Adult Offenders Research Articles

Restorative justice as diversion for adult offenders in Queensland, 1990–2021

This article provides a summary history and critique of the Queensland experience of restorative justice for adult offenders, with a focus on policy development and program implementation. It aims to identify key lessons to improve policy and implementation that may be transferrable to similar jurisdictions. Public source material was analysed to identify significant moments of change, including the launch of programs, the political rhetoric and commentary, as well as key activity data (e.g. referral rates). Results identified a significant lack of program uptake, with limited referral rates hindering the utilisation of restorative justice as an effective diversionary mechanism for adult offending in Queensland. In terms of both diversion and prevention, the study was restricted by a lack of data, indicating a significant practice and research gap, hence the need for enhanced research, increased application and greater transparency. Combined with a review of the literature, the results suggest the need for a greater focus on the welfare needs of victims and offenders to improve client and program outcomes, and reduce reoffending.

The effects of imprisonment length on recidivism: a judge stringency instrumental variable approach

Abstract Objectives This study investigates the effects of the length of imprisonment on reoffending after release. Methods To account for endogeneity from omitted variables that influence both sentencing decisions and the likelihood to reoffend, this study uses variation in the proclivity to impose lengthier sentences across judges to which criminal cases are randomly assigned within district courts in the Netherlands. Using administrative data on all adult offenders convicted to short-term imprisonment (≤ 1 year) by a single-sitting judge in the Netherlands in 2012, we estimate multiple instrumental variable models. Results The results indicate that an increase in imprisonment length significantly reduces the amount of offenses committed after release, whereas we only find small and statistically non-significant estimates for the probability to recidivate. Conclusions We find evidence for a specific preventative effect of longer prison terms on the post-release reoffending frequency, but little evidence for desistance.

Hyperfocus and offending behaviour: a systematic review

PurposeHyperfocus (HF) is characterised by an intense state of concentration/focus. The purpose of this study is to explore in what ways HF has been found to contribute towards offending behaviour and what treatments have been found to be efficacious to reduce offending behaviour where HF was a contributing factor.Design/methodology/approachThe systematic review was performed according to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Papers were screened for quality appraisal and risk of bias. The initial search yielded 9,446 articles. Fifty-seven papers were deemed as meeting the inclusion criteria.FindingsHF was noted to act as a vulnerability factor for aggression, sexual offending, radicalisation and stalking. HF was also observed in clients with psychopathy, autism, mental illness and those without a diagnosis. Thus, HF was not found to be offence or diagnosis specific. Furthermore, HF was found across males and females and adults and adolescents. The results identified themes in relation to the mechanisms by which HF may contribute to offending and suggested interventions for HF and offending.Practical implicationsPractitioners working with clients with HF currently lack evidence on the extent to which this contributes towards offending and recidivism and how HF could be addressed in interventions. Future research is needed to establish the role of HF in offending behaviour. Ideally, this should involve longitudinal data collection, retrospective analysis of data and sophisticated statistical analysis. This should also include exploration of the ways in which HF may be interconnected with offence risks/need factors which contribute towards offending. Research could inform the development of formal measurement tools for HF which are validated with norms for adult and adolescent offender samples. Practitioners should use case formulation to explore if HF represents a treatment need for clients they are working with.Originality/valueThis review noted that although HF has been postulated as being an important contributing factor to offending behaviour, few studies have tested this directly. From the limited studies available, HF was found to be relevant across different types of offences. HF was noted to contribute to offending due to neuropsychological mechanisms linked to executive functioning deficits and positive rewards associated with offending behaviour. Reasons for the lack of HF research are noted and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Capital Punishment Trials of Youthful Offenders: The Impact of ACEs Mitigation

In the 2005 Roper v. Simmons decision, the Supreme Court determined that capital punishment, the death penalty, was not appropriate for offenders under the age of 18. The Court accepted the argument that juveniles are less blameworthy than adult offenders due to differences in their cognitive abilities and the influence of factors outside of their control, such as household dysfunction or the existence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Recent empirical literature examining both brain development and the impact of ACEs on both brain maturity and offending behaviors demonstrates that brain maturation and psychosocial maturation continue into the mid-twenties. As a result, youthful offenders, those 18 to 24 of age, may possess many of the neuropsychological deficiencies attributed to juveniles and yet be sentenced to death. This research examines if juries of capital punishment trials recognize the impact of age and ACEs when determining their sentencing decision.

