NCJ Number
56737
Journal
Lancet Volume: 1 Issue: 7436 Dated: (MARCH 5, 1966) Pages: 565-566
Date Published
1966
Length
2 pages
Annotation
THE CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NINE MALE OFFENDERS WITH ABNORMAL CHROMOSOME CONFIGURATIONS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
A SURVEY OF THE CHROMOSOME PATTERNS OF 197 OFFENDERS DETAINED UNDER MAXIMUM SECURITY AT A BRITISH MENTAL HOSPITAL FOUND THAT 7 HAD THE XYY SEX-CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITY. THE SAME ABNORMALITY WAS SUBSEQUENTLY IDENTIFIED IN TWO MORE PATIENTS AT THE SAME HOSPITAL. EIGHT OF THE CHROMOSOMALLY ABNORMAL MEN WERE MENTALLY RETARDED AND ONE WAS SCHIZOPHRENIC. THEIR CRIMES WERE NO DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF OTHER PATIENTS AT THE HOSPITAL, ALTHOUGH MOST HAD FREQUENTLY ABSCONDED FROM MENTAL HOSPITALS WHERE THEY HAD BEEN DETAINED, AND THEIR BEHAVIOR HAD OFTEN BEEN AGGRESSIVE AND VIOLENT. AS A GROUP, THE CHROMOSOMALLY ABNORMAL MEN WERE SIGNIFICANTLY TALLER THAN OTHER MALES IN THE HOSPITAL: SIX WERE OVER 6 FEET TALL. NO OTHER PHYSICAL TRAIT DISTINGUISHED THEM FROM OTHER MEN. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.