Psychopathy as a Predictor of Institutional Misbehavior Among Sex Offenders

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 497-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Buffington-Vollum ◽  
John F. Edens ◽  
Darryl W. Johnson ◽  
Judy K. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Physical Aggression ◽  
Personality Assessment ◽  
Cut Scores ◽  
Institutional Misconduct ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽  
Two Measures ◽  
Institutional Misbehavior

This study compares the utility of two measures of psychopathic traits, the Antisocial Features (ANT) scale of the Personality Assessment Inventory and the Psychopathy Checklist—Revised (PCL-R), to predict serious institutional misconduct among incarcerated sex offenders over a 2-year follow-up period. Archival disciplinary data for 58 offenders were classified as major infractions involving physical aggression, verbal aggression/acts of defiance, or nonaggressive offenses. Significant correlations were obtained between both measures of psychopathy and each type of disciplinary offense except physical aggression, the occurrence of which was rare in this sample. Regression analyses indicated that each measure accounted for unique—or incremental—variance in one of the criterion measures. Overall classification accuracy based on standard cut scores was somewhat more positive for ANT than for the PCL-R.

Are Borderline Personality Symptoms and Psychopathy Differentially Related to Drinking Motives of Former Jail Inmates?

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 776-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew C. Salatino ◽  
June P. Tangney ◽  
Jeffrey B. Stuewig ◽  
Linda D. Chrosniak
Keyword(s):  
Personality Assessment ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Drinking Motives ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Jail Inmates ◽  
Social Motives ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Alternative Means ◽  
Drinking Frequency

This study assessed whether psychopathy and borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms are differentially related to three drinking motives: coping, enhancement, and social. Participants were 170 inmates (74% male) initially held on felony charges in a suburban jail. The Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV; Hart, Cox, & Hare, 1995) and Borderline Features scale of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991) were administered at the outset of incarceration. In a follow-up interview 4 to 6 years postincarceration, participants completed the Drinking Motives Questionnaire (DMQ; Cooper, Russell, Skinner, & Windle, 1992) assessing drinking motives. Controlling for drinking frequency, when compared to Factor 1 psychopathy, BPD symptoms had a stronger positive relationship with coping and enhancement drinking motives. No difference was observed for social motives for drinking. Individuals high in BPD symptoms may benefit from therapy emphasizing adaptive coping mechanisms and alternative means of seeking positive emotional states.

Interpersonal and Affective Facets and Items of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) in Predicting Child Sex Offending*An earlier version of this study was presented at 2019 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology.

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052095841
Author(s):  
Ji Seun Sohn ◽  
Napoleon C. Reyes ◽  
Hyejin Kim
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
Sex Offending ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽  
Adult Sex Offenders ◽  
Cohen's D

Psychopathy of child sex offenders in non-Western and Asian population is not frequently reported. The study examined psychopathic traits assessed by the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) in three groups of male offenders, child sex offender, adult sex offender, and nonsex offender groups. Out of 451 offenders included in the sample, 445 recidivated after a follow up of 11 years: 27 child sex offenders, 174 adult sex offenders, and 244 nonsex offenders. Adult sex offenders scored higher in four facets and total scores compared with nonsex offenders. Child sex offenders had more problems in interpersonal (facet 1) and affective (facet 2) traits than nonsex offenders. More specifically, child sex offenders scored higher in failure to accept responsibility (item 16, Cohen’s d = 0.80) and callous/lack of empathy (item 8, Cohen’s d = 0.59) of facet 2 and pathological lying (item 4, Cohen’s d = 0.58) and glibness/superficial charm (item 1, Cohen’s d = 0.48) of facet 1 than nonsex offenders. Both child sex offenders and adults sex offenders were found to be more psychopathic than nonsex offenders. While facets 1, 2, and 3 did not separate child and adult sex offending, child sex offenders scored significantly lower in antisocial problems (facet 4) than adult sex offenders. Despite the limitation of using a sample of mostly high-risk offenders, our findings indicate that higher PCL-R scores in specific facets (1 and 2) and items (1, 4, 8, and 16) are more predictive of child sex offending and suggest insight for treatment strategies of child sex offenders.

