Criminal History Variables Research Articles

Crime Scene and Distance Correlates of Serial Rape

This study, derived from a sample of 108 serial rapists (rapes=565), examines the relationship between demographic, crime scene, and criminal history variables and the distance traveled by serial rapists in order to offend. The pattern of offenses perpetrated by each of the 108 serial offenders as it relates to his place of residence is also analyzed in terms of known characteristics of the offender and his offenses. The theoretical focus of the study integrates premises derived from criminal investigative analysis, environmental criminology, ethnographic geography, journey to crime research, and criminal geographic targeting to explore the cognitive symmetry between the “how” and the “where” of serial sexual offenses. These components or dimensions of serial crime are explored in an attempt to aid law enforcement in their investigation of hard-to-solve serial crimes.

The prediction of criminal and violent recidivism among mentally disordered offenders: a meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis was conducted to examine whether the predictors of recidivism for mentally disordered offenders are different from the predictors for nondisordered offenders. Effect sizes were calculated for 35 predictors of general recidivism and 27 predictors of violent recidivism drawn from 64 unique samples. The results showed that the major predictors of recidivism were the same for mentally disordered offenders as for nondisordered offenders. Criminal history variables were the best predictors, and clinical variables showed the smallest effect sizes. The findings suggest that the risk assessment of mentally disordered offenders can be enhanced with more attention to the social psychological criminological literature and less reliance on models of psychopathology.

Correlates of crack abuse among drug-using incarcerated women: psychological trauma, social support, and coping behavior.

This investigation examines the relationship between psychological trauma and crack abuse among 158 women with a recent history of drug use who were incarcerated in a New York City jail facility. Interviewers obtained data on demographics, drug use, psychological trauma history, criminal history, social support, and coping behavior variables. Three-fourths of the total sample had used crack three or more times a week for a month in the past; a quarter had used other drugs, predominantly heroin, three or more times a week for a month in the past. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between adult psychological trauma variables (loss of custody of youngest child and lived in streets prior to arrest) and regular crack use in three sequential models. After adjusting for social support, coping behavior, demographics, and criminal history variables, women who had lost custody of their youngest child were 3.3 times more likely to be regular crack uses. Women who demonstrated more negative coping behavior and perceived themselves as having less emotional support were also more likely to be regular crack users. The association between childhood traumas (i.e., childhood sexual abuse, childhood physical abuse, parental alcohol abuse) and regular crack use was also assessed using multiple logistic regression; however, no significant associations were found between these childhood psychological traumas and regular crack use in both the unadjusted and adjusted models. Study findings underscore the importance of assessing environmental, interpersonal, and intrapersonal factors in tailoring treatment strategies for users of crack and other drugs.

Predicting Rearrest for Violence among Serious Youthful Offenders

This article presents the results of an analysis of the risk of arrest for a violent crime for a cohort of youthful parolees. The sample consists of 1,949 individuals paroled by the California Youth Authority between July 1, 1981, and June 30, 1982. Results of a multivariate competing hazards analysis suggest that prior criminal history and socioeconomic variables are powerful predictors of both the timing and the charge of first arrest following parole. In comparison to results from a model predicting rearrest for any crime, rearrest for violence is significantly influenced by prior arrests for violence and several family pathology variables, including evidence of family violence and parental criminality. Prior gang involvement and heavy use of alcohol and illicit drugs have little predictive ability for violent recidivism among our sample. The results indicate that prediction of rearrest for violence among a group of serious youthful offenders may be practical if criminal history, institutional behavior, and personal background characteristics are all taken into account.

Psychopathy as a taxon: Evidence that psychopaths are a discrete class.

Taxometric analyses were applied to the construct of psychopathy (as measured by the Psychopathy Checklist) and to several variables reflecting antisocial childhood, adult criminality, and criminal recidivism. Subjects were 653 serious offenders assessed or treated in a maximum-security institution. Results supported the existence of a taxon underlying psychopathy. Childhood problem behaviors provided convergent evidence for the existence of the taxon. Adult criminal history variables were continuously distributed and were insufficient in themselves to detect the taxon.

Psychopathy and violent recidivism.

The violent recidivism rates of 169 adult male mentally disordered offenders released from a maximum security psychiatric hospital were compared over an average 10-year follow-up period. Forty percent of the total and 77% of the psychopaths (as defined by the Psychopathy Checklist) committed a violent offense. It was possible to predict outcome with considerable accuracy using combinations of childhood history, adult history, index offense, and institutional or program variables. However, the Psychopathy Checklist alone performed at least as well as any combination of variables and also improved upon the prediction based on criminal history variables. Psychopaths continued to recidivate at a higher rate than nonpsychopaths even beyond age 40.

