NCJ Number
130336
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1991) Pages: 159-165
Date Published
1991
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The test-retest reliability of psychological test scores for felony offenders was assessed during the first few weeks of incarceration in the Washington State Corrections System.
Abstract
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), the Suicide Probability Scale (SPS), the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), the Monroe Dyscontrol Scale (MDS), and the Brief Veteran's Alcohol Screening Test (VAST) were administered to 44 male offenders upon incarceration at the State prison and 1 to 3 weeks later. With the exception of the Negative Self Evaluation score from the SPS, the results showed positive, significant correlations for all subscale scores of all tests. These results suggest that test scores of newly received male prisoners are stable over at least the first month of incarceration. Furthermore, the reliability of test scores for this population does not differ from those for other groups. Concerns about the unreliability of test scores obtained during initial entry into a prison system do not seem well founded. 1 table and 11 references (Author abstract modified)