Ethical issues in the use of genetic predictions of aggressive behavior in the criminal justice system: a systematic review
BackgroundThe use of genetic predictions of aggressive behavior in the criminal justice system remains a subject of ongoing debate. Since behavioral genetic evidence is often used in criminal defense arguments, it is crucial to critically examine the ethical challenges associated with its applicatio...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Genetics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1599750/full |
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| author | Pietro Refolo Pietro Refolo Stefano Ferracuti Simone Grassi Costanza Raimondi Giulia Mercuri Massimo Zedda Massimo Zedda Giovanni Aulino Giovanni Aulino Antonio Gioacchino Spagnolo Antonio Gioacchino Spagnolo Antonio Oliva Antonio Oliva |
| author_facet | Pietro Refolo Pietro Refolo Stefano Ferracuti Simone Grassi Costanza Raimondi Giulia Mercuri Massimo Zedda Massimo Zedda Giovanni Aulino Giovanni Aulino Antonio Gioacchino Spagnolo Antonio Gioacchino Spagnolo Antonio Oliva Antonio Oliva |
| author_sort | Pietro Refolo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe use of genetic predictions of aggressive behavior in the criminal justice system remains a subject of ongoing debate. Since behavioral genetic evidence is often used in criminal defense arguments, it is crucial to critically examine the ethical challenges associated with its application.ObjectiveThis article seeks to identify and analyze these ethical concerns to ensure the responsible and equitable integration of genetic testing, when deemed necessary, into the judiciary system.MethodsA systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, supplemented by manual searches of reference lists to identify additional relevant studies.ResultsThe search yielded 1,023 publications, 12 of which met the inclusion criteria. Seven key ethical concerns were identified: the risks of discrimination, stigmatization, eugenic reasoning, deterministic interpretations, overestimation of dangerousness, privacy violations, and medicalization, along with the risks posed by limited scientific literacy among legal professionals.ConclusionThe ethical challenges associated with genetic predictions of aggressive behavior underscore the need for a critical and multidisciplinary approach to their use in the criminal justice system. Collaboration among bioethicists, legal scholars, scientists, and communication experts is crucial to prevent misuse and reduce potential biases. Such an approach will help ensure that genetic insights are ethically applied, accurately interpreted, and used to promote justice rather than exacerbate systemic inequalities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5f29a708192f4cd29bd4ecacd8083076 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-8021 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Genetics |
| spelling | doaj-art-5f29a708192f4cd29bd4ecacd80830762025-08-20T02:15:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212025-05-011610.3389/fgene.2025.15997501599750Ethical issues in the use of genetic predictions of aggressive behavior in the criminal justice system: a systematic reviewPietro Refolo0Pietro Refolo1Stefano Ferracuti2Simone Grassi3Costanza Raimondi4Giulia Mercuri5Massimo Zedda6Massimo Zedda7Giovanni Aulino8Giovanni Aulino9Antonio Gioacchino Spagnolo10Antonio Gioacchino Spagnolo11Antonio Oliva12Antonio Oliva13Department of Health Care Surveillance and Bioethics, Section of Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyResearch Centre for Clinical Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Human Neurosciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Health Science, Section of Forensic Medical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, ItalyDepartment of Health Care Surveillance and Bioethics, Section of Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Health Care Surveillance and Bioethics, Section of Legal Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Health Care Surveillance and Bioethics, Section of Legal Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyFondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Health Care Surveillance and Bioethics, Section of Legal Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyFondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Health Care Surveillance and Bioethics, Section of Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyResearch Centre for Clinical Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Health Care Surveillance and Bioethics, Section of Legal Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyFondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, ItalyBackgroundThe use of genetic predictions of aggressive behavior in the criminal justice system remains a subject of ongoing debate. Since behavioral genetic evidence is often used in criminal defense arguments, it is crucial to critically examine the ethical challenges associated with its application.ObjectiveThis article seeks to identify and analyze these ethical concerns to ensure the responsible and equitable integration of genetic testing, when deemed necessary, into the judiciary system.MethodsA systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, supplemented by manual searches of reference lists to identify additional relevant studies.ResultsThe search yielded 1,023 publications, 12 of which met the inclusion criteria. Seven key ethical concerns were identified: the risks of discrimination, stigmatization, eugenic reasoning, deterministic interpretations, overestimation of dangerousness, privacy violations, and medicalization, along with the risks posed by limited scientific literacy among legal professionals.ConclusionThe ethical challenges associated with genetic predictions of aggressive behavior underscore the need for a critical and multidisciplinary approach to their use in the criminal justice system. Collaboration among bioethicists, legal scholars, scientists, and communication experts is crucial to prevent misuse and reduce potential biases. Such an approach will help ensure that genetic insights are ethically applied, accurately interpreted, and used to promote justice rather than exacerbate systemic inequalities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1599750/fullgenetic testingbehavioral geneticsethicscriminal justiceMAOA gene |
| spellingShingle | Pietro Refolo Pietro Refolo Stefano Ferracuti Simone Grassi Costanza Raimondi Giulia Mercuri Massimo Zedda Massimo Zedda Giovanni Aulino Giovanni Aulino Antonio Gioacchino Spagnolo Antonio Gioacchino Spagnolo Antonio Oliva Antonio Oliva Ethical issues in the use of genetic predictions of aggressive behavior in the criminal justice system: a systematic review Frontiers in Genetics genetic testing behavioral genetics ethics criminal justice MAOA gene |
| title | Ethical issues in the use of genetic predictions of aggressive behavior in the criminal justice system: a systematic review |
| title_full | Ethical issues in the use of genetic predictions of aggressive behavior in the criminal justice system: a systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Ethical issues in the use of genetic predictions of aggressive behavior in the criminal justice system: a systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethical issues in the use of genetic predictions of aggressive behavior in the criminal justice system: a systematic review |
| title_short | Ethical issues in the use of genetic predictions of aggressive behavior in the criminal justice system: a systematic review |
| title_sort | ethical issues in the use of genetic predictions of aggressive behavior in the criminal justice system a systematic review |
| topic | genetic testing behavioral genetics ethics criminal justice MAOA gene |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1599750/full |
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