Epilepsy, Crime and Delinquency: A Sociological Account

Abstract

The first part of the paper examines the body of writing and research on the topic of the supposed relationship between epilepsy and crime. Further, it finds this work wanting in that it is neither able to provide adequate causal explanations of any such relationship nor has it resulted in the reduction of the substantial number of `labelled' epileptics currently resident in penal establishments. The second part reports on research conducted in one particular establishment and argues that more attention should be focused on both `how' people get labelled in the first place and the kinds of social experiences such labelling may bring about. It is suggested that such a concentration is potentially more fruitful than the traditional causal approaches in explaining any supposed relationships between epilepsy and crime.