NCJ Number
186622
Date Published
2001
Length
46 pages
Annotation
This study involving 100 adult female Federal offenders housed in the multi-level security prison for women in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, was conducted to assess predictors of criminal behavior and prison misconduct.
Abstract
Data were collected through structured interviews, file reviews, and self-report tests on a wide variety of variables, classified into four categories: (1) social, personal, and criminal history; (2) history of maladaptive behavior, including drug and alcohol use; (3) history of abuse--physical, sexual, and psychological; and (4) personality, ability, and emotional functioning. The relationship of all variables to previous offending, previous violent offending, prison misconduct, and violent prison misconduct during the current sentence was examined using multiple regression analysis. Releases and re-admissions from the original sample were evaluated about 5 years after initial data collection, with an average follow-up time of 38 months. Results showed psychopathy was the predominant variable in the prediction of all outcome variables. Other variables that entered into the regression functions differed across outcome measures. These included measures from each of the four categories, although measures of personality and current functioning were generally the strongest and indexes of maladaptation were the weakest. In the analysis of releases and re-admissions, 47 percent of those released had been returned to prison prior to their warrant expiration date for conviction on a new charge or for a major violation of their release conditions. Psychopathy was the most important predictor of recidivism. The authors conclude that there are considerable similarities in factors predicting recidivism in serious offenders, regardless of gender, and that gender differences do not predict continued criminal behavior. 5 tables and 1 figure