Criminal behavior is easily defined, although the book never gives an actual definition.

Criminal behavior is any behavior that has criminal intent, or results in punishment by law enforcement of some type. This behavior is somewhat cut and dry, whereas antisocial behavior is a bit broader. Criminal activity is born of instinctive impulses that the criminal chooses not to ignore. Most non-criminal people still have some of the same impulses, but they have learned to restrain them. (Sykes and Cullen, 1992) Although criminal and antisocial behavior is different, they do tie in together. A person can exhibit criminal behavior without being antisocial, and an antisocial personality may not always exhibit criminal behavior. The thing that ties them together is that most antisocial personalities do end up engaging in criminal behavior. Criminal behavior rarely just emerges out of the blue. You can look back in the criminals life and see a wide array of signs, and most often you will see an antisocial personality at the beginning. There are quite a few signs of antisocial personalities. These people may break laws or rules, lie for fun or for personal benefit, be impulsive, not considering results of their actions, pick on others, fight, ignore safety of self or others, be irresponsible, and lack remorse for their actions. They may be rebellious, disruptive, abusive, be extremely selfish, and some even commit sexual offenses. Here are the scary things. These symptoms are not only present in adults, but also in children, and that is usually where it starts. The other, even scarier, factor is that these people can seem exciting and fun, and be quite popular. With their conning personalities, antisocial people can seem very charming. It is not until you really know them that you begin to see their dangerous nature. Although this personality is more common in males, women do have it, too. Women often display their antisocialism in different ways, though, as they use more conning and less physical attacking. I have done some research on this subject and found that some children and teens actually display this behavior and then grow out of it. It is advised, however, that the parent seeks immediate treatment if they see any of the danger signs which include lying, stealing, or being irresponsible. If you miss these signs and the child grows up to be an antisocial adult, the battle is lost. Studies have shown that adults do not respond well to treatment or medication since they have no desire to change. ( univ. of Iowa, topics on mental and emotional health, web site, March 2005) Now that we see the difference, I will show you the tie-together. Most antisocial personalities will grow up to commit crime. It is in their nature. Therefore, I believe that if we can identify these people, we can change the world. We may not be able to just lock them up, but we can keep a closer eye on them since they are high risks for criminality. The more we know, the more we can make a difference.

Florida boy accused of killing 2-year-old brother

Published September 16, 2012 Associated Press JACKSONVILLE, Fla. A decade before he was charged with murder, a 2-year-old Cristian Fernandez was found naked and dirty, wandering a South Florida street. The grandmother taking care of him had holed up with cocaine in a messy motel room, while his 14-year-old mother was nowhere to be found. His life had been punctuated with violence since he was conceived, an act that resulted in a sexual assault conviction against his father. Fernandez' life got worse from there: He was sexually assaulted by a cousin and beaten by his stepfather, who committed suicide before police investigating the beating arrived. The boy learned to squelch his feelings, once telling a counselor: "You got to suck up feelings and get over it." Now 13, Fernandez is accused of two heinous crimes himself: first-degree murder in the 2011 beating death of his 2-yearold half-brother and the sexual abuse of his 5-year-old half-brother. He's been charged as an adult and is the youngest inmate awaiting trial in Duval County.

