International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology RSS feed -- OnlineFirst Articles

The Effect of Age on Sexual and Violent Reconviction

Craig, L. A. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:22:32 PST

Although a number of research studies indicate an inverse relationship between age and sexual offence recidivism, the effect of age on sexual and violent reconviction remains unclear, with some studies producing contradictory results. In the present study, reconviction data were obtained for 131 offenders (85 sex offenders and 46 violent offenders) followed up over a 2- and 5-year period. The sample was grouped into four age bands (i.e., ≤24, 25-34, 35-44, and ≥45 years) and rates of sexual, violent, sexual and violent (combined), and any offence reconviction were compared. There was an almost linear relationship between age and rate of reconviction, with the youngest age band (≤24 years) presenting the greatest risk of reconviction and the older age bands (≥45 years) presenting the lowest reconviction rate. At the 5-year follow-up, the youngest age band was significantly more likely to be reconvicted of sexual and violent offences (combined) than any other age band. This age band was significantly more likely to be actuarially assessed (i.e., Static-99) as high risk (controlling for age) and was more likely to target strangers, be single, and display non-sexual violence during the index offence. In relation to sexual reconviction, there was a plateau effect in the middle-age band, with the oldest age band (≥45 years) obtaining the highest sexual reconviction rate compared with all other age bands at the 5-year follow-up. Although these findings support the view that lower-aged sexual and violent offenders pose greater risk than their older-aged counterparts, this was not true for sexual reconviction at the 5-year follow-up. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Ideological Delinquency: Gender Differences Among Israeli Youth During the Withdrawal From the Gaza Strip

Shechory, M., Laufer, A. — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:37:24 PST

This study aims to examine the factors that channel boys and girls toward committing illegal activity. The measures examined include social control factors (belief, commitment, attachment, and involvement) and ideological religious worldviews. The study examines 262 Israeli adolescents who have taken part in illegal and legal activities during the resistance to the Gaza evacuation. Findings suggest that illegal activity levels are greater among boys than girls, whereas ideological obligation and commitment are greater among girls than boys. Involvement with friends positively predicts ideological obligation among boys, which in turn is related to increased likelihood of illegal activity. Among girls, lower commitment and lower belief as well as greater ideological obligation are predictive of illegal activity.

Female Serial Murderers: Directions for Future Research on a Hidden Population

Gurian, E. A. — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:47:57 PST

This comprehensive overview on a sample of 65 cases (134 total offenders, including some partnered teams of more than 2 offenders) provides information on female serial murderers who either work in a mixed-sex offending group or alone. These female serial homicide offenders have a distinct set of offender–victim characteristics, including specific victim preferences, methods, and motivations: Partnered serial homicide offenders are more likely to target adult strangers and despatch them using a combination of methods, whereas solo female serial murderers are most likely to target adult family members and murder them with poison. These patterns have the potential to add to our understanding of the possible similarities and differences of serial homicide cases by building on established offender characteristics. Convictions and sentences for the offenders are included and areas of future research and implications for treatment with this sample are also explored.

Methamphetamine Use and Criminal Behavior

Gizzi, M. C., Gerkin, P. — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:47:56 PST

This research seeks to broaden our understanding of methamphetamine’s (meth’s) place within the study of drugs and crime. Through extensive court records research and interviews with 200 offenders in local jails in western Colorado, this research contributes to the creation of a meth user profile and begins to identify the place of meth in the drug–crime nexus. The study compares the criminal behavior of meth users with other drug users, finding that meth users are more likely than other drug users to be drunk or high at the time of arrest and claim their crimes were related to drug use in other ways. A content analysis of criminal records demonstrates that meth users have more extensive criminal records and are more likely than other drug users to commit property crimes.

Prison to Society: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Coping With Reentry

Phillips, L. A., Lindsay, M. — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:10:17 PDT

This research investigates how individuals who reenter society from prison use coping strategies. Participants are incarcerated individuals who recidivated following a previous release from prison (n = 20). Participants examine their most recent reentry experience via an interview. The research question under investigation is, "What themes describe how individuals cope with reentry from prison to society?" Data and results combine qualitative and quantitative analysis methods. The predominant coping strategy for dealing with reentry barriers is avoidance. There is a defined process experienced by participants, which is initial optimism about release, followed by craving substances, facing practical barriers, and/or feeling overwhelmed. This eventually results in avoidance of managing problems and emotions and substance abuse relapse, which culminates in recidivism.

Prosecutorial Decision Making in Taiwan: A Partial Test of Black's Behavior of Law

Kuo, S.-Y., Longmire, D., Cuvelier, S. J., Chang, K.-M. — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:10:18 PDT

Most prior studies have examined prosecutorial decision making from cognitive, organizational, and legal perspectives, with few studies applying a broad sociological model. This study attempts to address the gap by using Black’s Behavior of Law as a theoretical framework to explicate prosecutorial behavior. With analysis of aggregate-level data from Taiwan for the period 1973 to 2005, the results partially support Black’s propositions. Organization (martial law) and culture (educational attainment) are significantly associated with the levels of change in prosecutors’ behavior in the directions hypothesized using Black’s model. The remaining aspects of social life, however, do not have an effect on the prosecutors’ decisions during the time frame. The findings suggest that mediating variables, such as the extent of governmental autocracy and control over legislative policy, need to be considered in explaining the behavior of law.

The Relationship Between Burnout and Support for Punishment and Treatment: A Preliminary Examination

Lambert, E. G., Hogan, N. L., Altheimer, I., Jiang, S., Stevenson, M. T. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:20:13 PDT

According to the existing literature, support for punishment and support for treatment of inmates are the two major orientations held by correctional workers. There is a small but growing body of studies that has examined the predictors of these orientations. The literature suggests that personal characteristics account for little of the variance in correctional orientations whereas individual-level perceptions of work environment factors are related to correctional orientations; however, the effects of job burnout have not been explored. This study investigates the relationship between burnout and the two correctional orientations. Burnout has three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and ineffectiveness. This study finds that depersonalization is positively related to support for punishment and negatively related to support for treatment. Ineffectiveness leads to a lower support for treatment whereas emotional exhaustion leads to a higher support for treatment.