The Personality Assessment Inventory as a Proxy for the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised

Assessment ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin S. Douglas ◽  
Laura S. Guy ◽  
John F. Edens ◽  
Douglas P. Boer ◽  
Jennine Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Personality Assessment ◽  
Personality Assessment Inventory ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist Revised

To Reoffend or Not to Reoffend? An Investigation of Recidivism Among Individuals With Sexual Offense Histories and Psychopathy

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 107906321987717
Author(s):  
Pauline C. Leung ◽  
Jan Looman ◽  
Jeffrey Abracen
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Criminal History ◽  
Sexual Offense ◽  
Factor Scores ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Sexual Offenses ◽  
R Factor ◽  
Established Risk Factor ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽  
Hare Psychopathy Checklist

Although psychopathy is a well-established risk factor for recidivism among those who have committed sexual offenses, there are nonetheless some individuals with sexual offense histories who are high in psychopathy but do not recidivate. This population—nonrecidivating psychopathic sex offenders (NRP-SOs)—was the focus of the current investigation. Data from 111 individuals with sexual offense histories who received a Hare Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R) rating of at least 25 (suggesting the presence of psychopathy) were analyzed. With recidivism operationalized as the accrual of any new serious—that is, violent or sexual—charges, 39 recidivated (RP-SOs), whereas 72 did not (NRP-SOs). A logistic regression was conducted to assess whether NRP-SOs could be differentiated from RP-SOs. Being older at the time of release, a lesser criminal history, and being married predicted nonrecidivism. PCL-R factor scores and sexual deviance were not predictive. These findings highlight the heterogeneity that exists, even among those high in psychopathy.

Field Inter-Rater Reliability of the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 468-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghena Ismail ◽  
Jan Looman
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Treatment Center ◽  
Rater Reliability ◽  
Intra Class Correlation ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Federal Inmates ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽  
Hare Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Absolute Agreement

Strong inter-rater reliability has been established for the Hare Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R), specifically by examiners in research contexts. However, there is less support for inter-reliability in applied settings. This study examined archival data that included a sample of sex offenders ( n = 178) who entered federal custody between 1992 and 1998. The offenders were assessed using the PCL-R on two occasions. The first assessment occurred at Millhaven Institution, the intake unit for federally incarcerated offenders in the province of Ontario. The second assessment took place upon inmates’ transfer to the Regional Treatment Center, which admits federal inmates with intense psychological and psychiatric needs. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated for item, total, factor, and facet scores. The ICC absolute agreement for the PCL-R total and factor scores from raters across both settings was slightly better than what has been previously reported by Hare. Results of this study show that the reliability of PCL-R scores in field settings can be comparable to those in research settings. Authors conclude by highlighting the importance of training, consultation, considering different scores for a given item, following the guidelines of the manual in addition to considering measures that enhance neutrality and reliability of findings in the criminal justice system.

scholarly journals Value of standard personality assessments in informing clinical decision-making in a medium secure unit

2007 ◽  
Vol 190 (S49) ◽  
pp. s15-s19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conor Duggan ◽  
Lauren Mason ◽  
Penny Banerjee ◽  
John Milton
Keyword(s):  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Marginal Effect ◽  
Consecutive Series ◽  
Personality Assessments ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Complete Treatment ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist Revised

