Professor of Sociology, Matthew DeLisi, shares insight on his lecture to be held Monday night at 8 p.m. in the Sun Room at the Memorial Union. 

The lecture revolves around a severe 5 percent of criminals and their involvement with the most violent crimes.

DeLisi has experience working with incarcerated people. He was previously a pre trial services officer, interviewing criminals and setting bond for the courts. When it comes to death penalty cases, he has consulting experience and has been called as an expert witness.

The severe 5 precent has been a reoccurring theme in DeLisi’s research. The lecture is mostly informative, discussing why this group of offenders is so difficult to rehabilitate.  

“They are pathologically unable to be helped,” said DeLisi.

This is a universal concept, the severe 5 percent is overwhelmingly diverse. He hopes to help people who attend the lecture to learn more about these offenders.

“I think they’ll be surprised both in terms of how large the pro social, or non criminal population is, and so its sort of comforting news, and I think some of them might be shocked at how pathological the more sever offenders are,” DeLisi commented.  

He believes the lecture is important in helping people understand it is not necessarily the criminal justice system at fault when we see these habitual offenders.