Biological policies

• Drugs


  -Several biochemical processes such as effects of testosterone, substance abuse and diet deficiencies have been linked with criminality
• Drugs- Alcohol


  -Alcohol abuse can trigger violent behaviour.

  -The drug ANTABUSE is used in aversion therapy to treat alcoholism.

  -It prevents the body from breaking down alcohol, immediately causing unpleasant 'hangover' symptoms if the user consumes even a small quantity.
• Drugs- treating addicts


  -Heroin addiction leads addicts to commit crime to afford the drugs.

  -Methadone is used to convert addicts as a long-term alternative to heroin or to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

  -By providing a legal, medically controlled substiture, Methadone helps to reduce crime.
• Which biological theories can we link (drugs) to?


  -Substance Misuse

  -Sex hormones

  -Blood sugar levels

  -Brain injuries and Disorders
• Crime control and Lombroso.


  The theory of the born/hereditary criminal provided the scientific basis of many attempts to solve the problem of crime in society by eliminating reproductive opportunities for criminals through institutionalisation, prisons or surgical sterilisation.
• Chemical castration in prisons.


  -Stilbestrol is a form of 'chemical castration' that has been used in prison to treat male sex offenders.

  
  

  -Stilbestrol is a female hormone that supresses testosterone as a way of reducing men's sex drives.

  
  

  -However, is can have serious side effects including breast development, feminisation and serious psychiatric disorders.
• Medicating.pt 1


  -Gesch et al. found that supplementing prisoners' diets with vitamins, minerals and fatty acids caused a 'remarkable' reduction in anti-social behaviour (up to 37% in the case of violent incidents)

  
  

  -Vitamin B3 has been used to treat some forms of schizophrenia , a disorder sometimes associated with violent behaviour.
• Medicating. pt 2


  -Dietary changes have been used to try and control hyperactivity (which may lead to offending)- for example, removing foodstuffs containing the artificial colouring tartrazine from children's diets.

  -Sedatives and tranquilisers such as Valium and Librium have been often used to keep potentially troublesome or violent criminals calm.
• Crowd control


  -In addition to all these individualised treatments, other policies use methods aimed at controlling groups by using chemical substances.

  -For example, tear gas may be used to control crowds or disperse rioters.

  -It works by causing uncomfortable or distressing sensations, including vomiting, breathing difficulties and disorientation. It can also cause lung damage and even death