A malfunctioning brain

Is criminal behavior inevitable? Yes, say some. According to CrimeTimes, "It has been established that four to six percent of boys of a given age will commit over half of all the serious crime produced by all boys of that age. That four to six percent is not going to be helped by counseling, better education, or tougher laws. To assume so overlooks the fact that most of these individuals lack the innate ability to benefit because of their dyslogic, lack of insight, lack of fear, impulsivity, and inability to realize the consequences of their actions or learn from experience."

Stong stuff. But wait. There's more from that same article.

"Their basic problem is not TV violence, poor parenting, poor teaching, broken homes, or poverty. There are too many good, law-abiding citizens who have grown up under these same circumstances. Such problems most certainly can contribute to crime and violence, but the basic problem in the hard-core offender is more likely to be a malfunctioning brain."

Did Christopher Scott Emmett have a malfunctioning brain? Did anyone test him? According to research out there, varying sizes of frontal lobes and a small amygdala impact our cognitive abilities. Does that mean there are people "destined" to find themselves on death row because they simply don't have the mental capability to make good choices? We don't hold the mentally retarded accountable for their criminal actions. Should we hold those with malfunctioning brains accountable?