NCJ Number
67644
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE VALIDITY OF THE CORNELL INDEX AS AN INSTRUMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF INMATES NEWLY ADMITTED TO A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IS VERIFIED BY THE CORRELATION BETWEEN ITS SCORES AND SUBSEQUENT INMATE BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
PREPARED BY MEMBERS OF THE STAFF OF THE LONDON CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN LONDON, OHIO, THIS BRIEF REPORT PRESENTS SUPPORTIVE EVIDENCE FOR USING THE CORNELL INDEX AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL AND/OR PSYCHIATRIC MEASURE OF GENERAL MALADJUSTMENT AMONG NEW PENITENTIARY RESIDENTS. IT ALSO PROVIDES SOME SUPPORT FOR THE CORNELL INDEX AS A PREDICTIVE INDICATOR OF SUBSEQUENT INSTITUTIONAL BEHAVIOR AMONG SUCH RESIDENTS. THE CORNELL INDEX CONDUCTS A STRUCTURED WRITTEN INTERVIEW WITH RESPONDENTS ON PROBLEM AREAS RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL FUNCTIONING. THE TIME PERIOD COVERED IN THIS REPORT IS 1974-1977. QUESTIONS RELATING TO CERTAIN PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS ARE INCLUDED IN THE CORNELL INDEX BECAUSE CRIMINALLY THINKING INDIVIDUALS, WHEN FORCIBLY PREVENTED FROM FULFILLING THEIR DESIRES, ACT SUCH FRUSTRATIONS OUT IN THE FORM OF PHYSICAL SICKNESS, WHICH SECURES THEM MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SOME OF THE POWER THEY ARE ALWAYS UNCONSCIOUSLY SEEKING. THE DATA PRESENTED HERE INDICATES THAT CORNELL INDEX SCORES, WHEN COMPARED WITH SUBSEQUENT FREQUENCY OF INMATES' DISCIPLINARY VIOLATIONS (MEASURED BY RECORDED DISCIPLINARY MEASURES FROM VERBAL REPRIMANDS TO PERIODS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT), HAVE PREDICTIVE VALUE WITH REGARD TO ADJUSTMENT OR MALADJUSTMENT OF NEW INMATES TO A CORRECTIONAL SETTING. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED.