Criminals are made, not born: how when you live shapes whether you will break the law

"In Marked by Time, criminologist Robert Sampson sets out the degree to which academic theory, policing and court practice depend on this idea. He also lays out evidence that it is a fundamentally wrong-headed assumption: it neglects the role of changing historical circumstances in influencing a person's chances of first being arrested, which subsequently affects whether they become a repeat offender."

"The idea that a person's character is central to their risk of committing crime is prominent in the field of crime theory. As Sampson concedes, some evidence does indicate that children who are impulsive or lack self-control are more likely to engage in criminal activity as teenagers and adults. A classic study, for example, showed that antisocial behaviour in childhood was a strong predictor of antisocial behaviour in adulthood ( L. N. Robins Psychol. Med. 8, 611-622; 1978)."

"Yet Sampson notes that many, if not all, of these long-term studies are based on samples from single historical periods. If character were the key factor in determining who becomes a criminal, its relevance should remain stable across history, even during periods of rapid social change."

"Disquieting but effective, Sampson's book makes a compelling case for rooting out character-based assumptions - and for factoring in historical context - at all stages of the criminal-justice system."

Character-based explanations for chronic offending treat criminal disposition as stable and central to future crime. Evidence links childhood impulsivity and low self-control to later antisocial behavior, including long-term studies showing continuity from childhood to adulthood. Many studies rely on samples from single historical periods, so stability across times of rapid social change is not established. Historical context influences opportunities for first arrest, and first arrest then affects whether repeat offending occurs. Policing and court practices that assume fixed criminal character overlook how changing social conditions alter trajectories into the justice system. Rooting out character-based assumptions and incorporating historical context can improve decisions at all stages of criminal justice.

Read at Nature