The transcendental meditation program and criminal recidivism in California

A sample of 259 male felon parolees of the California Department of Corrections (CDC) who had voluntarily learned the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique while incarcerated had more favorable parole outcomes than statewide CDC parolees (p <.004). By comparison to matched controls, the TM group also had consistently more favorable outcomes as determined from rap sheets from one to five years after parole (p ⩽.05). Finally, with twenty-eight social and criminal history variables controlled by stepwise multiple regression, TM significantly (p <.001) reduced recidivism (with partial correlations ranging from r = -0.0893 to -0.1226) at one year and at 0.5 to 6.0 years after parole, whereas prison education, vocational training, and psychotherapy did not consistently reduce recidivism. Fifty-nine percent of not-yet-released meditators surveyed in prison were still meditating up to seven years after instruction, and TM recidivists were significantly (p <.002) less regular in meditation than the not-yet-released meditators, suggesting that regular TM practice is important for reducing recidivism. Despite the limitations of the retrospective study design, these results all indicate a reduction in recidivism due to TM practice that is of practical significance.

Predicting Dangerous behavior in a Penitentiary Using the Megargee Typology

This study investigates the efficacy of the Megargee typology system for classifying inmates in a penitentiary setting and for predicting institutional adjustment during incarceration. A random sample of 520 inmates from a penitentiary population of 1074 are classified into the typology groups according to procedures developed by Megargee, et al. (1977). A variety of demographic and criminal history variables are analyzed to determine subject characteristics for each of the ten typology groups. Institutional adjustment is assessed by data on inmate behavior routinely collected and recorded on each inmate by prison staff. Analysis of the data shows that: (1) the Megargee typology could classify inmates into ten groups not proportionately different than those in a medium-security institution, (2) the groups did not differ significantly from one another on age, race, or offense type, and (3) contrary to predictions by Megargee et al. for a medium-security prison, the typology groupings are not effective in predicting which inmates would be antisocial or aggressive in a penitentiary setting.

Multiple psychiatric competency examinations in borough of the Bronx.

The sample of 137 people had been referred for multiple psychiatric competency examinations over an 11-yr. period. The study examined the relationships between the decision on competency and many demographic, psychiatric, and criminal history variables. On many variables there were no significant differences between those found competent and those found incompetent but those subjects deemed incompetent were more likely to be diagnosed as schizophrenic or psychotic. Suggestions for future research are offered.

Relationship between addict crime and drug treatment: two cohorts examined.

Patient samples from methodone maintenance and detoxification programs are examined for their patterns of criminal activity before, during, and after treatment. Demographic, sociological, and criminal history variables are tested for their ability to account for changes in arrest patterns over time. While the number of arrested decline after entering treatment, certain groups remain at high risk of arrest and/or confiction. Patterns of crime as measured by official arrest statistics do not appear stable over time for the treatment cohorts.

Contingent naloxone treatment of the narcotic addict: a pilot study.

In a community-based abstinence program, 108 chronic heroin abusers, paroled from Maryland correctional institutions, were administered the narcotic antagonist, naloxone, in escalating 500 mg dosages to a daily maximum dosage of 2,000 mg when either urine analysis indicated narcotic drug use or unexcused absences led to the suspicion of narcotic intake. Dosage was then continued at the maximum level until the record again indicated abstinence. This approach was regarded as such a distinct departure from customary antagonist administration that a pilot investigation of its effectiveness was undertaken. Six month outcome data on all patients were constrasted with those of an historical comparison group previously treated in the same clinic without naloxone administration. Both groups were equivalent on all criminal history, demographic, and prognostic variables. The group receiving contingent naloxone administration showed a significantly lower institutionalization rate (8%) than that for the reference sample (37%). Complete abstinence rates were also in favor of the naloxone group (38 vs. 12%).

A study of methadone failures in an abstinence program.

The methadone maintenance approach to the treatment of chronic heroin addiction has become exceedingly popular. Evaluations of such programs, however, have been generally inadequate and are particularly remiss in delineating the profile and fate of the methadone dropout. The present report focuses on a group of chronic heroin abusers who: (1) previously had failed on a methadone program (2) subsequently were institutionalized in a correctional facility, and (3) were paroled to a community-based abstinence program. The study addresses itself to the following questions: What are some of the experiences (expectations, fears, drug effects, disappointments, etc) that ex-methadone patients retrospectively associate with their methadone participation? Do methadone dropouts differ on social-demographic and criminal history variables from addict-parolees who never participated in a methadone maintenance program ? What will be the adjustment course in an abstinence program of ex-methadone patients compared to a coh...