Predictive Validity of Tools for Assessing Recidivism Risk in Men Convicted of Sex Offending: Static-99R, Static-2002R and BARR-2002R.

Recidivism risk assessment is crucial for effective case management of men convicted of sex offending. The use of empirical actuarial risk tools has become routine in the field. However, the development of actuarial risk scales for assessing general, violent and/or sexual recidivism in these men is ongoing: The Static-99 led to the Static-99R and the Static-2002R, and the BARR-2002R emerged to assess violent recidivism risk. A study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the inter-rater and predictive validity of the Static-99R, the Static-2002R, and the BARR-2002R in a sample of 328 men convicted of sex offending released from prison in French Belgium. When the instruments were considered integrally, the two versions of the Static-the Static-99R and the Static-2002R-proved better at predicting sexual recidivism and the BARR-2002R was better at predicting violent recidivism. And, the predictive and incremental predictive validity of the factor structure identified by Brouillette-Alarie et al. (2016) was examined. Results proved consistent in that the Youthful stranger aggression and General criminality factors were better at predicting general recidivism and violent non-sexual recidivism while the Persistence/paraphilia factor was better at predicting sexual recidivism.

Recognition of dynamic facial expressions of emotions in forensic inpatients who have committed sexual offenses: a signal detection analysis.

Emotion recognition is central in prosocial interaction, enabling the inference of mental and affective states. Individuals who have committed sexual offenses are known to exhibit socio-affective deficits, one of the four dynamic risk assessment dimensions found in the literature. Few research focused on emotion recognition. The available literature, exclusively on individuals in prison who have committed sexual offenses, showed contrasting results. Some found a global (across all emotions) or specific (e.g., anger, fear) deficit in emotion recognition. In contrast, others found no difference between individuals in prison who have committed sexual offenses and those who have committed non-sexual offenses. In addition, no such study has been undertaken among forensic inpatients who exhibit socio-affective deficits. This study aims to investigate the recognition of dynamic facial expressions of emotion in 112 male participants divided into three groups: forensic inpatients who have committed sexual offenses (n = 37), forensic inpatients who have committed non-sexual offenses (n = 25), and community members (n = 50), using the Signal Detection Theory indices: sensitivity (d') and response bias (c). In addition, measures related to reaction time, emotion labeling reflection time, task easiness, and easiness reflection time were also collected. Non-parametric analyses (Kruskall-Wallis' H, followed by Mann-Whitney's U with Dunn-Bonferroni correction) highlighted that the two forensic inpatient groups exhibited emotion recognition deficits when compared to community members. Forensic inpatients who have committed sexual offenses were more conservative in selecting the surprise label than community members. They also took significantly more time to react to stimuli and to select an emotional label. Despite emotion recognition deficits, the two forensic inpatient groups reported more stimuli easiness than community members.

Contribution of a Cluster Approach to Identify the Profiles of Men Sentenced for Sexual Violence According to Their Risk of Reoffending.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to propose a typology of recidivism risk profiles based on the criminogenic needs of a population of men sentenced for sexual violence. Their socio-demographic, criminological, psychological, and psychiatric factors and vulnerabilities are compared. This classification will respond to the need for a better identification of the factors involved in the risk of recidivism of men sentenced for sexual violence, in order to develop more effective management. METHOD: Several psychological and psychiatric scales (personality traits, impulsivity, cognitive distortions, empathy, and psychiatric disorders) were completed by 86 men incarcerated for sexual violence. Their socio-demographic and criminological characteristics were also recorded, and the investigator rated three recidivism scales for all participants. Results: Cluster analysis led to identification of two significantly different needs groups. In contrast to the "Lower needs" profile (n = 54, 64%), the men with a "Higher needs" profile (n = 32, 36%) were significantly younger and less educated had more adult and extra-familial victims, scored higher on Neuroticism and lower on Conscientiousness and Empathy, and presented with more past and current psychiatric disorders. DISCUSSION: The overall findings of this study are consistent with the literature on the characteristics of men sentenced for sexual violence with high needs. The assessment and management of men who have committed sexual violence must consider: criminogenic factors, which should be prioritized; past or present psychiatric disorders, which may act as acute risk factors; and non-criminogenic needs, which should not be prioritized, but which may (when linked to criminogenic needs) impact the effectiveness of management.

Is it possible to use the HCR-20 V2 to assess the risk of violent recidivism of French offenders?

The Historical-Clinical-Risk Management Scale 20 (HCR-20) is a structured tool to assess the risk of violence and assist in its management. French professionals are reluctant to use it because only a few studies have shown its psychometric qualities with French samples. The objective of this study is to test the psychometric qualities of the HCR-20 with samples of violent detainees in France. The HCR-20 and Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) were administered to 128 violent offenders with an average age of (44.16±12.30) years. We evaluated the reliability, internal consistency and validity of the HCR-20 and conducted an exploratory factor analysis. The results show that the HCR-20 has good psychometric qualities with a sample of French prisoners. Only the Risk domain presents weak results due to the data collection locations and the participants' age. Correlations were observed between certain factors. The exploratory factor analysis shows four factors explaining 44% of the variance. The continuation of this work will enable French professionals to use sound tools to assess the risk of recidivism.

