What psychological factors might assist in the investigation of violent crime?

How Psychology is helping in the prevention and investigation of Violent Crime

The identification of criminological factors which can act as predictors of offending behaviour is important, as the methods by which they contribute to the development and persistence of criminality can be utilised in programmes of intervention and treatment for the incarcerated population.

Similarly they can be used as a framework for helping to assess the risk of potential future reoffending. As Watt, Howells and Delfabbro (2004) argue:

identification of juvenile delinquents most at risk of continued offending and the factors contributing to such persistence is crucial in reducing offending behaviour (p143).

Intervention at an early stage in an offender’s life-course is especially important when considering that offending behaviour in adolescence is the single most important precursor of criminal behaviour in adulthood (Farrington, 1995 cited in Watt et al, 2004) and further that those who do persist in offending are at a greater risk of going on to commit more serious crimes.

Although multiple risk factors for future offending have been identified and numerous models of criminal…