NCJ Number
176893
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 61 Issue: 1 Dated: February 1999 Pages: 26-28-32
Date Published
1999
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a Canadian study that examined predictors of recidivism in serious female offenders, with attention to whether such predictors are common to both male and female offenders.
Abstract
The study involved 100 female offenders housed within the only (at the time) Canadian Federal facility for adult female offenders, the multilevel security Prison for Women in Kingston, Ontario. Data were collected through structured interviews, file review, and self-report tests. The data pertained to variables classified into four categories: social, personal, and criminal history; history of maladaptive behavior (including drug and alcohol use); history of abuse (physical, sexual, and psychological); and measures of current psychological functioning, including personality. The study group was representative of the population at the Prison for Women and of the population of serious female offenders in Canadian prisons. A comparison of the study group of female offenders with a sample of serious male offenders for which similar data were available found similarities and differences. Both male and female offenders had disadvantaged social backgrounds, with a substantial proportion spending their first 5 years of life with adults other than their parents. Both groups reported leaving school early, having limited or no employment skills, and having histories of serious and repeated antisocial acts. There were major differences as well. There was a substantially higher rate of moderate to severe depression in female offenders and a much higher rate of suicide attempts. Female offenders were only half as likely as male offenders to have an alcohol abuse problem, but were twice as likely to have a problem with the abuse of other drugs. For the predictive aspect of the study, the relationship of all variables with previous offending and also with previous violent offending were investigated using multiple-regression analysis. With both of these targets, psychopathy was the pre- eminent measure. Other results for the two criteria differed somewhat, but in both analyses, the significant predictors included a self-reported tendency to express anger outwardly and some measure of abuse. Approximately 5 years after collecting data for the original study, records in the Offender Management System were searched to determine releases and readmission to prison for the original sample. More than 80 percent of the original sample had been released by then, on average, more than 3 years before the follow-up. Recidivism was defined as a new conviction or a major violation of release conditions that led to revocation of release. Just under half of those who had been released were classified as recidivists. The earlier data were analyzed again, with recidivism as the target. In examining the predictive contribution of all variables together, psychopathy, previous criminal convictions, and substance abuse by the father made significant contributions. Again, psychopathy was the most important predictive variable. The analyses indicate that there are considerable similarities in the factors that predict recidivism in serious offenders, regardless of gender. Implications are drawn for the assessment and treatment targets for female offenders, as well as for the mode of treatment delivery. 44 references