Law Commons^™

A Gene × Gene Interaction Between Drd2 And Drd4 Is Associated With Conduct Disorder And Antisocial Behavior In Males, Kevin M. Beaver, John Paul Wright, Matt Delisi, Anthony Walsh, Michael G. Vaughn, Danielle Boisvert, Jamie Vaske

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Antisocial behaviors are complex polygenic phenotypes that are due to a multifactorial arrangement of genetic polymorphisms. Little empirical research, however, has been undertaken that examines gene × gene interactions in the etiology of conduct disorder and antisocial behavior. This study examined whether adolescent conduct disorder and adult antisocial behavior were related to the dopamine D2 receptor polymorphism (DRD2) and the dopamine D4 receptor polymorphism (DRD4).

Methods: A sample of 872 male participants from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) completed self-report questionnaires that tapped adolescent conduct disorder and adult antisocial behavior. DNA was genotyped for DRD2 …

Effects Of Individual Characteristics On Plea Negotiations Under Sentencing Guidelines, Erika Davis Frenzel, Jeremy Ball

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Research conducted on the decision points between arrest and sentencing is scarce. The current study attempts to fill this gap by focusing on plea negotiations, examining the effects of individual characteristics on plea bargaining decisions by using two dependent variables – a two-category dependent variable analyzing negotiated pleas vs. non-negotiated pleas and a three-category dependent variable analyzing negotiated pleas, non-negotiated pleas, and bench/jury trial convictions. The results from the multinomial logistic regression indicate that individual characteristics are predictors of negotiated guilty pleas compared to a trial conviction. Black offenders were more likely than white offenders to have their case go …