NCJ Number
143739
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: May 1993 Pages: 22-25
Date Published
May 1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Data from a 5-year follow-up study of Canadian offenders who were assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) are presented and used to demonstrate the issues raised by the use of risk scales as part of the corrections decisionmaking process.
Abstract
The sample of 81 male Federal offenders were followed for an average of 29.7 months and a maximum of 67 months. They had an average PCL-R score of 22.1, with a standard deviation of 6.7. The 10 with scores of 30 or more were identified as psychopaths, the 51 with scores of less than 15 were identified as nonpsychopaths, and the remaining 20 were the mixed group. The overall recidivism rate was 57 percent, versus 80 percent for the psychopaths, 59 percent for the mixed group, and 40 percent for the nonpsychopaths. Violent recidivism rates were 25 percent for the psychopaths, 8 percent for the mixed group, and 0 percent for the nonpsychopaths. Results suggested the potential usefulness of standardized use of actuarial risk scales and that the PCL-R could be used to direct rather than dictate intervention and risk management strategies. Findings also indicate the need to develop individual strategies to manage the risk of recidivism and the desirability of using conservative release practices for high-risk cases and using estimates of low risk to manage an offender's timely release more effectively. Figures and footnotes