If convicted of either crime, Fernandez could face a life sentence -- a possibility that has stirred strong emotions among those for and against such strict punishment. The case is one of the most complex and difficult in Florida's courts, and it could change how first-degree murder charges involving juvenile defendants are handled statewide. Underscoring the unusual nature of the case, Fernandez' defense attorneys said they aren't sure how to proceed since the U.S. Supreme Court threw out mandatory life in prison without parole for juvenile offenders in June. Another complication involves whether Fernandez understood his rights during police interrogations. Richard Kuritz, a former Jacksonville prosecutor who is now a defense attorney, said everyone agrees that Fernandez should face consequences if convicted -- but what should they be? "What would be a fair disposition? I don't suspect this case is going to end anytime soon," said Kuritz, who has been following the case closely. Supporters of local State Attorney Angela Corey say she's doing the right thing by trying Fernandez as an adult: holding a criminal accountable to the full extent of the law. But others, like Carol Torres, say Fernandez should be tried in juvenile court and needs help, not life in prison. "He should be rehabilitated and have a second chance at life," said Torres, 51. Her grandson attended school with Fernandez and she has created a Facebook page to support him. In other states, children accused of violent crimes are often charged or convicted as juveniles. In 2011, a Colorado boy pleaded guilty to killing his two parents when he was 12; he was given a seven-year sentence in a juvenile facility and three years parole. A Pennsylvania boy accused of killing his father's pregnant fiancDee and her unborn child when he was 11 was sent this year to an undisclosed juvenile facility where he could remain in state custody until his 21st birthday. The Justice Department said that 29 children under age 14 committed homicides around the country in 2010, the most recent year for which the statistics were available Fernandez' judge -- and jury, if the case gets that far -- will have to decide whether to consider the boy's past when determining his future. Fernandez was born in Miami in 1999 to Biannela Susana, who was 12. The 25-year-old father received 10 years' probation for sexually assaulting her. Two years later, both mother and son went to foster care after authorities in South Florida found the toddler, filthy and naked, walking in the street at 4 a.m. near the motel where his grandmother did drugs. In 2007, when Fernandez was 8, the Department of Children and Families investigated a report that he was sexually molested by an older cousin. Officials said there were other troubling incidents: he killed a kitten; he simulated sex with classmates; he masturbated at school. In October 2010, Fernandez and his mother were living in Hialeah, a Miami suburb, with his mother's new husband. Fernandez suffered an eye injury so bad that school officials sent him to the hospital where he was examined for retinal damage. Fernandez told officers that his stepfather had punched him. When officers went to the family's apartment, they found the stepfather dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Soon, the family moved north to Jacksonville and Fernandez enrolled in middle school, getting straight A's. They settled in a bland, beige public housing complex. A few months later on June 3, 2011, deputies were called to the apartment: Fernandez' baby brother, 2-year-old David, was dead inside. The medical examiner determined that the toddler had a fractured skull, bruising to his left eye and a bleeding brain. Susana, then 25, admitted to investigators that she had left Fernandez, David and her other children home alone. When she returned, she said she found David unconscious. Susana also revealed that two weeks before David's death, Fernandez had broken the toddler's leg while wrestling.

Susana was charged with aggravated manslaughter; the medical examiner said David might have survived if she had taken him to the hospital sooner for the head injury. She pleaded guilty in March and could get 30 years. Fernandez, who had first been questioned as a witness, was soon charged with first-degree murder. The other felony charge was filed after his 5-year-old half-brother told a psychiatrist that Fernandez had sexually assaulted him. The boy has talked openly to investigators and therapists about his crimes and his life; the gritty details are captured in various court documents. "Christian denied any plans or intent to kill his brother," one doctor wrote. "He seemed rather defensive about discussing what triggered his anger. He talked about having a `flashback' of the abuse by his stepfather as the motive for this offense ... Christian was rather detached emotionally while discussing the incident." Based on psychological evaluations, prosecutors say that Fernandez poses a significant risk of violence. That's why he is being detained pre-trial -- and why they charged him with two first-degree felonies. Yet difficult questions remain for Judge Mallory Cooper: Should a child so young spend his life in prison? Does Fernandez understand his crimes, and can he comprehend the complex legal issues surrounding his case? In August, Cooper ruled that police interrogations of Fernandez in the murder and sexual assault cases are not admissible, saying Fernandez couldn't knowledgeably waive his rights to remain silent and consult an attorney. Prosecutors are appealing. The defense wants the charges dismissed, saying the U.S. Supreme Court ruling banning sentences of life without parole for juveniles makes it impossible for them to advise Fernandez since the Florida Legislature has not changed state law. Prosecutors say they never said they would seek a mandatory life sentence -- they say the old Florida law that called for a 25-year-to-life sentence could apply. Mitch Stone, a Jacksonville defense attorney who is familiar with the case, said Corey and her prosecutors are in a tough position. "I know they're good people and good lawyers," he said. "But if a resolution short of trial doesn't occur, this case is on a collision course to sending Cristian Fernandez to life in prison. That's why this is one of those very difficult cases. It's hard to understand what the appropriate measure is."