Prison Inmates' Suicidal Ideation in China: A Study of Gender Differences and Their Impact

Zhang, J., Liang, B., Zhou, Y., Brame, W. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:20:14 PDT

Suicide is one of the leading causes of inmate death, and many studies have explored suicidal risks among inmates in Western countries. Such studies, however, have been extremely rare in China. Because of China’s unique cultural and social conditions, suicide displays many distinctive features and one of them is the greater percentage of women (than men) who commit suicide. With data collected from three adult prisons in China, this study tests gender differences on prison inmates’ suicidal risk factors and explores the correlation of gender’s impact with other factors. Findings show that male and female inmates present distinctive patterns of suicidal ideation, although gender fails to exert a significant direct impact on the outcome. The results call for different approaches and treatments toward both gender groups for suicide prevention in Chinese correctional facilities.

The Implicit Theories of Rape-Prone Men: An Information-Processing Investigation

Blake, E., Gannon, T. A. — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:33:28 PDT

It has been hypothesised that sexual offenders hold offence-supportive implicit theories (ITs) or schemata. This study aims to determine whether rape-prone men hold the same offence-supportive ITs as those that have been identified in rapists. This study adopts both an explicit and an implicit measure of ITs (a lexical decision task). In the lexical decision task, participants are primed with an incomplete sentence before being presented with a target word. The target word completes the sentence in either a rape-supportive or a non–rape-supportive manner. The authors predict that men higher on proclivity to rape—who presumably hold strong mental representations of rape-supportive themes—would be faster to respond to word completions that are rape supportive relative to men lower on rape proclivity. Using multiple regressions to determine the relative contributions of both explicit and implicit measures for predicting rape proclivity, the authors find that only the explicit self-report questionnaire was significantly related to a person’s rape proclivity score.

The Biosocial Correlates of Neuropsychological Deficits: Results From the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health

Beaver, K. M., Vaughn, M. G., DeLisi, M., Higgins, G. E. — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:23:36 PDT

A body of empirical research has revealed that neuropsychological functioning is one of the most consistent predictors of antisocial behavior. It is somewhat surprising however that criminological research has been slow to examine the different factors that are implicated in the development of neuropsychological deficits. This study addresses this gap in the literature by examining the effects that a number of social and biological variables have on neuropsychological functioning. Analysis of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) indicates that postnatal exposure to cigarette smoke, duration of breastfeeding, maternal involvement, and household income predicts variation in adolescent and adulthood levels of neuropsychological functioning. Implications of the findings are noted and discussed.

Attitudes Toward Hiring Offenders: The Roles of Criminal History, Job Qualifications, and Race

Varghese, F. P., Hardin, E. E., Bauer, R. L., Morgan, R. D. — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:15:32 PDT

Occupational functioning is an important factor in the success of offenders reentering society. Yet few studies have empirically examined the factors influencing job obtainment of offenders.This study endeavors to begin to fill this gap by examining attitudes in hiring applicants charged with a crime. To accomplish this goal, 275 college students read a job description for a cashier position and then read 1 of 12 descriptions of an applicant varied by criminal history, qualifications, and race. Participants rate the applicants across dimensions relevant to hiring decisions. Results indicate that applicants with drug possession charges and low qualifications were less likely to be referred for hire. Severity of charges influences employability. Among applicants with a misdemeanor, qualifications increase employability, but qualifications have no influence for applicants with a felony. Implications of these findings for policy and vocational rehabilitation programming are discussed.

Effects of Individual and Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Male Prisoners in Iran

Khodayarifard, M., Shokoohi-Yekta, M., Hamot, G. E. — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:26:33 PDT

This study investigates individual and group cognitive–behavioral interventions in decreasing psychological symptoms and enhancing the psychological status of Iranian prison inmates. A random sample of 180 males is placed in three equal groups: an individual cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) group, an individual and group CBT group, and a control group. General Health Questionnaire, Symptom Checklist-90– Revised, and diagnostic interviews based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. , text rev. ) are used before and after intervention. MANOVA indicates that both methods improve the psychological status of the inmates and reduce their symptoms, but the combined treatment is more efficient than the individual therapy. In a 1-year follow-up after inmate release,recidivism in the individual and combined therapy groups is zero. The return rate of participants in the control group is 15%. Results of the study demonstrate that both individual and group CBT are effective in reducing psychological symptoms. However, the impact of combined therapy is stronger than individual CBT.

"Signs of Honor" Among Russian Inmates in Israel's Prisons

Shoham, E. — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:26:32 PDT

The unique nature of Israeli society as an immigrant society has also affected the prison population in Israel. This article focuses on a social and cultural phenomenon that particularly characterizes the prisoners of Russian origin, the phenomenon of tattoos. Using postmodernist theories,the article examines the function of the tattoo among Russian prisoners and the role it plays in constructing the criminal self-identity of these inmates in Israeli prisons. The tattoos observed during 2005-2006 among the Russian prisoners in four major Israeli prisons reflect the values of the Russian criminal subculture from which they evolved and were imported. This subculture is characterized by a hierarchical class structure and manifestations of machismo, domination, defiance, rebellion, and open antagonism against the Establishment and its representatives.

An Exploration of the Relationship Between Criminal Cognitions and Psychopathy in a Civil Psychiatric Sample

Magyar, M., Carr, W. A., Rosenfeld, B., Rotter, M. — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:11:48 PDT

The relationship between psychopathy and thinking styles that support and maintain a criminal lifestyle is examined using the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV; Hart, Cox, & Hare, 1995) and the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS; Walters, 1995). These measures are administered to a sample of 75 patients recruited from a state psychiatric hospital in the northeastern United States. Correlational analyses indicate that the PICTS General Criminal Thinking, Self-Assertion/Deception factor scale, and several criminal thinking style scales are significantly related to psychopathy. The significantly associated criminal thinking scales include Entitlement (r = .44) and Superoptimism (r = .43) with Factors 1 and 2 of the PCL:SV, respectively. Multiple regression analyses reveal that these two criminal thinking scales are the strongest predictors of Factors 1 and 2 of the PCL:SV, respectively. Implications for the cognitive basis of the construct of psychopathy, as well as potential treatment interventions, are discussed.

An Appraisal of the Performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Nigeria

Sowunmi, F. A., Adesola, M. A., Salako, M. A. — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:13:35 PDT

This article examines how an anti-graft body, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), has fared in reducing the incidence of corruption in Nigeria, in particular, bank fraud, Internet scam, and bad governance. It first discusses the corruption situation in Nigeria by highlighting public office holders who have been associated with corruption charges. A Likert-type scale is used in designing the questionnaire for data collection. Descriptive and chi-square analyses are used, and results reveal that the performance of the EFCC has been affected by government interference (p < .05). However, although the anti-graft body has not been able to reduce the incidence of bank fraud (p > .05), bad governance and advance fee fraud have recorded appreciable reduction (p < .05). Areas of success as well as challenges that need to be addressed are identified. Specifically, it is recommended that the bill that established EFCC should be amended to reduce government interference and improve its manpower development, especially in the areas of fraud and Internet scam detection.

Gender Differences in Sense of Coherence, Perceived Social Support, and Negative Emotions Among Drug-Abstinent Israeli Inmates

Chen, G. — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:23:43 PDT

This study examines gender differences in the sense of coherence, perceived social support, and negative emotions among drug-abstinent Israeli inmates. One hundred nineteen inmates have participated in this study (65 men and 54 women). The findings indicate that among female inmates, abstinence of more than a year is related to a decrease in sense of coherence and to an increase in their perceived friend support. In contrast, among male inmates, abstinence of more than a year is related to an increase in sense of coherence and no change at all in their perceived friend support. In addition, hostility level is lower and sense of coherence is higher when the length of abstinence exceeds a year among male inmates. In contrast, among female inmates hostility level is higher when the sense of coherence is lower, without any connection to the length of abstinence.The implications of these findings to treatment intervention are discussed.

A Review of the Use of Therapeutic Communities With Sexual Offenders

Ware, J., Frost, A., Hoy, A. — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:28:11 PDT

Sexual offender treatment programmes are often facilitated in secure settings such as prisons or psychiatric hospitals, which are not ideal environments for such treatment. Arguably,however,when these environments are structured as therapeutic communities (TCs), opportunities are created to enhance the effectiveness of treatment.This article describes the concept of a TC, its operating principles and rationale, as well as the benefits and rationale for establishing TCs in conjunction with cognitive–behavioural treatment with sexual offenders. This is discussed in terms of the potential of TCs to improve targeting of treatment content,to enhance treatment process, to provide optimal environments for therapeutic gain, and to provide a broad therapeutic framework for treating sexual offenders. The article reviews and summarizes what evidence exists for the use of TCs with both nonsexual offenders and sexual offenders.Finally,it highlights the gaps in our knowledge of the use of TCs to inspire further empirical and conceptual consideration of these issues.

Is Employment Associated With Reduced Recidivism? The Complex Relationship Between Employment and Crime

Tripodi, S. J., Kim, J. S., Bender, K. — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:23:40 PDT

This article explores the association between employment and recidivism for parolees released from Texas prisons. Along with determining whether obtaining employment on release from prison is associated with decreased odds of reincarceration, this article analyzes whether obtaining employment is associated with increased time to reincarceration. Proportional hazard models were used to examine the effect of employment on reincarceration over time. This analysis allowed a unique view of desistance from crime as a process of behavioral change with multiple stages. Results generally support this perspective, finding that although obtaining employment is not associated with a significant decrease in likelihood of reincarceration, it is associated with significantly greater time to reincarceration. Thus, among parolees who are reincarcerated, those who obtain employment spend more time crime-free in the community before returning to prison. This article argues that increased time crime-free is an indicator of positive behavior change that should be supplemented with clinical interventions to help formerly incarcerated persons maintain the initial motivation associated with employment.

Successful Reentry: What Differentiates Successful and Unsuccessful Parolees?

Bahr, S. J., Harris, L., Fisher, J. K., Armstrong, A. H. — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:23:39 PDT

In this research the authors examine the reentry of 51 parolees during the 3 years following their release from prison. The objective is to gain increased understanding of what differentiates successful parolees from those who fail. Success is defined as being discharged from parole by 3 years after release. The study examines the extent to which drug treatment, friendships, work, family bonds, and age are associated with reentry success. Contrary to expectations, it is found that closeness to mother, closeness to father, having a partner, being a parent, and education level are not associated with parole success. Those who succeed on parole are more likely to have taken a substance abuse class while in prison and on release tend to spend more time in enjoyable activities with friends. Among the employed, those that worked at least 40 hours a week are more likely to complete parole successfully. Qualitative data indicate that successful parolees had more support from family and friends and had more self-efficacy, which help them stay away from drugs and peers who use drugs. The findings are consistent with an integrated life course theory.

Perceptions and Coping With Punishment: How Registered Sex Offenders Respond to Stress, Internet Restrictions, and the Collateral Consequences of Registration

Tewksbury, R., Zgoba, K. M. — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:07:36 PDT

This study examines how registered sex offenders (RSOs) experience, respond to, and attribute stress regarding sex offender registration and notification process and policies. In addition, the frequency and reasons for Internet access is assessed, with a focus on how new legislation in New Jersey (P.L. 2007, C.219) limits or blocks such access. Drawing on survey data from a random sample of 1,000 RSOs in New Jersey, responses from 107 RSOs show significant levels of stress, significant losses due to restrictions on Internet access, and coping methods associated with higher and lower stress levels. The most significant loss reported by the sample related to employment search difficulties. Factors associated with increased levels of stress include using self-distraction for coping and not accepting the situation. Surprisingly, being forced to move because of financial reasons is associated with lower levels of stress.

Criminal Profiling as a Plotting Activity Based on Abductive Processes

Verde, A., Nurra, A. — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:07:36 PDT

In this article the authors analyze the nature and aims of criminal profiling from a theoretical point of view. The need to become increasingly "scientific" has given rise to the modern approaches of profiling, which have been particularly successful in cases of serial homicides and sex crimes, given that compulsive (perverse) acts, because of their ritual nature, have been described as being more easily foreseeable and presumably linkable to the psychological and even personal characteristics of a given criminal. On this basis, the authors analyze profiling from an epistemological point of view and show how, in the concrete activity of profiling, profilers depart from the "certainty" of the scientific models (those that are based on deductive–inductive processes); the epistemological basis of reasoning changes as there is no longer an induction–deduction model but rather an abductive model (as conceived and explained by Peirce) in which the importance of plotting (the weaving of a narrative) becomes greater.

Sexual Abuse in Childhood and the Mentally Disordered Female Offender

Silberman, M. — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:51:28 PDT

This study examines the role that a history of child sexual abuse played in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders in a sample of 321 female offenders incarcerated in a maximum-security prison for women. The results show that a history of child sexual abuse increases the likelihood that an inmate would receive mental health treatment. Psychotropic medication is frequently prescribed in response to adjustment problems associated with childhood sexual abuse. White women who exhibit adjustment problems associated with a history of child sexual abuse are especially likely to be diagnosed as mentally disordered at admission and to be sent to the mental health unit for treatment. In the absence of a diagnosed mental disorder at admission, women who receive psychotropic medication to help them adjust to prison life are likely to be diagnosed with a mental disorder later on.

