Offense Type and Two-point MMPI Code Profiles: Discriminating Between Violent and Nonviolent Offenders

• NCJ Number: 134289
• Journal: Journal of Clinical Psychology Volume: 46 Issue: 6 Dated: (November 1990) Pages: 774-777
• Author(s): M Fraboni; D Cooper; T L Reed; R Saltstone
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Offense data and MMPI profiles were examined for 67 men admitted by judicial order for psychiatric evaluation in the forensic unit of a psychiatric hospital to determine the ability of two MMPI codes to distinguish between violent and nonviolent offenders.

Abstract

The research used information from the hospital record. The men included 35 violent offenders and 32 nonviolent offenders, based on all charges and prior convictions. The violent offenders were those charged with assault, robbery, sexual assault, and all degrees of homicide. Nonviolent offenders were those charged with breaking and entering, uttering threats, and fraud. The analysis considered the ability of two-point MMPI code types (4-3 and 4-8/8-4) to distinguish between violent and nonviolent offenders. Results revealed that neither of these commonly used codes successfully distinguished between violent and nonviolent offenders. Thus, these MMPI codes types, when used alone, are far too unreliable for use in individual assessment. Tables and 10 references (Author summary modified)