NCJ Number
67643
Date Published
1979
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THIS BRITISH STUDY PRESENTS A PRACTICAL AND EMPIRICAL TYPOLOGICAL METHOD FOR CLASSIFYING THE DIFFERENT COGNITIVE ABILITIES OF INCARCERATED CRIMINALS AND DISCUSSES FINDINGS OF SUCH RESEARCH ON BRITISH INMATES.
Abstract
TO EXAMINE THE QUALITATIVE MAKE-UP OF NEWLY ADMITTED INMATES, TO LONDON'S CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, THE TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL APTITUDE, SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT, AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE SCORES FOR ALL CONSECUTIVE, MEDIUM CUSTODY ADMISSIONS WERE CLASSIFIED INTO ONE OF EIGHT POSSIBLE CRIMINAL COGNITIVE TYPES. THUS, 3179 NORMAL INTAKE RESIDENTS WERE TYPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE COGNITIVE ABILITIES. RESULTS CONFIRMED THAT THE AVERAGE INCARCERATED CRIMINAL HAS NORMAL INTELLIGENCE, A 7TH GRADE LEVEL OF SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT, AND BELOW AVERAGE MECHANICAL AND/OR TECHNICAL APTITUDE. FROM A TYPOLOGICAL VIEWPOINT, THE AVERAGE INCARCERATED CRIMINAL IN BRITAIN IS LESS TECHNICALLY APT, LESS EDUCATED AND LESS CAPABLE THAN HIS PEERS AND PROBABLY ENTERS PRISON WITH COGNITIVE INCOMPETENCIES AS WELL AS AFFECTIVE AND SOCIAL INCOMPETENCIES WHICH PREVENT HIM FROM SUCCESS IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING OR INSTRUCTIONAL CLASSROOM SETTINGS. CORRECTIONAL TRAINING EFFORTS SHOULD THUS BE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING BASIC COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE, AND SOCIAL SKILLS RATHER THAN ON THE TEACHING OF HIGH TECHNICAL AND ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL SKILLS. FOOTNOTES, TABULAR DATA, AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ACCOMPANY THE REPORT.