Typology of Intimate Partner Homicide: Personal, Interpersonal, and Environmental Characteristics of Men Who Murdered Their Female Intimate Partner

Elisha, E., Idisis, Y., Timor, U., Addad, M. — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:23:55 PDT

Fifteen inmates from Ayalon prison, a maximum-security prison in Israel, who were convicted of murder, attempted murder, or manslaughter of their female intimate partner, have participated in a study designed to examine integrated variables—personal, interpersonal, and environmental–familial—connected with this phenomenon. Analyses of the in-depth interviews demonstrate that despite the different motivations the perpetrators displayed with regard to the murder, they share some common themes. On the basis of these themes, three primary types of female intimate partner murderers have been identified; each of them represents a personal narrative as follows: the betrayed, the abandoned, and the tyrant. The proposed typology might be used for establishing a common language among researchers, scholars, and workers in this field. It can also contribute to the existing clinical tools in terms of prediction, prevention, and treatment initiatives that currently focus on violence.

Personality and Cognitive-Style Profile of Antisocial and Prosocial Adolescents: A Brief Report

Lipperman-Kreda, S., Glicksohn, J. — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:15:08 PDT

In this brief report, antisocial and prosocial adolescents are contrasted in terms of impulsivity and venturesomeness, and the cognitive style of field dependence– independence are assessed using the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT). The data have been collected from a total of 366 youths, ranging in age between 12 and 18 years. Antisocials are found to score below average, whereas the prosocials score above average on the GEFT.

Evaluating Shame Transformation in Group Treatment of Domestic Violence Offenders

Loeffler, C. H., Prelog, A. J., Unnithan, N. P., Pogrebin, M. R. — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:15:07 PDT

Offender rehabilitation, pitting the rational ability of criminal justice against the seeming irrationality of criminal behavior, remains controversial. Psychology highlights the importance of emotions in mediating individual behavior. Borrowing from restorative justice as a more emotionally intelligent form of justice, this article examines the role of shame and guilt in a domestic violence offender treatment program. The emotions are differentiated and then activated, similar to the use of reintegrative shaming in restorative justice, to promote greater offender accountability and empathy. Using a two-group comparison of male domestic violence offenders, measurements were taken on three sets of scales in assessing the outcome of the shame transformation process. Statistically significant effects were found for self-esteem and empathetic concern. Findings and future research are discussed.

Profiling Property Criminals in Turkey

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:15:07 PDT

The main aim of this research is to develop a profile of a thief. Through a comprehensive survey of property crime suspects arrested in the city of Ankara between 2004 and 2005, the authors have attempted to determine the socioeconomic qualities of those involved in these forms of property crimes. Results of the study show that property crimes are a consequence of low education, lack of occupational skills, and alcohol and drug addiction on the part of the offenders. Because of these factors, theft becomes a way of life for offenders after their first act of property crime.

Emerging Adults With Psychiatric Disabilities Involved With the Criminal Justice System

Hartwell, S. W., Fisher, W. H., Davis, M. — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:48:42 PDT

Experiencing serious psychiatric problems during the transition from adolescence to adulthood intensifies the perils emerging adults confront. Emerging adults whose childhood and adolescent experiences include significant contact with the public mental health or criminal justice systems have numerous additional hurdles to overcome. Disruptions in education, few opportunities for involvement with nonpsychiatrically involved peers, and limited life experiences reflect difficulties developing normative social control, skills, and networks. This article examines the impact of age and multiple stigmatized statuses by comparing an emerging adult and older cohort of psychiatrically disabled offenders. It explores whether there are features (demographic, clinical, and criminal ) that distinguish emerging adults that should be considered in creating appropriate community services for treatment and prevention and subsequent desistance from continued criminal involvement.

Evaluation of a Cognitive Intervention Program for Juvenile Offenders

Bogestad, A. J., Kettler, R. J., Hagan, M. P. — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:35:22 PDT

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a cognitive intervention program for juvenile offenders. Using the How I Think (HIT) Questionnaire, 165 offenders from three juvenile correctional facilities in Wisconsin are assessed after completion of the first two phases of the Juvenile Cognitive Intervention Program. Multiple t tests are used to assess change in thinking as measured by the HIT. Results indicate significant improvement in thinking across all areas as measured by the HIT. Discussion regarding the significance of the results and recommendations for future research are provided.

Offender Rehabilitation as a Value-Laden Process

Day, A., Ward, T. — Fri, 22 May 2009 08:37:45 PDT

This article investigates some of the primary assumptions and values that underpin correctional practice in the area of offender rehabilitation. It is suggested that values are reflected in offenders’ and clinicians’ fundamental beliefs about the rehabilitative process and as such underlie their various actions. This article identifies three areas in which values may be important (organisational values about crime and punishment, professional values, and personal values) and discusses each in relation to its relevance for rehabilitative practice. It is concluded that despite the apparent role of values in the correctional domain, very little is known about the values of those who deliver rehabilitative programs and how these might influence rehabilitative outcomes.

The Influence of Father Criminality on Juvenile Recidivism: Testing for Delinquent Behaviors as a Mediator

Huan, V. S., Ang, R. P., Lim, H. Y. N. — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:08:01 PDT

This study investigates the relationships between father criminality, prior delinquency, and recidivism using data from 382 incarcerated juveniles assessed in Singapore’s Juvenile Court in 2005. The juveniles are aged 13 to 16 years, with a mean of 14.55 years (SD = 0.93). Using Baron and Kenny’s framework, this study tests the prediction that the prior delinquent behaviors of the juvenile mediate the relationship between father criminality and recidivism in a four-step process. When the juvenile’s prior delinquent behaviors are included in the model, the previous significant relation between father criminality and recidivism disappears. Implications of findings in terms of applied and practical intervention and prevention work for youths in schools and those in incarceration are discussed.

Measuring Hope: Is Hope Related to Criminal Behaviour in Offenders?

Martin, K., Stermac, L. — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:08:01 PDT

In contrast to growing regard for the psychological construct of hope in medical and psychological arenas, hope has not yet found a permanent place in the field of criminology. Traditionally, treatment programs and risk assessment tools have focused on the deficits that criminal offenders possess. However, the orientation of our approach to corrections has recently shifted to embrace more strengths-based, offender-focused programming designed to rehabilitate offenders. The assessment for risk for recidivism has been slower to make this transition and use research supporting the use of more dynamic risk factors for reducing reoffending. This study investigates the nature of hope in offenders in relation to their risk for future criminal behaviour. The results indicate that hope is indeed related to the risk for reoffending. The information obtained through this research will inform researchers and clinicians about the nature of hope in a correctional population and its relation with risk for future criminal behaviour.

