NCJ Number
170801
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 24 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1997) Pages: 414-431
Date Published
1997
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This research attempts to identify factors predictive of prison misconducts.
Abstract
A meta-analysis conducted on 39 studies generated 695 correlations with prison misconducts. Predictors of prison misconducts were grouped into 16 domains: personal characteristics (n=9), situational factors (n=3), and actuarial measures of antisocial personality and risk (n=4). Personal and situational variables were similar in their ability to predict prison misconduct. Within these two categories, antisocial attitudes and behavior (e.g., companions, prison adjustment), criminal history, and institutional factors were the strongest predictors. Among actuarial measures, an interview-based risk protocol produced the highest correlations with prison misconducts. The prediction of violent misconducts was associated with greater effect sizes than nonviolent misconducts. The article suggests that the prediction of prison misconducts must take into account the possibility of potent interactions between personal and situational factors. When offenders high on personal risk factors (e.g., antisocial attitudes and behavior) live in precarious prison environments, potentially volatile consequences are more likely. Tables, appendix, note, references