Minor physical anomalies and recidivistic adult violent criminal behavior

Minor physical anomalies (MPA) result from disruptions of gestation, and may be used as signs of central nervous system defects in development. Utilizing a Danish birth cohort, we tested the hypothesis that MPA predict adolescent and adult recidivistic violent criminal behavior. The number of MPA was measured at 11 to 13 years of age and police records of criminal behavior were ascertained at 20 to 22 years of age. Recidivistic violent offenders evidenced an elevated level of MPA compared with subjects with one violent offense or subjects with no violent offenses.