The majority of violent crimes are perpetrated by a very small percentage of the population, according to a study out of Sweden. Although criminal tendencies between Sweden and the United States aren’t exactly the same, the study shines a light on the idea that the vast majority of the population has no problem avoiding violent crime, but the small subset that perpetrate these crimes do so repeatedly.
Violent Crime Study
Researchers in Sweden wanted to get a better understanding of the landscape of violent crime in their country. To do this, they looked at the distribution of violent crime convictions in their country over the course of 30+ years to identify the criminal, academic, parental and psychiatric risk factors at play when it comes to violent crime. Offenders were grouped into three categories:
- Non-offenders
- Offenders with 1-2 convictions
- Offenders with three or more lifetime convictions
After looking at the data, researchers found that 93,642 individuals, or 3.9% of the population, had at least one violent crime conviction, but the distribution of these convictions was heavily skewed. 24,342 persistent offenders, or 1% of the total population, accounted for 63.2% of all violent crime convictions. Some factors that were prevalent in those violent offenders were:
- Male sex
- Having a professionally diagnosed personality disorder
- Having a violent crime conviction before the age of 19
- Also having drug-related criminal convictions on their record
- Having a documented substance abuse disorder
- Having a major mental disorder
“The vast majority of violent crimes are perpetrated by a small number of persistent violent offenders, almost all males, who have an early onset of violent criminality and display substance use problems, personality disorders, and nonviolent criminality,” researchers wrote. “These findings support the provision of far-reaching interventions among young individuals who have committed one or two violent crimes and are at risk of developing persistent violent criminal behavior.”
This is something we see in our practice as well. Many violent offenders struggle to get the help they need to break out of the cycle of violence, and when they can’t get the support they need, they fall back into a life of violent crime. It’s why we’re not just interested in helping clients avoid harsh penalties for criminal convictions. We want to support them in court, but we also make it a point to direct them to resources and support groups that allow them to better understanding of their decision-making process and make real changes that stick with them going forward.
If you’re in a situation where you made a poor choice but want to put that mistake behind you and get your life back on track, connect with the attorneys at Appelman Law Firm. We know that it won’t always be easy, but it will be worth it in the long run. Let us help you get the resources you need to make better choices in the future so that you’re not calling a lawyer again later in life. If that sounds like something you’re interested in, or you just want an ally on your side while you work to overcome a criminal charge, give the attorneys at Appelman Law Firm a call today at (952) 224-2277.
