Cognitive Dysfunction and Criminal Behavior: Investigating Executive Functions in Convicted Individuals

Background: Studies on the association between cognitive dysfunction and criminality have shown that individuals in prison, particularly repeat offenders and those convicted of violent crimes, tend to exhibit difficulties in cognitive, social, and emotional func-tioning. The objective of this study was to evaluate and characterize the executive func-tioning of incarcerated individuals based on the severity of criminal behavior through the type of crime committed, number of previous arrests, and duration of the sentence im-posed, while also seeking to understand the impact of incarceration on cognitive func-tioning. Methods: The sample consisted of 50 participants at various stages of their sen-tences, who had been convicted of violent and non-violent crimes. Neuropsychological assessments were conducted using cognitive screening tests and tests directed to assess executive functions and decision making. Results: Significant effects were found mainly for sentence duration, which corresponded to the severity of the crime, suggesting a differentiation of subgroups based on cognitive abilities or impairments. Conclusions: These findings may support a relationship between criminal behavior and poorer cog-nitive ability, executive functioning and decision making. However, these effects were not consistent across cognitive domains nor when comparisons were done according to the type of crime (violent vs. non-violent) which highlight the need for further research under this topic.