NCJ Number
196433
Journal
Corrections Today Magazine Volume: 64 Issue: 5 Dated: August 2002 Pages: 92-95,140
Date Published
August 2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article reports on three studies conducted to determine the effectiveness of specialized psychological screening for new recruits at three large State prison systems in Australia.
Abstract
The psychological screening involved a system developed by the Institute of Forensic Psychology (IFP) in the United States, which was administered by an Australian IFP branch located in Melbourne. The battery consists of six proprietary and nonproprietary tests, a specialized interview, and situational tests, all designed to measure characteristics deemed critical to effective performance in the role of correctional officer. The financial implications of psychological screening were analyzed in one of the studies. The corrections department in New South Wales found that in 1997, it spent $2.6 million ($4 million Australian) on sick leave for its approximately 1,700 correctional officers. At the same time, the department found that using psychological screening decreased use of sick time by 39 percent by those officers who had been screened. A study of psychological screening by the Queensland Department of Corrective services found a significantly higher attrition rate for officers who were not psychologically screened. Also, a significantly higher number of sick days were used by non-screened personnel. The third study, conducted in South Australia, also found that screened personnel had significantly less attrition and sick days than non-screened personnel. These studies apparently confirm IFP screening battery, i.e., that it leads to the selection of personnel with improved motivation, productivity, and morale. 5 tables and 12 references