Further evidence derived from empirical research studies has indicated that this correlation is more than a random coincidence. Violent criminals share a common history of brutal parental punishment and cruelty to animals. Studies have found that:

• 75% of the inmates charged with violent crimes also had a history of cruelty to animals.
   
• 38% of violent criminals in a federal prison admitted to animal cruelty.
   
• In a study among three groups of men: non-criminals, aggressive criminals, and non-aggressive criminals: of the aggressive criminals, 25% reported 5 or more childhood acts of cruelty to animals, compared to 6% of non-aggressive criminals and zero in the sample of non-criminals.

Not all children who abuse animals will grow to become violent adults, but a strong correlation does appear to exist between cruelty to animals and violence against humans or domestic violence.