The Hare PCL‐R: Some issues concerning its use and misuse

Abstract

The Hare Psychopathy Checklist‐Revised (PCL‐R) and its screening version, the Hare PCL:SV, provide reliable and valid assessments of the traditional clinical construct of psychopathy. They are used widely for research purposes and for making decisions in the mental health and criminal justice systems. They are strong predictors of recidivism and violence in offenders and psychiatric patients, form a key part of current risk assessment procedures, and play an important role in many judicial decisions. However, problems arise when the PCL‐R and PCL:SV are used improperly. In this article I briefly describe these instruments, with emphasis on their use in the criminal justice system. I then discuss some of the concerns I have about their misuse.