NCJ Number
212226
Journal
Criminal Justice Review Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: Autumn 2004 Pages: 304-316
Date Published
2004
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study explored the potential link between repeated acts of childhood and adolescent animal cruelty and later repeated acts of interpersonal violence toward humans among a sample of violent and nonviolent offenders.
Abstract
Growing public concern over violence in our society during the past few decades has sparked an increased focus on the potential link between prior acts of animal cruelty and acts of interpersonal violence. Utilizing a sample of 261 inmates at medium and maximum security prisons, this study examined how demographic attributes, childhood and adolescent characteristics, and repeated acts of animal cruelty impact recurrent acts of interpersonal violence during adulthood. The primary goal of the study was to determine whether male inmates in these prisons who had committed repeated acts of childhood and adolescent animal cruelty were more likely to have been convicted of repeated violent crimes against persons. An association between inmates’ recurrent childhood and adolescent acts of animal cruelty and subsequent repeated acts of aggression against humans was found. The findings suggest that, regardless of several demographic and familial differences in inmates’ backgrounds, specifically their race, education, residence, and parents’ marital status, animal cruelty emerged as a predictor of subjects’ later violent behavior toward humans. The only other predictive factor for later recurrent human violence was family size. In conclusion, animal cruelty may be a predictor of later adult violence. Tables, references