Using the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles with English prisoners

Abstract

Purpose. This study considers the use of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) within an English prison population.Method. The reliability and validity of the PICTS scales were investigated, and scores compared with data from an American prison population.Results. The results suggested that the PICTS was functioning in a similar way in both populations, although the English population's scores were higher. The calculation of test‐retest change scores over the duration of 6‐12‐month sentences allowed the sensitivity of PICTS scales to change over time to be analysed, an aspect of the PICTS functioning that had not previously been examined. This analysis over time suggested that evenwhen the effect of age was controlled for, changes were occurring over the duration of the sentence.Conclusion. The potential of the PICTS as a measure of change, aswell as assessment, is discussed.