NCJ Number
207667
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 66 Issue: 6 Dated: October 2004 Pages: 144-147,157
Date Published
October 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A risk-prediction tool developed from a study that involved a Louisiana inmate sample has been remarkably accurate in predicting which inmates will have disciplinary problems.
Abstract
The study focused on inmates in the Washington Correctional Institute (WCI), which is a medium-security State prison that houses largely urban offenders from New Orleans. WCI's population is representative of Louisiana's inmate population as a whole. A random sample of inmate identification numbers was pulled from the WCI inmate population in August 2002. Forty-nine numbers were randomly selected for the study. At the time of the final screening, 25 members of the original sample were still housed at WCI. The results from these 25 inmates, along with the results from the first screening, were considered in the study results. The screening instrument consisted of 15 questions that could be answered through a review of the subjects' records. They addressed criminal history, social skills, activities/companions, substance abuse, and emotional/personal attitudes. These areas were selected from a literature review of research that has found these domains to be related to the risk of violence. Each of the questions included a scoring guide, and adding the scoring numbers produced a risk rating. This was compared with a suggested risk scale to determine a general level of risk for violence or behavioral problems. The scale consists of three levels: low risk, medium risk, and high risk. There is also a space for other factors that might be considered in assigning a risk level for a particular offender. Of the 22 inmates in the original sample who were scored as high risk, all had either a violent background or significant behavioral problems as indicated by rule-violation reports. For all the inmates in the low-risk and medium-risk classifications, there were 57 serious rule-violation reports issued during the study period. During this same period, the high-risk group accounted for 360 serious rule-violation reports. The instrument questions are provided.