responsibility. The evidence could cut either way, depending on the judge.





79 comments:

  1. In my experience, my mentor has repeatedly gotten away with overly violent behavior, including murder due to his predisposition. Always the victim, deserving of everyone's pity. All 6 foot 7 of his 380 frame. SCARY!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. your mentor for which profession?

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    2. He must have an enormous vanschtucker.

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    3. Young 'Frankenshtein'.love it :P

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  2. Wife. After beating me like a man, isolation began, then anyone or anything that refuse to abandon me disappeared or was found dead. Telling me about his "SUPERIOR ADVENTURES " to keep me in fear.

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    Replies
    1. I'm sorry, this isn't making much sense. Is it your wife, who is a mentor and beat you, are you the wife and was beaten by the mentor, or is your mentor teaching you how to be a wife, but beat you. Fucking hell this is confusing, I'm suspecting you're a troll

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  3. Perhaps your the troll, they confuse easily. You asked profession, I was his wife. I have become a suito socio due to example and experience.

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    Replies
    1. did he Psycho flex at himself in the mirror when you had sex?

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  4. I meant your mentors profession -_- Being a wife is not a profession

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    Replies
    1. It is an occupation, however.

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    2. Making sandwiches? I suppose so

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  5. Hey. Totaly off topic question but would Cameron Diaz in "Bad Teacher" be considered a sociopath?

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    Replies
    1. Cameron Diaz is not a sociopath, she is an actress... jeez~

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    2. Yes. Cameron Diaz, is definitely depicting a female sociopath in the movie 'Bad Teacher'. She did a beautiful job too.

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    3. Thanks. Thought so

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  6. Hubby could not maintain employment, but when he did it was in personal protection. He was stuck on taking momentos from him victims, people in fear seem to be so weak. If I let him yes he would flex in the mirror during sex. He always was looking in the mirror. Lots of victims to be found in San Francisco. I am a Commercial Driver, always employed.

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  7. TEEHEEE UKAN WANTS TO HAVE MAH BABEES UKAN WANTS HAVE MAH

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    TEEHEEEEEEEEE


























































































































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    NOW I KNO UKAN WANTS MAH BABEES TEEHEEEEEEEEE TEEHEEEE


















































































































































    TEEHEEE UKAN WANTS TO HAVE MAH BABEES UKAN WANTS HAVE MAH

    BABEES TEHEE MAH BABEES TEEHEE BABEES TEEHEEE

    TEEHEEEEEEEEE

    ReplyDelete
  8. She said, "Stop talking down to me. Talk here."

    I told her "Then stop being so below me."

    ReplyDelete
  9. Off the topic, but Ukan is doing a great job in the Forum. Thumbs up to you, Ukan!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. @ ANON 10:16

    TEEHEEE YEE, UKAN SEX HEE ON PILL BEECOZ HEE NO WANT MOR

    GRAN-BABEES, BUT MEE TRIE TO CONVINCE HEEM TO GET OFF PILL

    SOO WEE CAN HAV MOR BABEES. I THINK CONTWACEPTIVES ARE

    BADDD AND UNATUWAL TEEHEE
























































































    UKAN IS SEXEE. TEEHEE.






















































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    TEEHEE.

    ReplyDelete
  11. ME WAN GET HIM PWEGNANT. TEEHEE.














































































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    HEE HANDSOEM. TEEHEE.

    ReplyDelete
  12. MEE SORRY MEE SAID BAD THING S ABOUT UKAN BEEFOER. AT

    FIRST MEE NO

    LIEK HEEM, BUT NOW MEE IN LOEV WITH HEEM BECOZ HEE SO

    HANDSOEM. TEEHEE.

    ReplyDelete
  13. TEEHEE.
























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































    MEEE WANT RAVISH UKAN TEEHEEEEEEE



















































































































































    TEEHEE

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is this Monica doing this^?

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    2. It is Medusa :(

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    3. Monica doesn't spam. She is a goody two shoes suck up~

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    4. Only in her mind.

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  14. Who in the hell is this^?

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    Replies
    1. Medusa spams when people diss her.

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    2. After reading the forum, today, I would prefer to be a sociopath than a narcissist. A narcissist is truly a sick individual.....

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    3. You fool. In order to be a sociopath, the world has to be yours, your motives are for your best interest only, it's all about you, no one else matters... these are all narcissistic traits. The two fall on the same spectrum of personality disorder.

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    4. And you are a complete idiot in having these traits!

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    5. No. You are broken, damaged, disordered. Not necessarily an idiot.

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    6. No, you are projecting, Monica.

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    7. It's not medusa its ukan when he starts looking like a fool he does this. kinda psychotic if you ask me.

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    8. UKan spams, too. You are right. Shit, it is a pain in the ass.

      Delete
  15. Medusa spammed an asshole on the Forum when she was dissed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wrong. I did that because Erin was monopolizing the forum and it needed to be cleaned out. It worked quite well.

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    2. Ok, it is UKan. Thanks for the heads up, Medusa.

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    3. Wrong, Medusa.

      "How can I become a psychopath"
      "please stop"
      "oh no not again"
      "oh god"
      "someone tells me whats going on in his head"

      and of course the..."I don't want to be a victim anymore"

      I'm sure you did ask yourself all those questions, didn't you?

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    4. What the hell are you talking about?

      Is there anyone left here who doesn't have to lie to try to get to me?

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    5. Check page 35 and 36 of the forum

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    6. They weren't trolls, they were real questions you've asked yourself at some point.

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    7. Man, you are retarded.

      Have fun psychoanalyzing goatse, though.

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    8. I think he's right

      Delete
  16. He who cares looses, in a sociopath world

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i guess i lost a long time ago...

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    2. Sometimes when you loose, you win!

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    3. Is this one of those times?

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    4. How could it be one of those times? I have had no interaction with others.

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    5. I don't care.....

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    6. i wont hold that against you. unless you want me too.

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    7. Silence is golden. why so hostile?

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    8. extremity seems to care alot

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    9. What do you care about? I mean like whats the first thing you think about when you wake up?

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    10. coffee and a nice dump

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    11. i'm with you on the dump the coffee not so much, what about after that?

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    12. I take a warm shower

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    13. anything special about the shower?

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    14. not really, it's just warm, and gives me a good time to think. gives me time to admire myself in the reflection of my shower's door

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    15. and after that?

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    16. I'd dry myself, and admire my beautiful face in the mirror, thank god for creating such a beautiful individual.

      Delete
    17. dont forget to put your herb mask on gorgeous

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    18. yes, I do once every week, my skin is very smoothe, very beautiful...

      Delete
  17. "...sentences ranging from 1 to 41 years... average 13 years, 1 full year less..."
    The result is just part of the noise. bad science.

    ReplyDelete

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