Staff and Patient's Perceptions of Each Other's Interpersonal Style: Relationship With Severity of Personality Disorder

Daffern, M., Duggan, C., Huband, N., Thomas, S. — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:44:37 PDT

Extreme and varied reactions are often encountered when working with patients with personality disorders. Similarly, patients with personality disorder may also hold polarised opinions of the staff involved in their treatment. This study explored the relationship between severity of personality disorder and interpersonal style in patients admitted for treatment to a secure psychiatric unit. Up to four nurses rated each patient’s interpersonal style using the Impact Message Inventory, a self-report transactional inventory. Patients then rated the interpersonal style of these same staff. Contrary to expectations, severity of personality disorder was not associated with patients’ interpersonal style or to variance in nurses’ assessments of patients’ interpersonal style. However, patients with more severe personality disorder tended to show greater variability in their assessment of nurses’ interpersonal style, specifically their appraisal of staff members’ interpersonal dominance. Implications for the assessment of offenders admitted for treatment of their personality disorder are discussed.

Violent Patients: What Italian Psychiatrists Feel and How This Could Change Their Patient Care

Catanesi, R., Carabellese, F., Candelli, C., Valerio, A., Martinelli, D. — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:44:37 PDT

The study takes a detailed look at psychiatric patient violence towards their psychiatrists. It takes into consideration the views and opinions of Italian psychiatrists, whether they have experienced violent behaviour firsthand and, if so, which type of aggression and whether this caused them to modify their behaviour towards the patient and his or her treatment. A multiple-choice questionnaire is sent to all members of the Italian Society of Psychiatry, with 1,202 psychiatrists responding (20.23% of the sample). The data are evaluated using SPSS with chi-square test calculations for discrete and continuous variables and t-testing for independent samples (significance p < .05). Almost all psychiatrists (90.9%) have experienced verbal aggression; 72% have been threatened with dangerous objects and 64.58% have suffered physical aggression. Physical aggression experiences result in a 50% increase in the probability of modifying one’s therapeutic behaviour. Significant differences emerge between the psychiatrists, according to differences in age and career experience. Psychiatrists state that they do not consider themselves to be adequately prepared to deal with the violence of patients, and almost all psychiatrists felt the need for specific training in how to manage such violence.

Individual and Institutional Characteristics Related to Inmate Victimization

Perez, D. M., Gover, A. R., Tennyson, K. M., Santos, S. D. — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:52:00 PDT

This study examines the effect of inmate and institutional characteristics on inmate victimization during incarceration. In addition, it examines whether factors related to inmate victimization varies by perpetrator type, specifically inmate versus staff victimizer. Self-reported data from 247 male and female inmates confined to eight correctional institutions are collected, including questions regarding their experiences of staff-on-inmate and inmate-on-inmate victimization. Results show that similar institutional-level variables predict both types of inmate victimization; however, there are some differences between outcomes based on inmate-level characteristics. The authors address possible explanations for the results and suggest several policy implications to reduce the incidence of prison violence.

Intra- and Extra-Familial Child Molestation as Pathways Building on Parental and Relational Deficits and Personality Disorders

Bogaerts, S., Buschman, J., Kunst, M. J. J., Winkel, F. W. — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:52:00 PDT

This article addresses the intra- and extra-familial pathways of child molestation. The data presented show preliminary evidence that the difference between the intra- and extra-familial routes can be explained by schizoid and avoidant (intra-familial) and antisocial and passive–aggressive (extra-familial) personality structures. This study also reveals that the amount of warmth and autonomy received during childhood is associated with both intra- and extra-familial child-molesting behaviour. These findings contribute to a further explanation of this deviant sexual conduct and to the development and differentiation of the treatment of child molesters.

Sexual History Disclosure Polygraph Examinations With Cybercrime Offences: A First Dutch Explorative Study

Buschman, J., Bogaerts, S., Foulger, S., Wilcox, D., Sosnowski, D., Cushman, B. — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:57:54 PDT

This article presents the first study on post-conviction polygraphy in the Netherlands. Importantly, it exclusively focuses on cybercrime offenders. The study is designed to systematically address the different child sexual behaviours exhibited by 25 participants who are in treatment for possessing child abuse images. The results indicate that post-conviction polygraphy can provide additional data to inform the development of theory in this area and contribute to the treatment, supervision, and more effective containment of offending behaviour and the reduction of future victimization.

Social Support and Anomie: A Multilevel Analysis of Anomie in Europe and North America

Cao, L., Zhao, R., Ren, L., Zhao, J. S. — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:27:17 PDT

On the basis of the reasoning of social support theory, the authors examine the macro effect of social support on anomie at the individual level. Data from international surveys have documented wide variation in anomie across nations, but to what extent this variation among nations can be contributed to structural characteristics has not been explored before. Using hierarchical linear modeling techniques to sort out the effects of structural context and personal characteristics on anomie across 31 European and North American nations, the authors test the hypothesis that variation in social support at the national level is inversely related to individuals’ sense of anomie. The study results support the hypothesis that structural characteristics of a nation, such as social support and population growth, influence individuals’ sense of anomie. At the individual level, the results are consistent with Merton’s predictions about anomie and the reasoning of social support theory. Policy implication is discussed within the limitations of data.

Deviance Among Young Italians: Investigating the Predictive Strength of Value Systems

Froggio, G., Lori, M. — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:20:26 PDT

Despite more than three decades of research on the relationship between values and deviance, until now results have not completely clarified what kind of relationship it is. Criminological theories (sociological and psychosocial) emphasize on a relationship between certain values, such as hedonistic and materialistic ones, and deviance, but few theorists explain whether these values are predictors of deviance. In this study, using a sample of 500 young Italians, the authors try to verify whether value systems can be considered predictors of juvenile deviance and if so, which type of value system. An attempt is made to identify what is the values’ capability to explain deviance in comparison with other psychosocial and demographic predictors. Results confirm the past findings of a relation between hedonistic and materialistic values and deviance but show only a modest and peripheral ability of values to explain deviance.

Drug Offenders' Perceptions of Motivation: The Role of Motivation in Rehabilitation and Reintegration

Gideon, L. — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:44:07 PDT

This article presents a qualitative analysis of participants’ perceptions of the importance of motivation in the detoxification and rehabilitation process. As part of an outcome evaluation of recovering drug addicts who participated in a prison-based therapeutic community, 39 participants (a nonrandomized subsample) are interviewed regarding their rehabilitation and reintegration experiences. Although many studies show that participation in prison-based drug treatment programs reduces the likelihood of recidivism, clients in this study suggest that other factors might be equally important, and in particular clients’ own motivation to change their lives. This study raises some questions about the true ability of drug treatment programs to treat and rehabilitate drug-abusing offenders, diverting the emphasis from the treatment program itself to the participants’ motivation to change. Findings are discussed in regard to prison-based drug treatment programs, after-release impediments encountered by inmates, and inmates’ expectations of successful reintegration into the normative noncriminal society.

