Compelling evidence shows a connection between animal cruelty and human violence. Many studies in psychology, sociology and criminology demonstrate that violent offenders frequently have histories of serious and repeated animal cruelty. The FBI has recognized the connection since the 1970s, when its analysis of the lives of serial killers suggested that most had killed or tortured animals as children. Other research has shown consistent patterns of animal cruelty among perpetrators of other forms of violence, including child, spousal and elder abuse. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association considers animal cruelty one of the diagnostic criteria of conduct disorder. 2 The Humane Society of the United States Depending on the severity of the case and the laws in your state, people convicted of animal cruelty can be imprisoned or fined. They might also be ordered to obtain psychological counseling or to participate in an animal cruelty prevention or education program. If a child is convicted of cruelty to animals, some states provide that the court must order an assessment and any necessary psychological counseling or treatment. Knowledgeable law enforcement officers and judges recognize that cruelty to animals is one part of a complex problem and that intervention by authorities sometimes provides a family its first opportunity to obtain help. Introduction
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