The relationship between intelligence and criminality among women

This study of female inmates incarcerated by the Texas Department of Corrections revealed that approximately one in four inmates may be mentally retarded and amplifies the need for further investigation into the question of the relationship between intelligence and criminal conduct. Prior studies of the effect of mental retardation on criminality generated controversial and generally inconclusive results, and the question has not received any significant attention since that time. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between intelligence levels and certain variables of behavior pertaining to female inmates by analyzing data provided by the Central Records Unit of the Texas Department of Corrections. The sample of 276 inmates was divided into four groups based on intelligence levels to be utilized in making comparisons against the other variables of behavior. Using intelligence as the independent variable and each I.Q. group as a subordinate level, the various groups were compared with respect to aspects of their criminal and social histories. Discrete variables were analyzed by use of the chi-square, and the t-test was used for continuous variables with the .05 level of probability designated as the standard for significance. The variables were grouped under the major headings of Demographic Characteristics, Offense Typologies, Judicial Handling, Institutional Adjustment, and Recidivism for purposes of analysis and discussion. Major findings of the study were as follows: . Negroes constituted the majority of retardates while Caucasians dominated the higher I.Q. groups. . There were more married than single inmates. Retardates and normals had the highest percentages of married inmates and retardates had the highest percentage of single inmates. . The majority of inmates were between 24-27 years of age. The retardates were conspicuously older as an I.Q. group. . An analysis of offenses revealed that the frequency of offense tends to vary positively with I.Q. level. Retardates were distinguished by their tendency to commit crimes characterized by lack of self restraint and uncontrolled primitive desires such as murder and theft, while the higher I.Q. groups leaned toward the more sophisticated type of crimes such as forgery and fraud. . The low I.Q. inmates committed fewer offenses than the higher I.Q. groups. . The higher I.Q. groups had longer minimum and maximum sentences than the lower I.Q. groups. . Retardates accounted for the highest number of solitary confinements and, with the borderlines, constituted the majority of repeated solitary confinements and escapes. . Recidivistic tendencies appeared to be more pronounced among the higher I.Q. levels as indicated by their greater number of offenses and sentences for habitual criminality.