Personality Assessment (From Practical Aspects of Rape Investigation, P 257-273, 1987, Robert R Hazelwood and Ann Wolbert Burgess, eds. - See NCJ-105948)

• NCJ Number: 105958
• Author(s): R L Ault; R R Hazelwood
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Elsevier Science
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper applies personality assessment, a behavioral science technique, to suspect interviews in rape investigations.

Abstract

For law enforcement purposes, personality assessment is 'an evaluation of behavioral information about a particular individual in an attempt to determine areas of personality that are susceptible to investigative techniques.' The basic assessment techniques are objective, which involves psychological testing; projective, which uses a stimulus for self-revelations by the subject; and behavioral, which uses reported or actual observations of what the subject says and does. The latter technique is most often used in investigative personality assessment. The behavioral assessment procedure involves asking the same question of many sources and determining how the source knows the information, when the information was obtained by the source, and how long the subject has exhibited the behavior. Suspect personality assessments are most often used in preparing for the initial interview, reducing the number of suspects, and planning a prosecutive strategy. Information important in an assessment includes demographic data, religion, education, hobbies, physical characteristics, marriage, employment, specific types of behavior, and mental and physical health. Sources of assessment information are records, suspect's friends and associates, a former spouse or girlfriend, and criminal behavior. Appended assessment protocol, 4 references, and 19 suggested readings.