NCJ Number
13754
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1974) Pages: 21-29
Date Published
1974
Length
9 pages
Annotation
COMPARISON OF CONVICTS AND EMPLOYMENT APPLICANTS' ANWERS TO AN INSTRUMENT MEASURING ATTITUDES TOWARD THEFT AND ITS PUNISHMENT.
Abstract
THE REID REPORT INVENTORY (RRI) IS AN OBJECTIVELY SCORED (YES-NO) SET OF 100 QUESTIONS. IT YIELDS THREE MEASURES-PUNITIVENESS AS REFLECTED IN ATTITUDES TOWARD PUNISHMENT FOR THEFT, PROJECTED ATTITUDES TOWARD THEFT, AND A TOTAL SCORE. A SAMPLE OF 187 PRISONERS AT THE STATEVILLE, ILLINOIS, PENITENTIARY TOOK THE RRI. THEIR SCORES WERE COMPARED WITH THE SCORES OF A SAMPLE OF 1,030 MALE EMPLOYMENT APPLICANTS. A COMPARISON OF CONVICTS WITH EMPLOYMENT APPLICANTS ON THE RRI CLEARLY SUPPORTS THE CONCLUSION THAT THE RRI IS VERY RESISTANT TO 'FAKING GOOD.' IN SPITE OF THE STRONG TENDENCY OF PRISONERS TO TRY TO MAINTAIN A 'CLEAN' RECORD, THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO OVERCOME THEIR BASIC FRAME OF REFERENCE AND ACHIEVE 'GOOD' SCORES ON THE RRI. PROJECTING THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE AND ATTITUDES, THEY ARE UNWILLING TO INSIST ON PUNISHMENT EXCEPT FOR THE MOST FLAGRANT DEFALCATIONS, AND THEIR ATTITUDES AND FANTASIES ARE LARGELY PREOCCUPIED WITH 'GETTING AWAY WITH IT.' THE DIFFERENCE IN RESPONSES OF AVERAGE EMPLOYMENT APPLICANTS AND PRISONERS ON THE RRI CLEARLY SUPPORTS THE VALIDITY OF THE TEST AS A MEASURE OF THEFT-RELATED OR DEFALCATION-PRONE ATTITUDES. THE PRESENT STUDY ADDS SUPPORT TO THE FINDING THAT THE RRI IS A VALID AND RELIABLE PREDICTOR OF PRONENESS TO THEFT BEHAVIOR. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)