Ohio Northern University professor of sociology Keith Durkin is pursuing his research passion as guest editor of an upcoming special issue of the journal Behavioural Neurology. In this issue, the link between criminology and neurodevelopment is closely examined, with the goal being to bridge the gap between experimental psychology and applied forensic mental health. 

“As it stands, many individuals who are imprisoned and punished by the law for their crimes have underlying and undiagnosed mental health issues. This is particularly true for heroin users,” Durkin said. “While these neurological disorders can be identified by a forensic mental health specialist, what this issue of Behavioural Neurology strives to do is connect these specialists with clinical psychologists and neuroscientists, so that a greater understanding of these criminal behaviors can be developed. With better diagnoses come the possibility for better treatment and even widespread prevention of crime.”

According to Durkin, it is important to take an interdisciplinary approach to the situation and link experts with varied expertise toward a common goal.

“The key factor is getting each type of professional on the same page,” Durkin said. “Researchers in various specialties speak three or four different languages across the fields, and the goal is to bring it all together. If experts in criminology, sociology, neurology and psychology, as well as practitioners in the field, can all connect, there can be a hope for improved treatment of criminal behavior.”

Durkin is looking for a better outcome.

“It is a matter of addressing the problem and possibly rehabilitating, rather than just punishing the person who is addicted,” he said. “Right now, the most common ultimate outcomes for heroin users are often death or rehabilitation. In fact, more people in the United States die of drug overdoses than die in car accidents on a yearly basis.”

One of the more shocking statistics Durkin mentions comes from Hardin County. “Approximately 40 percent of juvenile offenders in the county can be explained by a mental illness. With such a large amount of crime related to neurological and developmental problems, there is a very real need to shed more light on the problem,” he said.

“A judge once asked me if we have a drug problem or a mental health problem, and that is a great question,” Durkin said. “The two issues are linked at the hip. Often, an individual will have some type of mental health problem that then becomes a drug disorder once the individual gets introduced to opiates through medication for the original problem. Or, it might be a person with physical injury who needs painkillers. In fact, about 80 percent of heroin addicts start with some sort of pain pills.”

“These are normal, everyday people who had an issue, and it spun out of control.”

Co-editors of the journal are Paul E. Englehardt and Gavin Noves of the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom and Kate Langley of the University of Cardiff, also in the United Kingdom.