Psychopathy checklist score predicts negative events during the sentences of prisoners with Hare psychopathy: a prospective study at a German prison.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the predictive validity of the German translation of the Psychopathy Checklist-Screening Version (PCL-SV) for negative events during the course of the prison sentence of German prisoners.

METHOD

Using the PCL-SV, we investigated 145 offenders in a German prison at the start of their sentences. We then compared the extreme groups identified by the PCL-SV--the high and low scorers--using a prospective design with respect to negative events and factors during the course of the sentences. This involved the standardized collection of data on both objective records of disciplinary incidents and subjective impressions from prison staff on the basis of operationalized criteria.

RESULTS

The high scorers were involved in significantly more disciplinary incidents and were also rated significantly less favourably by prison staff than the low scorers.

CONCLUSION

Until now, the PCL has only been shown to predict recidivism following release from prison. The results of our study show that the PCL also has predictive validity for problems during the course of the sentence. It is therefore recommended that the PCL be used routinely at the start of the prison sentence to estimate the likelihood of subsequent difficulties.