Info Sheet 67: Understanding the relationship between brain development and offending behaviour

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body and is responsible for controlling all of the body’s functions. A number of factors can influence the brain’s development and physical structure from its initial development and throughout the life course. A mother’s diet; substance or alcohol misuse, disabilities and abuse to name a few. By understanding how negative and positive experience affect brain development, we can use interventions to teach young people the skills they need to move away from offending behaviour. In this information sheet, Donna McEwan shares some of the current research around brain development and offending behaviour.