Classifying Sexual Offenders: An Empirical Model for Generating Type-Specific Approaches to Intervention

Woessner, G. — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:08:33 PDT

Although recidivism is lower among sexual offenders who have received treatment than those who have not, evaluation and treatment studies reach different numbers on recidivism rates and effectiveness. The question still remains as to what exactly works for whom; that is, does one kind of treatment work for all sexual offenders? This empirical study attempts to develop a sex offender typology that refers to treatment-relevant factors and characteristics to generate a framework for developing specific treatment approaches. In a first step the authors conduct a survey of experts to identify treatment-relevant factors for the later typology. In the main part of the study, 199 sexual offenders incarcerated in German prison and forensic facilities are examined according to the identified characteristics. A cluster analysis results in five subtypes of sexual offenders. In this article, the clusters are presented with regard to their criminologically relevant characteristics, and implications for type-related interventions are discussed.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Men and Women Newly Committed to Prison: Clinical Characteristics, Psychiatric Comorbidity, and Quality of Life

Westmoreland, P., Gunter, T., Loveless, P., Allen, J., Sieleni, B., Black, D. W. — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:07:04 PST

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with comorbid psychiatric diagnoses and antisocial behaviors that contribute to criminality, yet studies of ADHD in offenders are few. The authors evaluate a random sample of 319 offenders using a version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and Medical Outcome Survey Health Survey. ADHD was present in 68 subjects (21.3%). Offenders with ADHD were more likely to report problems with emotional and social functioning and to have higher suicide risk scores (p < .001). They also had higher rates of mood, anxiety, psychotic, and somatoform disorders. Antisocial and borderline personality disorders were also more common among offenders with ADHD. The authors conclude that ADHD is common in offenders and is associated with comorbid disorders, worse quality of life, and higher risk for suicidal behaviors. Its presence should alert prison staff that the offender is likely to require more intensive mental health services.

Risk and Resilience: The Family Experience of Adolescents With an Addicted Parent

Ronel, N., Haimoff-Ayali, R. — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:07:04 PST

The family relationships of adolescents brought up by an addicted parent were studied in a qualitative research. The authors interviewed 19 adolescents, all of whom had a parent either actively addicted to drugs or else recovering addicts. The participants were assigned to one of two groups based on the degree to which they maintained normative lives or descended into addiction. It was found that the relative strength of the adolescents within the triad of forces (mother, father, self) had great significance for their development. Younger siblings awakened a desire to protect them from a life of addiction. The extended family was also found to have a potential to influence, in keeping with the significance the young people attributed to these relatives. The results indicate a definition, the first of its kind, of subjective risk and protective factors representing subjective perceptions of the reality of the lives of the participants.

Bystander Intervention and Fear of Crime: Evidence From Two Chinese Communities

Zhong, L. Y. — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:07:03 PST

From the perspective of prosocial behavior, bystander intervention is conditioned by situational factors; from an informal social control perspective, bystander intervention has been demonstrated to be associated with level of crime and violence at the community level. By drawing on findings in two contrasting communities within a Chinese city, this study investigates the effects of fear of crime and type of community on bystander intervention. It shows that fear of crime and type of community have robust and consistent effects on bystander intervention, controlling for demographic characteristics including sex, age, and education. The implications of the findings are discussed in terms of bystander intervention as both prosocial behavior and informal social control. The findings also question the usefulness of simply casting bystander nonintervention as corrupted morality in China.

An Examination of Content Preference in Offender Profiles

Norris, G., Rafferty, E., Campbell, J. — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:03:11 PST

This study examined preferences for the content of offender profiles between two different groups of participants to assess the importance of presentation style and linguistic emphasis. The sample consisted of 70 undergraduate psychology students and 30 serving police officers who were each presented with a case study and three profiles constructed to represent three stylistically different representations of the offender. The accompanying questionnaire indicated significant differences in the profile selection between police officers and students, and also, more important, some disparity in the way these preferences are articulated and justified. Detailed analysis of results and suggestions for future research are also included.

The Relationship Between Emotional State and Success in Community Reintegration for Ex-Prisoners

Shinkfield, A. J., Graffam, J. — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:16:41 PST

This study examines the role of emotional state in the reintegration of ex-prisoners. Participants were 101 adult prisoners (72 male, 29 female) who completed a questionnaire 1 month prior to their release and at two postrelease points focusing, first, on prison-related experiences and, second, on the quality of life conditions experienced following release. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the Beck anxiety Inventory were also completed at each interview. Results indicate that mean BDI-II scores were significantly higher at prerelease than postrelease, while mean anxiety scores were unchanged over the period under investigation. There are significant relationships between numerous reintegration variables and emotional state following release. at each postrelease point, lower depression and anxiety among participants were related to higher age and improved psychological health. Higher depression and anxiety were related to participation in a postrelease program. Theoretical implications for reintegration theory are discussed, together with practical applications.

East Meets West: Chinese and U.S. College Students' Views on Formal and Informal Crime Control

Jiang, S., Lambert, E., Jenkins, M. — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:17:17 PST

Both formal and informal crime control are used to deter people from engaging in criminal behavior that is harmful to the well-being of society. Formal criminal justice control uses the law and official government agencies to promote compliance, whereas informal criminal justice control uses morals and social institutions to encourage people to be law abiding. This study examined survey data to determine the importance of each form of social control among Chinese and U.S. college students. Chinese students were more likely to view formal and informal crime control as important mechanisms. Furthermore, Chinese students ranked the blending of formal and informal crime control as being more important.

Substance Use Disorders in Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in a Forensic Setting

Kraanen, F. L., Scholing, A., Emmelkamp, P. M. G. — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:43:50 PST

This study investigates the point prevalence of substance use disorders in 150 perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) in a forensic setting and compares participants with and without substance use disorders on demographic and offence-related variables. Furthermore, it investigates the frequency of IPV perpetrated under the influence of substances. Half the sample (50.0%) meets diagnostic criteria for at least one sub-stance-related diagnosis. Significantly more IPV perpetrators without substance use disorders compared with IPV perpetrators with substance use disorders have children living at home and have abused their children. Relative to IPV perpetrators without substance use disorders, significantly more IPV perpetrators with substance-related disorders are found to be under the influence of substances at the time of the offence. Results highlight the importance of understanding the prevalence of substance use disorders in IPV perpetrators in forensic settings.