Monitoring the emotional facial reactions of individuals with antisocial personality disorder during the retrieval of self-defining memories.

While a deficit in the recognition of facial expression has been demonstrated in persons with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), few studies have investigated how individuals with ASPD produce their own emotional facial expressions. This study examines the production of facial emotional expressions of male inpatients with ASPD in a forensic hospital compared with a control group as they retrieve autobiographical memories. This design constitutes a specific ecological experimental approach fostering the evocation of personal feelings. Two indicators characterizing the activation of facial expression were used: activation of emotional action units and emotional dominance. The results showed that individuals with ASPD 1) activated angrier facial expressions than control participants for both indicators, 2) displayed a higher dominance of angry facial expressions during the retrieval of positive self-defining memories than control participants and 3) recalled significant memories that were less associated with neutral facial states than the control sample, regardless of the valence of their memories. These findings highlight the core role of anger in ASPD and the possible development of pathological anger, which would distinguish trajectories toward anxious or mood disorders and trajectories characterized by external disorders.

Risk Factors for Sexual Offenses Committed by Men With or Without a Low IQ: An Exploratory Study.

Although risk factors associated with offending and recidivism are relatively well-established for mainstream sexual offenses, much less is known about men with a low IQ who have sexually offended (MIQSO), let alone those with forensic involvement. In this exploratory study, 137 convicted for the commission of at least one sexual offense and found not criminally responsible because a mental disorder were recruited in a maximum-security hospital. They were all assessed with the SORAG (static risk factors) and the RSVP (dynamic risk factors). Compared with MIQSO (N = 76), men with an average or higher IQ who have sexually offended (MSO, N = 61) obtained significantly higher scores on static factors related with general delinquency (histories of alcohol abuse, non-violent criminality, violent criminality, and sexual offense) and dynamic factors related with sexual delinquency, paraphilia, and recidivism (chronicity, psychological coercion, escalation, sexual deviance, and substance abuse). In contrast, MIQSO obtained significantly higher scores on major mental illness, problems with planning and problems with self-awareness. Logistic regressions revealed that both the SORAG and RSVP were useful to predict group membership. It is concluded that risk factors related with general and sexual delinquency better describe offenses committed by MSO, whereas risk factors related with mental disorder, lack of insight and contextual impulsivity better describe offenses committed by MIQSO.

Countertransference in Forensic Inpatient Settings: An Empirical Examination of Therapist Responses to Patients With Psychotic Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Countertransference in forensic inpatient settings has received little empirical attention despite frequent emotional reactions in staff members, such as anger, disgust, or fear. In this exploratory study, we investigated countertransference in two forensic medium-secure units for patients with psychotic disorders. METHOD: We measured countertransference using the Therapist Response Questionnaire and measured staff personality using the Ten-Item Personality Inventory. Our design allowed all staff members to participate anonymously. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-four Therapist Response Questionnaire forms, along with data on patient and staff characteristics, were collected. Staff characteristics such as profession, experience, and personality were associated with different countertransference reactions. Psychologists and psychiatrists tended to report more countertransference feelings than nursing staff. Patient and staff variables (such as patient having committed violent offenses or a diagnosis of personality disorder and staff experience or gender) were associated with more negative countertransference feelings and subscale scores as well as less positive countertransference feelings such as parental, protective, and satisfying countertransference feelings. Some patient and staff variables (such as patient cooperativeness, staff personality trait agreeableness) had the inverse effect on countertransference feelings. CONCLUSION: We discussed several conceptual problems inherent to measuring countertransference (in forensic inpatient settings) and the clinical implications of our findings.

Characterisation of self-defining memories in criminals with antisocial personality disorder.

Early aversive events are key factors in the development of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and are known to impact the ability to produce specific autobiographical memories and to modify self-construction. The present study assessed identity construction in forensic inpatients suffering from ASPD by comparing the characteristics (specificity, integration, valence, topic and period) of self-defining memories (SDM) of persons with ASPD hospitalised in a forensic hospital to those of control participants. Offenders with ASPD had difficulty in retrieving purely specific single events and tended to recall memories comprising multiple events. In addition, they produced significantly less meaning-making from their past experiences (low integration). These characteristics of SDM could be due to a defensive process used by offenders with ASPD in which they do not integrate aversive experiences, thereby creating a vicious circle where maladjustment of their personality is maintained.

What effort is required in retrieving self-defining memories? Specific autonomic responses for integrative and non-integrative memories.

Self-defining memories (SDM) are autobiographical memories associated with the construction and maintenance of identity, and which play a core role in establishing and achieving goals in life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effort required in retrieving SDM as reflected by physiological activity. We examined the neurovegetative responses associated with three dimensions of SDM: specificity, integrative meaning and emotional valence. Electrodermal activity (skin conductance response frequency, phasic driver) and the high frequency component of heart rate variability (HF-HRV) were recorded during the retrieval of SDM in 36 healthy participants to assess the activation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, respectively. SDM were characterized by three independent investigators with satisfactory inter-rater reliability. Linear mixed effects analyses showed that only the integrative meaning dimension led to a main effect on electrodermal activity. In addition, an interaction effect showed that the retrieval of non-integrative and specific memories was associated with a higher level of electrodermal activity than the retrieval of integrative specific memories. No effects were obtained regarding the HRV indicators. The higher activation of the sympathetic nervous system associated with the retrieval of non-integrative SDM suggests that the ability to derive meaning from personal experiences plays a regulatory role and is a fundamental component in personal adjustment.

La práctica de la evaluación del riesgo de violencia en España / The practice of violence risk assessment in Spain

Antecedentes. La valoración del riesgo de violencia es un requisito fundamental en la toma de decisiones profesionales que implican prevenir, intervenir o informar sobre la conducta de las personas. El uso de herramientas estructuradas de evaluación del riesgo de violencia ha mostrado mejoría en la precisión de las evaluaciones basadas exclusivamente en el juicio clínico o en la pericia de un experto en contextos psiquiátricos, penitenciarios y jurídicos. Objetivo. Este estudio presenta los resultados de la primera encuesta sobre las prácticas profesionales asociadas al uso de herramientas de evaluación del riesgo de violencia en España. Materiales y métodos. La información fue recogida mediante la administración de una encuesta en internet que fue distribuida por correo electrónico a los miembros de organizaciones profesionales. Resultados. De manera similar a los contextos profesionales del resto del mundo, las escalas de psicopatía de Robert Hare (Psychopathy Checklist-Revised y Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version) y el Historical-Clinical-Risk Management-20 encabezaron la lista de las herramientas más usadas tanto por elección personal como por requisito institucional. Conclusiones. Se ofrecen datos novedosos sobre la prevalencia de uso y la utilidad percibida de las herramientas estructuradas, así como sobre otras cuestiones relacionadas a las prácticas profesionales de evaluación del riesgo de violencia en España que pueden orientar tanto a los profesionales de contextos sanitarios, correccionales y forenses, como a los responsables de las instituciones en la elección de las herramientas a implementar para asistirlos en la toma de decisiones.

Background. Violence risk assessment is a key requirement in professional decision making involving prevention, intervention or reporting on human behavior. The use of structured tools for violence risk assessment has shown to improve the accuracy of assessments based exclusively on clinical judgment or expertise in psychiatric, correctional and legal settings. Objectives. This study presents results of the first survey about professional practices associated with tools for violence risk assessment in Spain. Materials and methods. The information was collected by administering an online-based survey that was distributed by e-mail to members of professional organizations around the country. Results. As in professional contexts worldwide, the Robert Hare's psychopathy scales (Psychopathy Checklist-Revised and Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version) and the Historical-Clinical-Risk Management-20 topped the list of the most used tools both by professional choice and institutional requirement. Conclusions. We provide novel data on the prevalence of use and the perceived utility of specific tools, as well as on other issues related to the professional practice of violence risk assessment in Spain, which can guide professional in the health care, correctional and forensic settings, as well as those responsible for decisions in institutions about choosing which tool to implement.

Psychopathy and traumatic stress.

This study examined the relationship between psychopathy and traumatic stress. First, a sample of 48 male patients in a security hospital was assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist (Hare, 2003) and the Stanford Acute Stress Reactions Questionnaire (SASRQ; Cardena, Classen, Koopman, & Spiegel, 1996). Linear regression analyses suggested that the affect deficit component of psychopathy was the best negative predictor of avoidance, dissociation, and re-experiencing symptoms. The 13 highest-scoring psychopathy participants were then compared to the 13 lowest-scoring participants. Psychopaths differed from controls in terms of number but not type of traumatic events. They obtained significantly lower SASRQ total score, reflecting a lower level of traumatic symptomatology. The results are discussed in connection with the emotional deficit component of psychopathy.

Decoding of facial expression of emotion in criminal psychopaths.

To examine whether psychopaths exhibit specific deficits in nonverbal emotional processing, 20 criminal psychopaths, 23 criminal nonpsychopaths, both groups identified with Hare's (2003) Psychopathy Checklist-Revised, and 25 noncriminals completed the facial affect recognition test developed by Philippot et al. (1999). All participants were males. The criminal psychopaths and nonpsychopaths were confined in a high-security prison. Forty slides were presented on a computer screen, each representing a male or a female actor portraying facial expressions of happiness, anger, sadness, fear, or disgust. Facial stimuli varied in emotional intensity (0%, 30%, 70%, and 100%). Overall, both criminal groups were less accurate than controls in decoding facial expression of emotion. Analysis of covariance showed that this effect is accounted for by differences in level of education of the participants. While criminal nonpsychopaths did not differ from criminal psychopaths in term of overall accuracy, they were less accurate for amygdalian emotion than for nonamygdalian ones. Criminal psychopaths' performance, however, was not affected by the amygdalian nature of the facial display. This pattern of results is opposed to the Blair's amygdalian hypothesis.