Several questions arise from the recent use of behavioral genetic research data in the courtroom. Ethical issues concerning the influence of biological factors on human free will, must be considered when specific gene patterns are advocated to constrain court's judgment, especially regarding violent crimes. Aggression genetics studies are both difficult to interpret and inconsistent, hence, in the absence of a psychiatric diagnosis, genetic data are currently difficult to prioritize in the courtroom. The judge's probabilistic considerations in formulating a sentence must take into account causality, and the latter cannot be currently ensured by genetic data. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Behavioral genetics and criminal responsibility at the courtroom / Tatarelli, Roberto; DEL CASALE, Antonio; Caterina, Tatarelli; Serata, Daniele; Rapinesi, Chiara; Sani, Gabriele; Kotzalidis, Giorgio; Girardi, Paolo. - In: FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL. - ISSN 0379-0738. - STAMPA. - 237:(2014), pp. 40-45. [10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.01.011]
Behavioral genetics and criminal responsibility at the courtroom
TATARELLI, Roberto;DEL CASALE, ANTONIO;SERATA, DANIELE;RAPINESI, CHIARA;SANI, Gabriele;KOTZALIDIS, GIORGIO;GIRARDI, Paolo
2014
Abstract
Several questions arise from the recent use of behavioral genetic research data in the courtroom. Ethical issues concerning the influence of biological factors on human free will, must be considered when specific gene patterns are advocated to constrain court's judgment, especially regarding violent crimes. Aggression genetics studies are both difficult to interpret and inconsistent, hence, in the absence of a psychiatric diagnosis, genetic data are currently difficult to prioritize in the courtroom. The judge's probabilistic considerations in formulating a sentence must take into account causality, and the latter cannot be currently ensured by genetic data. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