Restorative justice: A humanistic paradigm for addressing the needs of victims, offenders, and communities

AbstractRestorative justice (RJ) represents a humanistic approach to addressing the harm caused by juvenile and adult offenders. RJ practices have been shown to reduce recidivism and enhance the holistic wellness of victims and offenders. The authors make recommendations for incorporating RJ into counselor training, identity development, and counseling practices.

Intervention for modifying risk level of hypersexual behaviors among male parents with sexual offending history.

The increased sexual assault committed against women and young girls by people of the opposite gender has put their safety in danger in recent years. This has contributed to a growing number of adult sex offenders who have aggressive sexual attitudes. This study investigated the efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in reducing the risk level of hypersexual behaviors among male parents. A total of convicted 48 inmates participated in this study. In pursuance of this aim, 3 dependent measures were employed in evaluating the participants' violent sexual attitudes at 3 points. The simple random technique was adopted in selecting 24 participants who participated in the CBT program while 24 participants were used as the no-intervention control group. The ANCOVA analysis shows a positive treatment outcome in reducing the risk level of hypersexual behaviors among male parents who participated in the CBT program when compared to the no-intervention control group. This study found that cognitive behavioral therapy intervention is a coping strategy for reducing hypersexual behaviors among male parents with sexual offending history in favor of participants in the intervention group at the 3 levels of assessments. The study showed a significant difference between groups in the risk level of hypersexual behaviors among male parents with a sexual offending history. Also, the result showed a significant interaction between time and treatment. Regarding the moderating impact of sexual behavior on the risk level of hypersexual behaviors. Given this, this study suggests that CBT intervention reduces the risk level of hypersexual behaviors among male parents. Implications for protection agencies and policies were highlighted.

Estimating effects of short-term imprisonment on crime using random judge assignments

Noncustodial sanctions may present an attractive way to reduce the prison population rate, but only when noncustodial sanctions meet custodial ones in terms of deterring recidivism. Using administrative criminal records data of all individuals convicted in the Netherlands in 2012, this study examines the effects of short-term imprisonment versus noncustodial sanctions on crime. We employ an instrumental variables approach to account for selection processes and to produce consistent estimates of the effects of imprisonment. Findings indicate that being sentenced to prison rather than a noncustodial sanction increases the prevalence of recidivism by 10 percentage points and increases recidivism rates by 1.07 registered crimes during a follow-up period of three years. Treatment effect heterogeneity analyses show that the detrimental impact of imprisonment is most pronounced for first-time prisoners, and adult offenders, compared to repeat prisoners and young adult offenders.

Parenthood and family in the opinions of adult offenders: qualitative study

ABSTRACT The main purpose of this article is to analyze the results of a survey carried out in 2019 among a group of men serving prison sentences. The main research question was how prisoners see themselves as fathers and how they relate it to their own childhood experience. Additionally, the study draws attention to the possibility of empowering imprisoned fathers, as the key factor in bringing them back to society. The methodological approach was qualitative, interviews and observations were used at the same time. Adopting the methodology of grounded theory, the procedures in data coding and analysis were based on the method of constant comparison. The results indicate that it might be very important to address parenting behavior as well as cognitive distortions and main beliefs in fathers who will raise their children after incarceration. In conclusion, this strategy could prevent the families and also the society from developing behavioral problems. The above findings have confirmed John Bowlby’s concept of ties and Glenn David Walters’s theory of criminal thinking and lifestyle.

Examining the association between speed-accuracy trade-offs and psychopathy among male offenders in a facial affect recognition task.

Despite a large body of work examining the relationship between facial affect recognition and psychopathy, there is little consensus regarding the nature of emotion processing in such individuals. Although most previous studies have reported an association between psychopathy and some facial affect recognition deficits, results are mixed regarding which specific emotions are related to deficient recognition for these individuals. The current study aims to examine speed-accuracy trade-offs in psychopathy. Participants were 139 incarcerated adult male offenders assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised. Analyses demonstrated a 3-way interaction between psychopathy, response time, and level of stimulus expression for happiness in which psychopathy mitigated the relationship between response time and level of expression on accuracy. However, the overall pattern of findings does not suggest that speed-accuracy trade-offs are a central component of facial affect recognition in psychopathy. The theoretical implications of current findings are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychometric properties of the Parma Scale for the treatment evaluation of prisoners with mental disorder: a new instrument for routine outcome monitoring in different forensic psychiatric settings

