NCJ Number
73139
Journal
Medicine legale et dommage corporel Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (April-June 1972) Pages: 128-138
Date Published
1972
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Six cases of double Y-chromosome aberrations from the security ward of Cadillac psychiatric hospital are described and the legal responsibility of such subjects is discussed.
Abstract
Five of the six subjects examined exhibit large size and physical anomalies, e.g., cranial irregularities, reduced body hair, and small genitals. Five subjects also have reduced mental faculties and personality disturbances, but no specific pattern of mental illness is evident, and patients differ little from other mentally ill offenders. Hormonal levels are normal except for the urinary testosterone level, which is somewhat lower than normal. Five of the subjects suffer from fertility problems resulting from a number of conditions (e.g., spermatic anomalies and low sperm counts). The XYY anomaly does seem to predispose individuals to behavioral problems, to aggressiveness, and to delinquency, but these tendencies are not irrevocable. Such individuals cannot be considered insane or driven by an uncontrollable force. Still, the condition may be considered psychopathological in individual cases. The degree of criminal responsibility found under existing law may vary from total competence to total incompetence. Tables and a 53-item bibliography are supplied. --in French.