NCJ Number
57277
Journal
Prevention Volume: 31 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1979) Pages: 64-68
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE EFFECT OF IMPROPER DIET ON CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND DESCRIBES EFFORTS TO IMPROVE OFFENDERS' MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH THROUGH NUTRITION IN OHIO, GEORGIA, COLORADO, AND WASHINGTON STATE.
Abstract
IMPROPER NUTRITION IS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH DEVIANT BEHAVIOR. THE HIGH INTAKE OF SUGAR MAY BE THE SINGLE GREATEST DIET PROBLEM AMONG REPEAT OFFENDERS, WHO, TYPICALLY, EAT FROM TWO TO FOUR TIMES AS MUCH SUGAR AS THE AVERAGE AMERICAN. SUCH A HIGH CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR CAN CAUSE A DISORDER IN BLOOD SUGAR METABOLISM CALLED HYPOGLYCEMIA; STUDIES SHOW THAT ALMOST 90 PERCENT OF ALL INMATES HAVE IT. SYMPTOMS CAN INCLUDE IRRITABILITY, PARANOIA, AND SUDDEN VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. FOOD ALLERGY MAY ALSO BE REFLECTED IN THE VICTIM'S PSYCHOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR, WITH SYMPTOMS OF APATHY, SLUGGISHNESS, OR HYPERACTIVITY. OTHER ALLERGIES TO SUBSTANCES FOUND IN AN OFFENDER'S ENVIRONMENT MAY TRIGGER CRIMINAL ACTIONS THAT APPEAR TO BE PSYCHOTICALLY BASED, AS CAN POISONING BY HEAVY METALS SUCH AS LEAD, CADMIUM, MERCURY, AND ARSENIC. IF AN OFFENDER IS DRIVEN TO DEVIANT BEHAVIOR BY ONE OF THESE FACTORS BUT IS LABELED BY SOCIETY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A COMMON CRIMINAL, THEN HE OR SHE MAY DEVELOP A SELF-IMAGE AS A CRIMINAL AND THUS BEGIN A CRIMINAL CAREER. VARIOUS PROGRAMS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DEAL WITH THE CRIMINOGENIC NUTRITIONAL BAD HABITS OF OFFENDERS. IN PITKIN COUNTY, COLO., 500 PRISONERS WERE PLACED ON A DIET FREE OF SUGAR, WHITE FLOUR, AND CAFFEINE; NOT ONE HAS BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW SINCE RELEASE. IN DOUGHERTY COUNTY, GA., JUVENILE OFFENDERS ROUTINELY ARE GIVEN BIOCHEMICAL TESTING, THEN ADMINISTERED NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS TO CORRECT ANY CHEMICAL IMBALANCE. THE JUVENILE CRIME RATE IN DOUGHERTY COUNTY IS THE LOWEST IN THE NATION. IN CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO, 600 CRIMINALS HAVE RECEIVED NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION AND HAVE BEEN PLACED ON A SPECIAL DIET; 89 PERCENT OF THEM HAVE NOT COMMITTED ANOTHER CRIME. THE WASHINGTON STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING COMMISSION OFFERS A COURSE FOR PROBATION OFFICERS CALLED 'BODY CHEMISTRY AND OFFENDER BEHAVIOR.' TO TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RECOMMENDED NUTRITIONAL APPROACH, 102 PROBATIONERS WERE DIVIDED INTO 2 GROUPS: THOSE RECEIVING TRADITIONAL COUNSELING AND THOSE RECEIVING NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING. IT WAS FOUND THAT 34 PERCENT OF THE TRADITIONAL GROUP RECIDIVATED, BUT ONLY 14 PERCENT OF THE NUTRITIONAL GROUP DID SO. ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF CONVICTS WHO RECEIVE NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING MAINTAIN IMPROVED DIET HABITS. TREATMENT FOR OFFENDERS SUFFERING FROM HEAVY METAL POISONING CAN INCLUDE USE OF VITAMIN THERAPY WHICH LOWERS IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR AND AIDS IN DETOXIFICATION. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.