Study Characteristics and Recidivism Base Rates in Juvenile Sex Offender Recidivism

Caldwell, M. F. — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:43:50 PST

This study reports on the results of a review and meta-analysis of 63 data sets that examine sexual recidivism among juvenile sex offenders. The studies include a total of 11,219 juvenile sex offenders, followed for a weighted mean of 59.4 months (SD = 36.1 months). Recidivism is identified through official records of arrest or conviction. The weighted mean sexual recidivism rate is 7.08% (SD = 3.9%). The weighted mean rate of general recidivism is 43.4% (SD = 18.9%). Studies that examine sexual recidivism during adolescence find monthly sexual recidivism rates that are more than 4 times higher than those found in studies that rely only on adult recidivism records. Neither the level of secured placement (community, residential, or secured custody) nor the use of arrest versus conviction as an outcome significantly influences sexual recidivism rates.

Prospective Actuarial Risk Assessment: A Comparison of Five Risk Assessment Instruments in Different Sexual Offender Subtypes

Rettenberger, M., Matthes, A., Boer, D. P., Eher, R. — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:43:50 PST

This study examines the predictive validity of the most commonly used risk assessment instruments for sexual offenders: Static-99, Rapid Risk Assessment for Sexual Offense Recidivism, Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide, Sexual Violence Risk–20, and Psychopathy Checklist–Revised in a prospective research design. Although risk assessment is part of a regime leading to various efforts to reduce risk by treatment and aftercare, all instruments show good predictive validity. However, depending on the instrument, recidivism category, and subgroup, the predictive accuracy varies markedly. Furthermore, the authors fail to demonstrate predictive validity for sexual violent reoffences—for the whole sample and for all subgroups. The results, nevertheless, support the utility and predictive validity of actuarial risk assessment complementary to treatment efforts to reduce risk. On the other hand, forensic practitioners have to be aware of the limitations of actuarial risk assessment methods, in particular as regards to variable predictive accuracy for different sexual offender subgroups and reoffence categories.

Views of Sexual Abuse Professionals About Sex Offender Notification Policies

Levenson, J. S., Fortney, T., Baker, J. N. — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:08:16 PST

This study examines the views of 261 sexual abuse professionals regarding sex crime policies. Few participants believe that community notification is very effective in reducing sex offenses, but about half believe that all sex offenders should be subject to public disclosure. About one quarter of respondents opine that sex offenders should not be allowed to live in their communities, but a majority do not view residential housing restrictions for sex offenders as effective at reducing recidivism. Most believe in the helpfulness of therapeutic intervention. More than half say that they will support sex offender policies even without scientific evidence of their effectiveness. Criminal justice professionals are more likely to approve of these laws compared to mental health professionals. Those with more conservative political leanings also favor more restrictive policies. There are few differences attributable to gender, parenting status, or victimization experiences.

Sex Offender Treatment: Consumer Satisfaction and Engagement in Therapy

Levenson, J. S., Prescott, D. S., D'Amora, D. A. — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:20:33 PST

Convicted sex offenders attending an outpatient treatment program in Connecticut were surveyed about their experiences in therapy, their perceived importance of treatment content, their satisfaction with the help they receive, and their engagement in therapeutic services. There were strong correlations between perceived importance of content items and satisfaction with services. A robust correlation was also found between engagement and satisfaction. Clients rated accountability and victim empathy as the most important components of treatment. Other popular content areas were thinking errors, relapse prevention concepts, uncovering motivations to offend, and controlling deviant arousal. Most sex offenders valued the peer support and confrontation offered by group therapy. Though reduced recidivism is clearly the crucial measure of treatment success, clients who are engaged in the treatment process and develop healthy interpersonal skills by participating in therapy may be less likely to engage in abusive behavior. Implications for practitioners are discussed.

Early Environmental Predictors of the Affective and Interpersonal Constructs of Psychopathy

Daversa, M. T. — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:28:52 PST

Early childhood maltreatment (i.e., physical, sexual, emotional abuse) and caregiver disruptions are hypothesized to be instrumental in altering the neurobiology of the brain, particularly the amygdala, and contributing to the development of the affective deficits examined in individuals with psychopathy. Exposure to early untoward life events in models of rodent and nonhuman primates changes the neurobiology of the stress response. It is hypothesized that these changes may permanently shape brain regions that mediate stress and emotion and therefore play a role in the etiology of affective disorders in humans. The significance of experience (e.g., the intensity/severity, chronicity/duration, and developmental timing of experiences) and how the accompanying changes in the activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical system affect alterations in the amygdala are discussed as critical contributors to the etiology of psychopathy. A model is proposed in which early maltreatment experiences contribute to alterations to the amygdala and produce a blunted or dissociative response to stress, a key factor in the affective deficits observed in psychopaths.

A Multisite Description of Juvenile Drug Courts: Program Models and During-Program Outcomes

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:09:08 PST

Like adult drug courts, juvenile drug courts have proliferated at a rapid rate during the past 15 years, but comparatively little research has been conducted on them. Although a few studies indicate that these programs appear to show promise as an intervention, almost nothing has been published using systematic and empirical methods to provide a description and specific examples of how these programs are structured and implemented. The purpose of the current study, therefore, is to summarize and integrate findings from systematic process evaluations of three juvenile drug courts. Similarities and differences in the structure and design of the programs are noted and findings regarding the program model for each juvenile drug court, including target population, therapeutic activities, and initial and long-term goals are presented. During-program outcome data also are presented, and findings are reported as a "snapshot" of what happened during one calendar year in the operation of each program.

Diagnostic and Risk Profiles of Men Detained Under Wisconsin's Sexually Violent Person Law

Elwood, R. W., Doren, D. M., Thornton, D. — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:55:08 PST

Previous studies described the characteristics of individuals committed under sexual offender civil commitment laws in Arizona, Florida, and Washington. This study describes the diagnostic and risk profiles of 331 sexual offenders held under Wisconsin’s sexual offender statute and compares them to the people held in those other states. Persons detained under Wisconsin’s law substantially differ from those in the other states. This variability is attributed to differences in both diagnostic procedures and statutory risk thresholds. The authors believe this is the first study to directly compare diagnoses and risk measures of sex offenders referred for commitment in different states, thereby offering a more national view of who is detained under these laws.