BackgroundAssessing those with personality disorder for treatment in secure settings is known to be unsatisfactory.AimTo examine the utility of a standardised assessment of offenders with personality disorder referred for treatment in secure care in a naturalistic study.MethodA consecutive series of 89 men were assessed with a battery of four recommended instruments measuring personality and risk. Decisions on whether or not to admit were based on a multidisciplinary discussion informed by these assessments.ResultsOf the 89 comprehensively assessed referrals, 60 (67%) were offered admission. High scores on the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (especially on Factor 1) was the only measure that was associated with rejection. Of 44 patients discharged, 29 (66%) failed to complete treatment; none of the pre-admission assessments distinguished ‘completers' from ‘non-completers'. Although skills were acquired on the unit, follow-up of 24 men in the community showed that this had only a marginal effect on re-offending rate (58%).ConclusionsCurrent recommended assessment methods appear unsatisfactory in identifying those who either (a) complete treatment or (b) benefit from treatment. Our results throw doubt on their value.

scholarly journals Assessment of Recidivism Risk in Sex Offenders: A Pilot Study in Central Italy

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1590
Author(s):  
Barbara Gualco ◽  
Franco Scarpa ◽  
Regina Rensi
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Negative Affectivity ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Clinical Risk Management ◽  
Clinical Factors ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Historical Factors ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽  
Preventative Interventions

Knowing the risk factors of recidivism in sex offenders is important in order to prepare effective preventative interventions and treatment in custody. In this regard, the following paper shows the results of a pilot study carried out in the prisons of central Italy in which 44 sex offenders participated. These participants were given the following tests: Historical Clinical Risk Management-20-version 3 (HCR20v3), Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) and Personal Inventory Dimensional (PID-5). The results show a high positivity in the factors of the sub-scales H (historical factors) and C (clinical factors) of HCR20v3; the average total score of the PCR-L is 16.47, with five subjects who are in the “high psychopathy” range (X ≥ 30); with regard to PID-5, the most positive domain is negative affectivity (56.10%).

Psychopathy and Sexual Aggression: Management Implications

2021 ◽  
pp. 0306624X2110226
Author(s):  
Sonja Krstic ◽  
Danielle Arlanda Harris ◽  
Raymond A. Knight
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Treatment Center ◽  
Child Victims ◽  
Sexual Recidivism ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
R Factor ◽  
Aggression Management ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

The current study explored the association between psychopathic traits and release suitability decisions and examined the role of Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) and Static-99 in predicting general and sexual recidivism. The sample included 207 adult male sex offenders involved in the long-term follow-up at the Massachusetts Treatment Center for Sexually Dangerous Persons (MTC) in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Contrary to our expectations, PCL-R Factor 2 (Lifestyle/Antisocial) scores were positively associated with being selected for gradual release, whereas PCL-R Factor 1 (Interpersonal/Affective) scores were not related to parole boards’ decisions. Additionally, the interaction between the two factors was a significant predictor, suggesting that the individuals with more pronounced Factor 1 traits were less likely to be released when their Factor 2 scores were high as well. Although Static-99 scores predicted both contact and non-contact sexual recidivism, psychopathy was not related to reoffending, possibly because offenders with child victims were over-represented in the sample.

Investigating Characteristics of the Nonrecidivating Psychopathic Offender

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 1741-1760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant N. Burt ◽  
Mark E. Olver ◽  
Stephen C. P. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Community Support ◽  
Violence Risk ◽  
Violence Reduction ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Violent Offense ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽  
Hare Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Post Hoc

Psychopathic offenders are at higher risk to violently reoffend than nonpsychopathic offenders; however, about one in four psychopathic offenders are not reconvicted for a violent offense even over extended follow-ups. The characteristics of nonrecidivating psychopathic offenders (NRPs) remain underexamined. In a sample of 123 offenders with a minimum Hare Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R) score of 25, community follow-up of 5 years, and 4 months in a violence reduction program, 65 men receiving a violent conviction within 5 years (recidivating psychopathic offenders [RPs]) were compared with 58 who had not (NRPs). Comparatively, NRPs were older at release, had better community support, and were rated lower violence risk. NRPs also had significantly lower PCL-R Factor 2 scores, but higher Factor 1 scores. Post hoc analyses revealed prominent NRP characteristics included exploitative personality traits and a predilection for instrumentally violent crimes. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the risk assessment and treatment of psychopathic offenders.

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