Nutrition and Criminal Behaviour

• NCJ Number: 85790
• Author(s): E A Stasiak
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 25 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: Paper presented at the American Correctional Association Congress, Toronto, Ontario, August 1982

Annotation

Frank nutritional deficiencies and certain metabolic deficits may be associated with maladaptive behavior. The offender population may suffer from a significantly higher incidence of these maladies than would be expected in the general population.

Abstract

Nutrition and environment play key roles in the development of cognitive potential and emotional stability. Under appropriate environmental conditions, nutritional deficiencies often result in irritability, apathy, and poor attentiveness. Orthomolecular practitioners and scientists have claimed that psychopathological behavior is affected by vitamin dependency, hypersensitivity or allergy to foodstuffs, and toxic substances and aberrant glucose metabolism (hypoglycemia). Little research has been conducted on this and other theories. The evidence to support the implication that hypoglycemia is a widespread condition in causing criminal action is lacking. Research supporting the orthomolecular viewpoint should be suspect because of the numerous methodological and statistical problems in these studies. In view of these findings, the report recommends implementation of a time-limited series of screening tests for nutritional and metabolic abnormalities as part of the correctional system. Biological treatment can only be an adjunct to traditional rehabilitation techniques. Over 30 references and a table depicting juvenile offenders' diets are included.