NCJ Number
233433
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 55 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2011 Pages: 5-26
Date Published
February 2011
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study examined which is the best predictor of recidivism among sex offenders: psychopathy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), brain dysfunction, or some combination of these variables.
Abstract
This study examines the best predictor of lifetime recidivism among Hare's psychopathy scores (PCL-R), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, and brain dysfunction measures in a sample of 1,695 adult male sexual, violent, and nonviolent offenders. Results indicated that most variables were associated with significantly more frequent recidivism. The best predictor of overall recidivism was the PCL-R, but more specifically, it was its items on criminal history that were associated with recidivism. Sexual offense recidivism was predicted by the presence of learning disorders; however, all measures were poor predictors. General recidivism was primarily associated with past criminal history and secondarily with learning disorders and ADHD. Results suggest that ADHD and brain dysfunction with criminal history measures are the best predictors for addressing the problem of criminal recidivism. (Published Abstract) Tables and references