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.

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.

Statement of concerned experts on the use of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist—Revised in capital sentencing to assess risk for institutional violence.

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
David DeMatteo ◽  
Stephen D. Hart ◽  
Kirk Heilbrun ◽  
Marcus T. Boccaccini ◽  
Mark D. Cunningham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Capital Sentencing ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Institutional Violence ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽  
Hare Psychopathy Checklist

Comparative Validity Analysis of Multiple Measures of Violence Risk in a Sample of Criminal Offenders

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 479-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin S. Douglas ◽  
Melissa Yeomans ◽  
Douglas P. Boer
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Clinical Judgment ◽  
Violent Offender ◽  
Violence Risk ◽  
Criminal Offenders ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽  
Hare Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Risk Judgments

This study compared the predictive validity of multiple indices of violence risk among 188 general population criminal offenders: Historical-Clinical-Risk Management-20 (HCR-20) Violence Risk Assessment Scheme, Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG), Violent Offender Risk Assessment Scale (VORAS), Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), and Screening Version (PCL:SV). Several indices were related to violent recidivism with large statistical effect sizes: HCR-20 (Total, Clinical and Risk Management scales, structured risk judgments), VRAG, and behavioral scales of psychopathy measures. Multivariate analyses showed that HCR-20 indices were consistently related to violence and that the VRAG entered some analyses. Findings are inconsistent with a position of strict actuarial superiority, as HCR-20 structured risk judgments—an index of structured professional or clinical judgment—were as strongly related to violence.

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.

scholarly journals Testosterone-Lowering Medication and Its Association With Recidivism Risk in Individuals Convicted of Sexual Offenses

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 107906322091072
Author(s):  
Julia Sauter ◽  
Daniel Turner ◽  
Peer Briken ◽  
Martin Rettenberger
Keyword(s):  
Self Regulation ◽  
Criminal History ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Average Risk ◽  
Dynamic Risk Factors ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist ◽  
Sex Drive ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Paraphilic Disorders

For a particular subgroup of individuals with severe paraphilic disorders and a high risk of sexual recidivism, the combination of sex drive–reducing medications and psychotherapy is a promising treatment approach. The present quasi-experimental study aims at comparing differences in clinical characteristics and dynamic risk factors between persons receiving (+TLM, n = 38) versus not receiving (−TLM, n = 22) testosterone-lowering medications (TLMs). Individuals receiving TLM were more frequently diagnosed with paraphilic disorders. Neither the criminal history nor average risk scores differed between the two groups. In the +TLM, Stable-2007 scores showed a stronger decrease after TLM treatment was started. This accounted especially for the general and sexual self-regulation subscales. Individual variations in risk, however, were not predicted by TLM but were significantly related to treatment duration and Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R) Factor I. Paraphilic patients with problems in self-regulatory abilities seem to profit most from pharmacological sex drive–reducing treatment. Furthermore, therapists seem to underestimate deviant sexual fantasies in medicated patients.

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