Asymmetry

Abstract

Asymmetry investigates the empirical regularity that approximately five percent of the population is pathological in their offending career relative to nominal offenders and non-criminals. This small group accounts for more than half of the incidence of crime in the population, and an even larger share of the most violent felonies including murder and rape. Drawing on landmark birth cohort studies that documented the existence of the most active offenders, it is clear that the most exceptional offenders are primarily responsible for the dark figure of crime. Given that just one percent of all homicides are sexual homicides, this means that the worst offenders, such as serial sexual murderers, bear tremendous responsibility for unsolved murders in part due to the perniciousness of their personality disorders and sexual deviance. Based on the results from recidivism research, which show very high reoffending patterns, there is little evidence that pathological offenders reform their conduct, and instead continue their predatory acts immediately upon release from prison custody.