Predicting violent infractions in a Swiss state penitentiary: a replication study of the PCL-R in a population of sex and violent offenders.
BACKGROUND
Research conducted with forensic psychiatric patients found moderate correlations between violence in institutions and psychopathy. It is unclear though, whether the PCL-R is an accurate instrument for predicting aggressive behavior in prisons. Results seem to indicate that the instrument is better suited for predicting verbal rather than physical aggression of prison inmates.


METHODS
PCL-R scores were assessed for a sample of 113 imprisoned sex and violent offenders in Switzerland. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate physical and verbal aggression as a function of the PCL-R sum score. Additionally, stratified analyses were conducted for Factor 1 and 2. Infractions were analyzed as to their motives and consequences.


RESULTS
The mean score of the PCL-R was 12 points. Neither the relationship between physical aggression and the sum score of the PCL-R, nor the relationship between physical aggression and either of the two factors of the PCL-R were significant. Both the sum score and Factor 1 predicted the occurrence of verbal aggression (AUC=0.70 and 0.69), while Factor 2 did not.


CONCLUSIONS
Possible explanations are discussed for the weak relationship between PCL-R scores and physically aggressive behavior during imprisonment. Some authors have discussed whether the low base rate of violent infractions can be considered an explanation for the non-significant relation between PCL-R-score and violence. The base rate in this study, however, with 27%, was not low. It is proposed that the distinction between reactive and instrumental motives of institutional violence must be considered when examining the usefulness of the PCL-R in predicting in-prison physical aggressive behavior.
Endrass
Jérôme
J
Psychiatric/Psychological Service, Criminal Justice System, Canton of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. jerome.endrass@mac.com
Rossegger
Astrid
A
Urbaniok
Frank
F
Laubacher
Arja
A
Vetter
Stefan
S
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
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