IntroductionThe clinical relevance of Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM) to formulate longitudinal evaluations of treatment appropriateness/efficacy and to assist decision making aimed at improving the quality of person-centered interventions has been poorly implemented in forensic psychiatry, also in Italy. Indeed, very few assessment instruments have been developed in this crucial field.ObjectivesAs reliable ROM instruments are lacking, the aim of the current investigation was to examine psychometric properties (i.e. reliability, concurrent validity and sensitivity to measure scores’ longitudinal changes) of the Parma Scale (Pr-Scale) (a new instrument fro the evaluation of offenders with mental disorder) in an Italian sample of forensic psychiatric patients.MethodsParticipants were male adult offenders with mental disorder recruited within the Parma REMS (“Residence for the Execution of Security Measure”) or the Parma Penitentiary Institute (PPI). Exclusion criteria were known moderate/severe intellectual disability or any other medical condition inducing inability to express a valid consent for participating in the research. The Pr-Scale includes 20 items divided into 3 main domains: “Historical”, “Clinical” (observational) and “Treatment Plannining". To test psychometric properties of the Pr-Scale, we examined interrater reliability, short-term (1-week) test-retest reliability and internal consistency. As measure of concurrent validity, a correlation analysis of Pr-Scale item scores with corresponding HKT-R (the “Historisch, Klinische en Toekomstige – Revisie” instrument) item subscores was performed. Finally, we examined the Pr-Scale sensitivity to measure scores’ longitudinal changes over a 3-month treatment follow-up period.Results60 male adult patients were recruited in this study. Our findings showed good to excellent interrater and test-retest reliability, concurrent validity and internal consistency for the Pr-Scale. Pr-Scale scores also display a moderate to large changeability over time (Intra-Class Correlation coefficient = 0.963, coefficient of stability = 0.997, Cronbach’s ɑ = 0.736). Statistically significant correlations of Pr-Scale item scores with the corresponding HKT-R scores were found. Across the 3-month follow-up period, we observed statistically significant sensitivity values in measuring longitudinal changes for the Pr-Scale total score and Pr-Scale domain and item subscores.ConclusionsOur results support the clinical use of the Pr-Scale in different forensic psychiatric settings (i.e. prison, REMS) as reliable ROM instrument.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Retiring in a Prison Cell: The South African Sentenced Older Adult Male Offender

The purpose of this study was to create a profile of the sentenced older adult male offender incarcerated in South African prisons. The findings of this investigation are based on face-to-face surveys with 88 older adult male inmates. In order to develop a comprehensive profile, the study explored offenders’ backgrounds, previous and current offenses, lifestyle patterns, physical and mental health, institutional living conditions, release, reintegration, and mortality in prison. These domains are discussed in detail, and recommendations are offered for the treatment and care of this offender group. The recommendations may be applicable to other developing countries in the Global South.

Assessing the validity of self-report of psychopathy short-form (SRP-SF) in incarcerated offenders from Chile and Uruguay

Psychopathy remains a relatively unexplored concept in Latin America. The abbreviated Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (SRP-SF) seems promising in this under-resourced context. However, the SRP-SF should be tested for measurement invariance to achieve meaningful comparison across countries in Latin America. Therefore the aims of this study were to examine the underlying factor structure of the SRP-SF in incarcerated adult male offenders from Uruguay (n = 331) and Chile (n = 208), to examine the measurement invariance of the SRP-SF across countries, and to assess the utility of SRP-SF to classify first time offenders from offenders with criminal history. Findings showed a good fit for the four-factor model in Uruguay, and both Chile and Uruguay showed invariance. Conversely, the Interpersonal and Affective factors were not associated with criminal history in the Uruguayan sample. Therefore, more studies are needed before using the SRP-SF as screening tool to classify first-time offenders and reoffenders in different countries in Latin America.

Mental health disorders and recidivism among incarcerated adult offenders in a correctional facility in South Africa: A cluster analysis.

