11. Dealing with Crimes 1: Prison and Corrections Flashcards
What kinds of assessment and case management do psychologists do in prisons?
- Risk of suicide, risk of harm to self/others
- Risk of harm FROM others
- Risk of reoffending
- Mental illness, mental health needs
- Social and emotional wellbeing (++ Indigenous)
- Drug and alcohol status
- Cognitive function/ability
- Fitness to plead or stand trial
- Educational/vocational needs
- Other intervention needs
What is the clinical interview method of assessment?
Clinical interviews – structured, semi-structured.
Verbal and nonverbal content.
ADL’s.
What is the standardised assessment method?
Standardised assessment tools Information gathering and assessment: Violence Risk Scale - risk at pre-release Diagnostic PCL-R (Hare, 1980) Kits (cognitive testing)
How is psychology in prisons reports?
Mental health assessments – submitted to courts
Cognitive assessments – submitted to court
Risk assessments– submitted to courts, parole boards
Pre-sentencing report – court. Bigger picture.
Intervention reports – offender’s participation, progress, effectiveness of treatment
Report writing forms a massive part of any psychologist’s workload (!)
What are the characteristics of treatment/intervention and rehabilitation?
- Individual, not always though due to limited resources
- Group sessions – therapy, skills, personal development
- Crisis management – e.g. suicide attempts
- Drug and alcohol
What are the rates of mental illnesses in prison than in the public?
Higher than representative rates of mental illness/intellectual impairment/developmental disorder
What are the statistics of mental illness from the Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing?
- 46% some kind of mental illness. 2.5 x pop.
- Other studies report more like 80% (Heffernan, Finn, Saunders and Byrne, 2003)
- Majority – substance abuse.
- 40% – personality disorder (Butler & Allnutt, 2003). Around 6% in population - ~7x (ABS 1997).
What is psychopathy?
Psychopathy – the extreme end of personality disordered social/behavioural problems.
what is psychopathy related to?
Associated with an increased risk for antisocial behaviour, violence and crime
What is psychopathy’s category in the ICD/DSM?
Its not considered an official diagnostic category. However, it may be a combination of diagnostic criteria from several personality disorders
what is Hare’s clinical model of psychopathy?
4 components of psychopathy.
- deceitful interpersonal style
- affective deficiency
- impulsiveness or life- style
- antisocial behaviour.
What are the two factors of psychopathy according to Hare
Factor 1: Interpersonal/affective
Factor 2: social deviance
What are the facets of factor 1 psychopathy?
Interpersonal, affective
What are the facts of factor 2 psychopathy?
lifestyle and antisocial
What is involved in the Interpersonal factor of psychopathy?
Glibness/superficial charm
Grandiose self-worth
Pathological lying
Conning/manipulative
What is involved in the affective factor of psychopathy?
Lack of remorse or guilt
Shallow affect
Callous/lack of empathy
Failure to accept responsibility for actions
What is involved in the lifestyle factor of psychopathy?
Need for stimulation - prone to bordem Parastic lifestyle lack of realistic long-term goals impulsitivity irresponsibility
What is involved in the antisocial factor of psychopathy?
poor behavioural control early behavioural problems Juvenile delinquency Revocation of condition -release Criminal versatility
what does evidence suggest psychopathy is predctive of?
recidivism in sexual and violent crimes
What is included in risk assessment and management tools?
PCL scales included in many structured and actuarial risk assessment/management tools due to predictive utility.