biological treatment

• In the last 20 years, research has pointed to an emerging link between diet and crime, particularly the onset of aggressive and antisocial behaviour
• People who are deficient in particular types of minerals, vitamins and fatty acids are more likely to engage in aggressive and violent acts
• If an offender's diet is improved

  It should lead to a subsequent improvement in their general conduct
• High sugar diets

  Cause changes in blood sugar levels, leading to high glucose levels, major insulin secretions, and then hypoglycemia which is associated with irritability, difficulty making judgements, and violent outbursts
• Simon Moore et al (2009) found that among a group of violent offenders, 69% reported eating 'confectionary' (defined as sweets or sugary snacks) pretty much every day during childhood
• It would be unwise to conclude that some sugar causes violent crime, but this suggests that there may be a link between the two
• Brain function depends upon biochemical processes, and these in turn rely on a steady supply of the right sort of vitamins and minerals
• The most important nutrients in relation to criminal behaviour

  • Unsaturated fatty acids, particularly omega 3
  • Magnesium
  • Zinc
  • Iron
  • Vitamins B, C and D
• The more junk food that people consume, the less space there is in the diet for healthier nutritional content
• The lack of such nutrients has been linked to particular mental illnesses, such as depression, as well as behavioural problems such as aggression
• To improve the diet of offenders

  1. Establish a baseline measure of diet

  2. Ascertain what particular minerals and vitamins the offender is currently lacking

  3. Add a multivitamin to the offender's diet

  4. Monitor any affect on behaviour over a given period
• Bernard Gesch et al (2002) study


  • 231 inmates in a young offenders institute participated
  • Experimental group given daily vitamin, mineral and essential fatty acid supplement
  • Control group given placebo
  • Double-blind procedure used
  • Baseline measures of diet, anger, anxiety and depression taken
• In the experimental group

  There was a 35.1% reduction in disciplinary incidents per 'thousand working days'
• In the placebo control group

  The reduction in disciplinary incidents was only 6.7%
• In the experimental group

  There was a significant reduction in serious violent incidents of 37%
• In the placebo group

  The reduction in serious violent incidents was just 10.1%
• Ap Zaalberg (2010) study


  • 221 young male prisoners
  • Adding magnesium, vitamin D and omega 3 to the young offenders' diets decreased the number of violent events recorded by 35%
• Both Gesch et al's and Zaalberg's studies suggest that diet should be considered in the treatment of offenders
• Twinkie defence


  In 1979, Dan White's defence team argued that he had become obsessed with junk food and sugary drinks, causing problems with mood and 'out of character' behaviour
• A host of individual differences will moderate the effects of diet on behaviour among offending populations, including general lifestyle, frequency of exercise, age and the presence of non-food related mental disorders
• Schoenthaler (1983) found a 48% reduction in formal disciplinary incidents among 276 young offenders by reducing sugar consumption