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Violent recidivism in criminal psychopaths

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Law and Human Behavior

Abstract

The predictive validity of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) was compared with 3 actuarial risk scales in a sample of 81 offenders followed for a maximum of 67 months (average of 30 months). The recommittal or general recidivism rate for the entire sample was 57% (40% for nonpsychopaths, 51.2% for a mixed group, and 85% for psychopaths). The violent reoffense rate was 10% for the sample (nonpsychopaths 0%, mixed 7.3%, psychopaths 25%). All instruments were significantly correlated with general recidivism; however, the PCL-R was the best predictor of violent recidivism. Compared to the actuarial scales, the PCL-R had a higher predictive efficiency (Relative Improvement Over Chance (RIOC)) and yielded fewer decision errors. Most importantly, Factor 1 was a better predictor of violent recidivism than Factor 2, suggesting that the trait construct of psychopathy makes a unique contribution to the prediction of violent recidivism.

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  1. Psychology Department, Joyceville Institution, Box 880, K7L 4X9, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    Ralph C. Serin

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  1. Ralph C. Serin
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Serin, R.C. Violent recidivism in criminal psychopaths. Law Hum Behav 20, 207–217 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01499355

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