NCJ Number
199196
Journal
Journal of Scandinavian Studies in Criminology and Crime Prevention Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: 2002 Pages: 84-95
Date Published
2002
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The purposes of this Swedish study were to replicate previous findings of an increased frequency of reading and writing disabilities among prison inmates in Sweden and Norway, as well as to examine the comorbidity of AD/HD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and dyslexia and their correlates.
Abstract
A total of 45 inmates, ages 21-52, with Swedish as their native language were interviewed and administered academic achievement tests, neuropsychological assessment, and personality questionnaires. Twenty-eight (62 percent) of the inmates were diagnosed with dyslexia, a proportion in line with the authors' previous study. Childhood hyperactivity was reported by 25 (55 percent) of the inmates; and it persisted into adulthood for half of these subjects. No differences between the dyslexic and non-dyslexic inmates were found regarding personality disorders. Previous findings of a socially deviant personality pattern among AD/HD inmates was replicated in the current study. When controlling for comorbid AD/HD, only 1 of 15 personality traits covaried with dyslexia, i.e., "suspicion." The results of this replication study, along with the findings of the first study of dyslexia in prison inmates, shows that a substantial number of the Swedish prison inmates have reading and writing difficulties. This indicates the need for remediation of these difficulties as a means of facilitating the inmates' reintegration into society. The fact that approximately half of the inmates had childhood AD/HD explains why poor language skills can be used to identify boys at risk of delinquent behavior. The findings emphasize the need for the early diagnosis and treatment of AD/HD as well as dyslexia. 3 tables and 34 references