NCJ Number
229449
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2010 Pages: 92-112
Date Published
February 2010
Length
21 pages
Annotation
In this study, 120 males (60 sexual offenders and 60 nonsexual offenders) in psychiatric treatment while in prison were evaluated using neuropsychological, psychological, and sociological/demographic measures.
Abstract
All sexual offenders (N=60) would be evaluated for potential civil commitment as sexually violent predators before prison release. Nonsexual offenders (N=60) had not been convicted of a sexual offense. Sexual offenders demonstrated significantly more overall neuropsychological impairment suggesting diffuse brain differences, with dysfunction primarily associated with temporal and frontal brain cortexes; higher Psychopathy Checklist - Revised Factor 1 (Interpersonal/Affective) ratings and Rorschach responses indicated disordered attachment, disordered self-perception, and impulsive emotionality. Sexual offenders also were more likely to be younger and unmarried. Stepwise logistic regression analysis resulted in 80.20 percent accuracy of prediction of sexual offenders. Potential application of this empirically derived multidimensional description to treatment of sexual offenders is discussed. Potential limitations to generalization of this information are also discussed. (Publisher Abstract)