"Crime: It's Like When You Have a Cold and a Runny Nose. You Can't Stop It."

Abstract

Within a prison population for the mentally and emotionally disturbed in the State of Oregon, the issue of responsibility was studied. The majority accepted responsibility for their crime. Further on in the questionnaire, when "reasons" ("explanations") were presented, now the majority chose a "reason. " Tentative suggestions are tendered for this phenomenon.