Inmate Views About the Purpose and Use of the MMPI-2 at the Time of Correctional Intake

• NCJ Number: 168327
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1997) Pages: 360-369
• Author(s): R W Gallagher; Y S Ben-Porath; S Briggs
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article reports the results of a survey of correctional inmates regarding their views about the purpose and use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and its revised version MMPI-2 at the time of correctional intake.

Abstract

Correctional intake evaluations focus on determining inmates' mental status and classification, assessing them for psychopathology and psychological distress to determine treatment and special placement needs. The MMPI has well-researched validity scales, designed to detect intentionally and unintentionally distorted self-presentation. Most of the 78 correctional inmates surveyed had a realistic, although somewhat vague, view of the purpose and use of MMPI-2 as part of a correctional intake evaluation; a substantial percentage of the inmates admitted intentionally distorting their self-presentation. Findings indicate that distortion is a challenge to the correctional assessment process and underscore the need for further research on the MMPI/MMPI-2 validity scales in the correctional setting. References