The contribution of mental illness, substance use, and appetitive aggression to recidivism has significant policy and practice implications. Offenders with untreated mental illness have a higher recidivism rate and a greater number of criminogenic risk factors than those without mental illness. Previous research has demonstrated that the likelihood of appetitive aggression increases in violent contexts where individuals perpetrate aggressive acts. Using the Ecological Systems Theory, this study investigated the association between mental health disorders and recidivism among incarcerated adult offenders in South Africa, and the intervening role of appetitive aggression and substance use. Using a cross-sectional quantitative research design, a sample of 280 incarcerated male and female adult offenders aged 18-35 with no known psychiatric disorders were sampled at a correctional facility in South Africa. The re-incarceration rate, mental health disorders, substance use, and appetitive aggression symptomology were assessed using the Hopkins symptoms checklist, the CRAFFT measure of substance use, and the appetitive aggression scale. Findings indicate a 32.4% recidivism rate (n = 82). Cluster analysis indicated that the combination of anxiety, depression, substance use, and appetitive aggression increased the likelihood of recidivism. Appetitive aggression median differences between clusters 2 and 3 played a key role in distinguishing recidivism risk among recidivist and non-recidivist participants. Chi-square analysis highlighted group differences in education levels among the established clusters [x2 (3, n = 217) = 12.832, p = .005, which is < .05] as well as group differences in the type of criminal offence [x2 (3, n = 187) = 24.362, p = .000, which is < .05] and cluster membership. Combined factors that increase the likelihood of recidivism provide a typology for classifying offenders based on particular recidivism risk determinants, which offers insights for developing tailored interventions that address a combination of factors.

Saving a life by poem

The present Old Norse case report concerns how a poem saved the life of the famous viking, named Egil Skallagrimsson. By some scholars he has been considered a person with dissocial personality disorder, i.e., psychopathy correlates - although not completely - to antisocial personality disorder, a personality disorder in the cluster B type. A core symptom of dissocial personality disorder is lack of empathy. The craving for appreciation and fulfilment of own needs is moreover a part of the disorder. Furthermore, an incredibly good ability to explain away actions and to project outwards, a low threshold of aggression, and the lack of responsibility are found. All together an alloplastic personality disorder with a tendency to blame the surroundings for the problems [1-3]. For the general population, exact epidemiological data on psychopathy prevalence does not exist. However it is estimated to be 3% in forensic psychiatric samples [4]. For adult male offenders, structural abnormalities in the cingulate have recently been reported to correlate with the gold standard diagnostic criteria (Psychopathy Checklist-Revised) for psychopathy [5]. The eminent power to manipulate others is not rare in these individuals [3]. Can a psychopath, however, captivate another psychopath? Reading the Old Norse Kings Saga, Heimskringla, you may wonder whether this could be a possibility, as described in the oral tradition 1000 years ago, later written down by most likely Snorri Sturluson, considering the meeting between Egil Skallagrimsson and Eric Bloodaxe. Once investigating this stunning Icelandic saga characters, it often falsely leads to the conclusion of a psychopath diagnosis or their suffering from other personality disorders rather than just enjoying the storytelling.

Which dynamics make online child sexual abuse and cyberstalking more emotionally impactful: Perpetrator identity and images?

BackgroundThe migration of offenses against children to the online environment requires a revised understanding of how episode dynamics aggravate the harm. ObjectiveTo assess the contribution of various online offense episode elements to the overall negative emotional impact. Participants and settingsThe sample comprised 2639 IPSOS KnowledgePanel members aged 18 to 28, 1215 of whom reported episodes of online sexual abuse or cyberstalking that occurred prior to the age of 18. The analysis was based on 2056 episodes with detailed follow-up information. MethodsParticipants were recruited online and filled out online questionnaires about online sexual abuse and cyberstalking episodes, their characteristics, and the negative emotional impact (NEI) associated with each episode. NEI was derived from a factor analysis of 8 impact items. ResultsHigher negative emotional impact was associated with forms of sexual image misuse: non-consensual sharing, non-consensual taking and threatened sharing/sextortion. Peers made up a majority of offenders, and their impact was just as great as adult offenders. Known perpetrators, including intimate partners, also made up the largest proportion of offenders and their impact was just as great as online strangers or anonymous offenders. ConclusionOnline safety awareness and prevention need a larger focus on peer and acquaintance offenses, particularly around the misuse of sexual images.