A Preliminary Investigation of a New Pictorial Method of Measuring Aggression-Supportive Cognition Among Young Aggressive Males

Hutchings, J. N., Gannon, T. A., Gilchrist, E. — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:14:49 PST

A new pictorial assessment was developed to measure aggression-supportive cognitions among young aggressive male students. The assessment was comprised of 17 watercolor ambiguous sketches that could be interpreted in either an aggressive or a benign manner (e.g., two young people facing each other with their arms folded). The results showed that high trait aggressive male students were more likely to make hostile attributions of the pictures, providing significantly more themes of entitlement and power in the stories they generated about the pictures. Aggressive male students also endorsed significantly more aggression-supportive cognitions on a self-report measure and provided some supporting qualitative accounts of physically aggressive encounters. The results of this study are discussed and evaluated with reference to future work with young violent adolescents.

An Archival Exploration of Homicide-Suicide and Mass Murder in the Context of 19th-Century American Parricides

Shon, P. C. H., Roberts, M. A. — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:06:04 PDT

There has been little attempt to integrate contemporary studies of suicide and mass murder to homicide–suicides. The current research attempts to do so in the context of 19th-century parricides in America. This project uses archival records from The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, 1851-1899, resulting in a total of 231 incidents. Our results indicate that parricides, mass murders, and suicides tended to originate as spontaneous acts, usually during the course of an argument, gathering momentum as the interaction unfolded. We contend that suicide is one way of alleviating threats to offender’s loss of self-identity.

Five-Year Accuracy of Assessments of High Risk for Sexual Recidivism of Adolescents

Hagan, M. P., Anderson, D. L., Caldwell, M. S., Kemper, T. S. — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:54:31 PDT

This study looked at 12 juveniles in Wisconsin who were recommended by experts for commitment under Chapter 980, known as the Sexually Violent Person Commitments Act, but who ultimately were not committed. The purpose was to determine the accuracy of these assessments and risk for sexual reoffending for juvenile sexual offenders. The results found a rate of 42% sexual recidivism among these individuals, with a 5-year at-risk period. This figure is in contrast to the low rates of sexual recidivism reported in the general juvenile sexual research. This provides evidence that the capability to assess the risk in juvenile sexual re-offending may at times be higher than previously estimated. Implications of these unusual results are discussed.

Maintaining Programme Integrity: The FOR. . . A Change Programme and the Resettlement of Ex-Prisoners

Vanstone, M. — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:54:30 PDT

This article describes the process and results of monitoring the programme integrity of FOR . . . A Change, a group programme for offenders, as it was being delivered in three prisons in the United Kingdom. In so doing, it briefly describes the aims, structure, and theoretical orientation of the programme; explains what informed the particular approach to checking for integrity and how it was implemented; outlines the results; and finally, postulates the requisite conditions for the successful maintenance of programme integrity.

The Intersection of Genes and Neuropsychological Deficits in the Prediction of Adolescent Delinquency and Low Self-Control

Beaver, K. M., DeLisi, M., Vaughn, M. G., Wright, J. P. — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:52:18 PDT

Gottfredson and Hirschi’s A General Theory of Crime, Moffitt’s developmental taxonomy theory, and Caspi et al.’s Gene x Environment study are three of the most influential pieces of contemporary criminological scholarship. Even so, there has been little attempt to integrate and empirically assess these three perspectives simultaneously. This article addresses this gap in the literature by analyzing phenotypic and genotypic data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). The results revealed that all three perspectives have considerable empirical support, where neuropsychological deficits interact with the MAOA genotype to predict adolescent delinquency and levels of self-control for White males. The theoretical implications of the findings are noted.

A Descriptive Profile of High-Risk Sex Offenders Under Intensive Supervision in the Province of British Columbia, Canada

Lussier, P., Deslauriers-Varin, N., Ratel, T. — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:22:10 PDT

This study provides a preliminary descriptive profile of individuals having been issued an 810 recognizance order (i.e., peace bond). This preventive order is issued to individuals in the community considered by the court to be high-risk sex offenders. In total, 88 offenders were issued an 810.1 (at risk of sexual offence against a child) or an 810.2 (at risk of a personal injury offence) recognizance order between April 2006 and February 2008, among whom 59 sex offenders were included. The sociodemographics, risk profiles, and recidivism of offenders under the orders were analyzed. Two risk assessment tools, the Static-99 and the Stable, were used to describe this population. Comparisons were made between sex offenders under 810.1 and 810.2 orders. Preliminary analyses suggest that these men are heterogeneous in terms of their level of risk of reoffending. Only one offender sexually reoffended while under the order. On the other hand, the general recidivism rate was about 30%, with many breaching the conditions of their order. The findings are discussed in light of the community risk management of high-risk sex offenders.

Sexual Offenders in Prison Psychiatric Treatment: A Biopsychosocial Description

Young, M. H., Justice, J. V., Edberg, P. — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:10:39 PDT

In this study, 120 males (60 sexual offenders and 60 non–sexual offenders) in psychiatric treatment while in prison were evaluated using neuropsychological, psychological, and sociological/demographic measures. All sexual offenders (N = 60) would be evaluated for potential civil commitment as sexually violent predators before prison release. Non–sexual offenders (N = 60) had not been convicted of a sexual offense. Sexual offenders demonstrated significantly more overall neuropsychological impairment suggesting diffuse brain differences, with dysfunction primarily associated with temporal and frontal brain cortexes; higher Psychopathy Checklist–Revised Factor 1 (Interpersonal/Affective) ratings and Rorschach responses indicated disordered attachment, disordered self-perception, and impulsive emotionality. Sexual offenders also were more likely to be younger and unmarried. Stepwise logistic regression analysis resulted in 80.20% accuracy of prediction of sexual offenders. Potential application of this empirically derived multidimensional description to treatment of sexual offenders is discussed. Potential limitations to generalization of this information are also discussed.

Effects of Stereotypes and Suggestion on Memory

Shechory, M., Nachson, I., Glicksohn, J. — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:28:11 PDT

In this study, the interactive effect of stereotype and suggestion on accuracy of memory was examined by presenting 645 participants (native Israelis and immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia) with three versions of a story about a worker who is waiting in a manager’s office for a meeting. All versions were identical except for the worker’s name, which implied a Russian or an Ethiopian immigrant or a person of no ethnic origin. Each participant was presented with one version of the story. After an hour delay, the participants’ memories were tested via two questionnaires that differed in terms of level of suggestion. Data analyses show that (a) when a suggestion matched the participant’s stereotypical perception, the suggestion was incorporated into memory but (b) when the suggestion contradicted the stereotype, it did not influence memory. The conclusion was that recall is influenced by stereotypes but can be enhanced by compatible suggestions.