The Influence of Occupational Group and Experience with Regard to the Criteria-Based Assessment of Culpability for Paraphilic Disorders - A Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

This study examines whether occupation and level of experience have an impact on criteria-based assessment of criminal responsibility in paraphilic disorders. Two different sets of criteria were tested for predictive validity by three different professional groups (psychologists, psychiatrists and lawyers), each with different levels of prior experience. For this purpose, 349 raters evaluated the criteria of one of two criteria catalogs on the basis of one of two exemplary case vignettes. Group assignment was randomized. The variables degree of experience and professional affiliation did not show a connection with the prediction performance regarding the estimation of the severity of the disorder and the diminished capacity, respectively, with respect to either of the two sets of criteria. Using a criteria based approach, the methodology used in the present study (presentation of short case vignettes) did not reveal any significant influence of professional group and experience on the assessment in questions of criminal responsibility related to paraphilic disorders. The use of criteria catalogs may be able to contribute substantially to predictive performance relatively independent of relevant prior experience in the area of the assessment of criminal responsibility, but should not be considered the sole source of assessment.