Doing a quick search on the internet for "genetic criminal deviance, studies" or something like that will bring up some interesting info, I even found a twin study involving 3226 male twin pairs and whether they were ever arrested before the age of 15 and arrested more than once after the age on 15 and how being raised in the same home or seperately influenced this behavior. The answer really is intuitive if you thihk about it. Either you believe that genetics can influence behavior or you believe that genetics can not influence behavior. If you think some personality traits are influenced by genetics, why would deviance not be?
Perhaps Quinn you were thinking about Lombroso's theory which claimed that criminals posses similar physical features (large jaws, high cheekbones, extra nipples). I don't think people have put much stock in that since 1876.
I would even go as far as to suggest that traits that influence certain types of criminal behavior might favor the person that posesses them. Hans Eysenck proposed that there is a link between "extrovert personalities" and criminal behavior. He argues that these type of people are more likely to crave excitement, take risks, and act impulsively. Many become respected entrepreneures while others become not so respected (but no less succesful) "entrepreneurs".
I really am in agreement with you guys in that environment is the most powerful influence (I ascribe to this now that I'm a father more than I ever did before). I just wanted to point out that deviant behavior is also the result of certain personality traits which can be influenced genetically.
- Chad