NCJ Number
207569
Journal
Legal and Criminological Psychology Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: September 2004 Pages: 253-263
Date Published
September 2004
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated the appropriateness of using the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) with a population of young offenders imprisoned in England.
Abstract
Research using the PICTS with adult offender populations has suggested that age may impact PICTS scores. Additionally, previous research using PICTS in both North American and English offender populations has indicated significantly different PICTS scores between these two populations. In order to further probe these previous findings, the current study collected data on the PICTS from a sample of 515 young male offenders incarcerated in 6 young offender institutions in England. The goal was to examine the reliability and validity of the PICTS scale with a young, English offender population. Results of statistical analyses revealed mixed findings regarding its use with this type of population. The reliability analysis was less than favorable and correlation analysis with age and criminal history were non-significant. However, while the reliability of the PICTS was low among the young offender population, the majority of the PICTS scales had high internal consistency. Future research should examine the lack of associations between the PICTS scales and criminal history and age. Other studies may also focus on the predictive ability of the PICTS in terms of prison behavior and recidivism. Tables, references