An evaluation of a maximum security therapeutic community for psychopaths and other mentally disordered offenders.

Abstract

Psychopaths present serious problems for the criminal justice system because they are responsible for many serious crimes and appear to be very resistant to treatment. The present study was a retrospective evaluation of the efficacy of a maximum security therapeutic community program in reducing recidivism among mentally disordered offenders, some of whom were psychopaths. The study employed a matched group, quasiexperimental design. The results showed that, compared to no program (in most cases prison), treatment was associated with lower recidivism (especially violent recidivism) for nonpsychopaths and higher violent recidivism for psychopaths. The clinical and research utility of Hare's Psychopathy Checklist was strongly supported.

Social Competence as a Mediating Factor in Reduction of Behavioral Problems

“…This seems to be prominent in pupils with instrumental aggression and is also associated with bullies (Brown, Atkins, Osborne, & Milnamow, 1996). It has been suggested that this group will not benefit from training in social competence, or that training will make them even more devious in manipulating others (Ogloff, Wong, & Greenwood, 1990;Rice, Harris, & Cormier, 1992). Our results, indicating a reduction of behavior problems also for those with a high score on social competence and a high score on behavior problems at the outset, might indicate that the inclusion of moral reasoning training in the ART program is especially important for this group (see also (DeRosier, 2004).…”

Using the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG) to Predict In-Prison Aggressive Behavior in a Swiss Offender Population

“…The total score is the sum of the 12 items and ranges from -26 to +40. According to Rice, Harris, and Cormier (1992), interrater correlation for the items are greater than .80, whereas kappas for the items are greater than .70 (Rice, Harris, & Quinsey, 1990). …”

Identifying and profiling scholastic cheaters: Their personality, cognitive ability, and motivation.

“…Psychopathic individuals are notoriously unresponsive to treatment interventions applied by highly trained clinicians, and sometimes become even more dangerous following treatment (Rice, Harris, & Cormier, 1992). Instead, a preventative approach to cheating is more likely to be fruitful.…”