AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

Neurotechnological Behavioural Treatment of Criminal Offenders : A Comment on Bomann-Larsen

by Thomas Søbirk Petersen




Institution: Roskilde University
Department:
Year: 2013
Keywords: Bomann-Larsen; inappropriate offers; neurotechlogical treatment; Rehabilitation; Bomann-Larsen; inappropriate offers; neurotechlogical treatment; Rehabilitation
Record ID: 1119620
Full text PDF: http://rudar.ruc.dk/handle/1800/15653


Abstract

Whether it is morally acceptable to offer rehabilitation by CNS-intervention to criminals as a condition for early release constitutes an important neuroethical question. Bomann-Larsen has recently suggested that such interventions are unacceptable if the offered treatment is not narrowly targeted at the behaviour for which the criminal is convicted. In this article it is argued that Bomann-Larsen's analysis of the morality of offers does not provide a solid base for this conclusion and that, even if the analysis is assumed to be correct, it still does not follow that voluntary rehabilitation schemes targeting behaviour beyond the act for which a criminal is convicted are inappropriate.; Whether it is morally acceptable to offer rehabilitation by CNS-intervention to criminals as a condition for early release constitutes an important neuroethical question. Bomann-Larsen has recently suggested that such interventions are unacceptable if the offered treatment is not narrowly targeted at the behaviour for which the criminal is convicted. In this article it is argued that Bomann-Larsen's analysis of the morality of offers does not provide a solid base for this conclusion and that, even if the analysis is assumed to be correct, it still does not follow that voluntary rehabilitation schemes targeting behaviour beyond the act for which a criminal is convicted are inappropriate.