NCJ Number
73642
Journal
Journal of Clinical Psychology Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1980) Pages: 1031-1034
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This research report investigates the ability of MMPI and other data to differentiate between adjusted and rebellious Federal prisoners, an approach seen as not very promising.
Abstract
Previous research into unsatisfactory adjustment to imprisonment have yielded mixed results because investigations were conducted primarily at State facilities, which house less violent offenders, and did not include such correctional data as time to release, time served, etc. The research for this report was conducted at a minimum-security Federal facility. Twenty-five problem inmates were compared with 25 randomly selected prisoners with no disciplinary history and with a similar period of confinement. MMPI's for each inmate were scored and correctional data studied, as well as age and ethnic data. Comparisons were made using t-tests and chi-square. Results showed little differentiation between the two groups on the basis of correctional data, although the maladjusted group was generally younger. This finding offers some indirect support to the clinical contention that as maladjusted inmates grow older they become less rebellious and more accepting of authority. Results of MMPI data were insignificant and inconsistent with previous research. The Ap scale, designed specifically for identifying inmates at disciplinary risk, was also of little value because the mean scores of the adjusted and maladjusted inmates were nearly identical. The findings indicated that these methods have limited usefulness in making custody decisions, in part because the frequency level of major rule violations is too low to show significant results.