Examining the Utility of the LSI-R in a Sample of Women who have Sexually Offended

Abstract

The ability to identify factors predictive of recidivism among individuals who have offended is integral to properly targeting supervision and treatment focus. Instruments such as the Level of Service Inventory–Revised (LSI-R) show promise with general justice-involved females, but no study to our knowledge has assessed it with women who have sexually offended. The purpose of this study is to examine the utility of the LSI-R in a sample of 243 women from the State of Texas who have sexually offended. Results indicate that the total score was significantly related to criminal recidivism (Harrell’s C = .67) and any recidivism (Harrell’s C = .65). Analyses of the subscales indicated that criminal history and alcohol/drug subscales were significantly related to all forms of recidivism, while the education/employment and financial scales were significantly related to criminal recidivism and any recidivism. These results provide insight into risk assessment and treatment for women who have sexually offended.

General Criminal Dynamic Risk and Strength Factors Predict Short-Term General Recidivism Outcomes Among People Convicted of Sexual Crime During Community Supervision

“…Effects were similarly large using PCRA scores (Harrell’s c = .73 for any arrest, c = .77 for any revocation; Cohen, 2018). Predicting general recidivism among adult women convicted of sexual crimes showed a medium effect for LSI-R scores ( c = .65; Marshall et al, 2022). Similarly, prediction generally showed medium effects among youth with sexual crimes using YLS/CMI scores, but with more inconsistency and greater range due to most samples being small (AUC = .58 to .73; Caldwell & Dickinson, 2009; Chu et al, 2012; Morton, 2003; Schmidt et al, 2016; Viljoen et al, 2009).…”