Neuropsychological and neurological correlates in violent and homicidal offenders: A legal and neuroscience perspective

Violence and murder have their roots in biological, psychological, and sociological factors. This article will focus on one specific element of the biological aspects of violence and murder; specifically; neurological and neuropsychological aspects. The author will provide a literature review contrasting structural brain abnormalities and dysfunction (neuropathology) and brain–behavior (neuropsychological) relational attributes to violence, aggression, and homicidal behavior in particular. After reviewing the literature, the author will address how these brain related structural and functional correlates to violence are utilized in court proceedings. Specifically, the article questions how expert witnesses can integrate neurological and especially neuropsychological data to address psycholegal issues, such as mitigation, freewill, and moral culpability, especially within death penalty and murder cases. The author provides recommendations for the practicing forensic neuropsychologist evaluating homicide cases.