SECRET SERVICE SCANDAL

A Secret Service scandal involving agents who hired prostitutes in Colombia did not harm presidential security, according to an investigation conducted by the acting inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security.

"Although we found that these agents engaged in misconduct, our investigation developed no evidence to suggest that the actions of USSS (U.S. Secret Service) personnel in Cartagena compromised the safety and security of the president or any sensitive information during this trip," Charles Edwards wrote to House and Senate members concerned about the matter. The findings support previous statements by the Secret Service that the actions of some agents who were in Colombia in advance of President Barack Obama's arrival for an April trip did not endanger the president.

Edwards said he does not plan to make the report public -- in accordance with his office's policy. But he provided some of the results.

Six women received money. As was previously known, an agent refused to pay one of the women who summoned a police officer. Another agent ended up paying the woman. Four women asked for money but did not receive any, while three others sought no payment.

Prostitution is legal in Colombia. But the news that some Secret Service agents were drinking heavily and taking prostitutes back to their hotel rooms raised security concerns and tarnished the reputation of the agency charged with protecting the president.

Edwards' letter also raised the possibility that two others involved in presidential trip preparations may have "had contact with foreign nationals."

"Although allegations related to the non-USSS (U.S. Secret Service) personnel were outside the scope of the investigation, one of these employees is a Department of Defense employee affiliated with the White House Communication Agency and the other, whose employment status was not verified, may have been affiliated with the White House advance operation," Edwards wrote to House and Senate members interested in the matter.

Edwards said a hotel registry led investigators to suspect the two might have come into contact with foreign nationals.

He wrote to members of Congress that the IG's mandate was just to look into the actions of the Secret Service so there was no further investigation.

Connecticut Police Officer Admits Assaulting Prisoner

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: September 21, 2012

HARTFORD (AP) One of four East Haven police officers arrested on civil rights charges pleaded guilty on Friday to using unreasonable force during an arrest. Sgt. John Miller, former president of the East Haven police union, pleaded guilty in Federal District Court here to violating a persons civil rights by using unreasonable force, prosecutors said. Sergeant Miller admitted that on Jan. 3, 2010, he struck a handcuffed person who was in the custody of two other town officers, authorities said. The conduct of this officer, in striking a defenseless individual, is abhorrent, David Fein, the United States attorney for Connecticut, said. This case reminds us that no one is above the law. This police officer abused his authority and violated the civil rights of a person he is sworn to protect. Such conduct will never be tolerated.

Sergeant Miller, 43, was one of four officers charged in January with using unreasonable force and conspiracy against rights. Authorities said that the officers assaulted people who were handcuffed; unlawfully searched Latino businesses; and harassed and intimidated people, including witnesses and other officers who tried to investigate. Prosecutors said that the officers had targeted Latinos, though Sergeant Millers lawyer noted that the allegation against his client did not involve mistreating any minorities. The charges against the other three officers are pending. They have pleaded not guilty. The conspiracy charge against Sergeant Miller will be dismissed, and the prosecution and defense will recommend that he be spared prison time when he is sentenced, as long as he continues to comply with a cooperation agreement with the government. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February. Sergeant Miller is on administrative leave from the Police Department. His lawyer, Donald Cretella, said, Soon he will be able to get on with his life, but today is a very difficult time for the Miller family and a very sad day for the East Haven Police Department.