Examining the importance of existing relationships for co-offending: a temporal network analysis in Bogotá, Colombia (2005–2018)

This study aims to improve our understanding of criminal accomplice selection by studying the evolution of co-offending networks—i.e., networks that connect those who commit crimes together. To this end, we tested four growth mechanisms (popularity, reinforcement, reciprocity, and triadic closure) on three components observed in a network connecting criminal investigations (M = 286 K) with adult offenders (N = 274 K) in Bogotá (Colombia) between 2005 and 2018. The first component had 4286 offenders (component ‘A’), the second 227 (‘B’), and the third component 211 (‘C’). The evolution of these components was examined using temporal information in tandem with discrete choice models and simulations to understand the mechanisms that could explain how these components grew. The results show that they evolved differently during the period of interest. Popularity yielded negative statistically significant coefficients for ‘A’, suggesting that having more connections reduced the odds of connecting with incoming offenders in this network. Reciprocity and reinforcement yielded mixed results as we observed negative statistically significant coefficients in ‘C’ and positive statistically significant coefficients in ‘A’. Moreover, triadic closure produced positive, statistically significant coefficients in all the networks. The results suggest that a combination of growth mechanisms might explain how co-offending networks grow, highlighting the importance of considering offenders’ network-related characteristics when studying accomplice selection. Besides adding evidence about triadic closure as a universal property of social networks, this result indicates that further analyses are needed to understand better how accomplices shape criminal careers.

Exploring the relationship between psychopathy and criminal thinking: utilising the Tri-PM within a forensic sample

PurposeThe Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (Tri-PM) was developed in 2010 as an alternative approach to the assessment of psychopathy. The measure aims to capture psychopathic traits on a 3-factor model, which encompass the characteristics established in previous measures, as well as those evidenced within practise. Though support for the tool in academic research is growing, less is known about the scale’s utility within crime forensic settings. Thus, this study aims to explore the relationship between the Tri-PM psychopathy constructs and criminal cognition within a forensic sample.Design/methodology/approachSeventy-three adult male offenders, convicted for acquisitive or sexual crimes, from a Category B prison within the Northwest of England completed questionnaires measuring their criminal backgrounds, psychopathy traits (Tri-PM; Patrick, 2010) and criminal thinking styles (Psychology Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles; Walters, 2001).FindingsThe Tri-PM measurement proved to be a successful predictor of most criminal thinking styles. Moreover, the meanness construct was the strongest predictor of proactive thinking styles, whereas the disinhibition construct was the strongest predictor of reactive thinking styles, and the boldness construct was negatively associated with reactive thinking. Comparisons among offender groups also indicated that acquisitive offenders reported higher scores of psychopathy and criminal thinking.Originality/valueThis study offers valuable insight into the proposed relationship between psychopathy and criminal thinking, using a recent addition to the repertoire of psychopathy measurements, the Tri-PM. This study also offers practical implications for those offering treatment within forensic settings, with significant relationships identified between the highly scoring psychopathy constructs and various criminal thinking styles.

Which sociodemographic and clinical characteristics are associated with higher impulsivity in adult male offenders?

Which sociodemographic and clinical characteristics are associated with higher impulsivity in adult male offenders?

A pártfogó felügyelet intézményi változásai az 1900-as évektől napjainkig

Probation supervision has long been a part of the Hungarian criminal justice system. However, the earlier rules were underdeveloped and raised numerous practical problems, which kept the institution at the center of legislative attention – and continues to do so to this day. There have been significant changes both in legislation and in institutional arrangements over time, which have intended to improve the effectiveness of probation supervision not only in the juvenile criminal justice system but also in the practice of adult offenders. Probation supervision can therefore be examined from many perspectives, but this study focuses primarily on its institutional changes.

미국의 성인 및 소년 대상 전자감독제도 - 준수사항 위반과 제재조치 중심으로 -

In 2008, South Korea introduced an electronic monitoring system to prevent sex offenders from reoffending, and since then, it has gradually expanded its use to include offenders on post-release and parole supervision. As a result, the number of people under electronic monitoring supervision in South Korea has significantly increased, including those on pre-trial release. This study aims to provide an overview of electronic monitoring supervision in the United States, which has a longer history of using electronic supervision for both adult and juvenile offenders than South Korea. In the United States, electronic supervision is used as a means of reducing recidivism and closely monitoring the behavior of juvenile offenders. South Korea, on the other hand, does not currently use electronic monitoring for juveniles, despite facing issues such as correctional overcrowding and staff shortages in community corrections. Given the potential effectiveness of electronic supervision in addressing these issues, introducing electronic monitoring for juveniles in South Korea could be a valuable option to consider. However, it is important to carefully plan and individualize supervision conditions in order to effectively meet the needs and circumstances of each juvenile before implementing this approach. It is also essential to increase public awareness of the importance of these measures for the rehabilitation and successful reintegration of juveniles into society.