Abstract Purpose Readiness for release is a multidimensional construct with direct implications for parole decisions and discharge planning, yet its social and clinical determinants remain poorly understood. This study examined configurations of antecedent disadvantage and current clinical features associated with perceived release readiness among inmates in Ontario provincial institutions. Methods Data from 340 inmates were analysed using coincidence analysis (CNA) to identify minimally sufficient or necessary conditions associated with low versus high perceived readiness. A small subgroup expressing low interest in release was examined descriptively. Results Two equifinal pathways characterized low readiness. Both required a violent criminal history combined with either lifetime psychiatric admissions or current institutional behaviour problems. Overall model fit was modest, indicating substantial heterogeneity in low readiness. High readiness was represented by a more parsimonious solution involving the absence of a violent criminal history, reported family dysfunction and a configuration combining no psychiatric history with current behaviour problems. The reluctant subgroup exhibited two descriptive patterns: (a) major mental disorder accompanied by extensive stressors or (b) multiple psychiatric hospitalizations accompanied by treatment use and no family dysfunction. Conclusions A history of violence may operate as a gating factor that structures inmates’ perceptions of release readiness in combination with psychiatric and institutional characteristics. The findings demonstrate the value of configurational analysis for integrating social and clinical factors when assessing suitability for release. The modest fit for low readiness and the small size of the reluctant subgroup nevertheless indicate a need for cautious interpretation and further validation.
Abstract Purpose Evidence suggests that prisoners have more extensive victimization histories than non‐incarcerated people, which is linked to subsequent criminal behaviour. Additionally, violence and victimization are common in prisons and often underreported. Prior research has primarily focussed on the negative effects of victimization prior to incarceration. Thus, this review will explore the impact of victimization in prison on post‐release outcomes. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted on PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and Social Science Premium databases. Any peer‐reviewed studies written in English were eligible for inclusion if they analysed the relationship between victimization exposure in prison on post‐release outcomes or recidivism. Methodological quality was assessed using CASP Checklists. Of the 322 unique studies identified, 18 studies were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Results High rates of direct and witnessed victimization were reported. The majority of the quantitative studies found significant relationships between prison victimization and recidivism or other post‐release outcomes. Stronger evidence suggests recidivism, substance use and mental health outcomes are correlated with prison victimization, while evidence for interpersonal relationships and employment outcomes is weaker. Qualitative studies supported these findings and drew associations between prison violence and poorer outcomes upon release. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that trauma experienced while incarcerated is associated with greater risk of reoffending or other poor outcomes. However, the studies were limited to primarily adult samples in the United States, with mostly male participants; future research should seek to examine these effects in other populations.
Abstract Purpose Existing research has conceptualized criminal expertise among sexual offenders through the combined examination of modus operandi sophistication and detection avoidance strategies. This study investigated whether forensic and investigative awareness strategies, considered independently from the modus operandi, constitute a meaningful indicator of criminal expertise. Methods The sample comprised 1349 solved cases of sexual assault with penetration committed by male strangers against adult female victims in France between 2001 and 2018. A latent class analysis was conducted using six detection avoidance variables, followed by bivariate analyses to assess the external validity of the identified classes. Results Five distinct classes emerged, forming a coherent continuum of criminal expertise ranging from Novices, characterized by minimal use of avoidance strategies, to Experts, who combined diverse forensic and investigative awareness strategies. A hierarchical progression from investigative to forensic strategies was observed across classes. External validity analyses showed significant associations between class membership, modus operandi sophistication and offender characteristics. Conclusions Detection avoidance strategies alone appear to provide a meaningful indicator of criminal expertise among sexual offenders. These findings support a continuum‐based conceptualization of expertise and highlight the value of detection avoidance behaviours for crime scene analysis, offender profiling and the study of criminal decision‐making.
Abstract Purpose This study investigates how dispositional fear, personal fear of crime, and situational fear of crime interact, offering the first empirical test of their triadic relationship. The aim is to clarify how fear as a stable personality trait shapes momentary, context‐specific (state) fear responses. Methods Participants, drawn from a student sample, were immersed in a standardized urban neighbourhood using Virtual Reality. This controlled for variation in physical and social environmental features, allowing for a focused examination of fear of crime. Measures of dispositional fear, personal fear of crime, and situational fear of crime were collected and analysed across four crime types: theft, verbal aggression, physical aggression, and sexually transgressive behaviour. Results Across all crime types, personal fear of crime fully mediated the relationship between dispositional fear and situational fear of crime. Students with higher dispositional fear—reflecting a general tendency toward anxiety—were more likely to interpret crime as personally threatening, which subsequently heightened their situational fear responses within the VR environment. This pattern demonstrates how enduring personality characteristics influence real‐time emotional reactions to environmental cues. Conclusions Results not only support the longstanding trait–state distinction but also contextualize it within the fear of crime literature. The results highlight the importance of incorporating dispositional fear measures when attempting to understand or predict situational fear of crime across diverse contexts. Future research should continue integrating personality‐based factors to refine theoretical models of fear of crime.
Purpose In the context of scarcity and life history theories, the current research examined impulsivity in females with violent and non-violent offences, considering the internal mechanisms through which resource scarcity may affect impulsivity. Methods Conducted in a prison for women in China, this study surveyed 405 women with offences (190 with violent offences). Results Independent sample t-test results showed that females with violent offences demonstrated higher impulsivity (p < .01). A bootstrap analysis indicated that resource scarcity statistically predicted impulsivity, with mediating effects of scarcity mindset and life history strategy, and a chain mediating effect. Conclusion For females with violent offences, resource scarcity related to higher impulsivity, possibly shaping a scarcity mindset and an accelerated life history strategy as underlying psychological mechanisms.
Abstract Purpose This study examines psychological and personal differences among young males engaged in violent knife offending, violent non‐knife offending, and non‐violent offending within a Youth Justice Service in London. By distinguishing knife‐related crime from other forms of violence, the research aims to identify unique psychosocial vulnerabilities associated with violent knife offending and to consider implications for assessment and intervention. Methods Case files of young males aged 12–18 under Youth Justice Service supervision between 2018 and 2022 were analysed using data recorded in the AssetPlus assessment tool. Comparative analyses explored group differences in victimisation, gang association, trauma‐related mental health difficulties, and neurodiversity needs. Moderated mediation models were employed to examine the relationship between gang involvement, victimisation, and knife‐related offending. Results Young people involved in knife‐related offending exhibited higher levels of gang association, victimisation, and trauma compared to both violent non‐knife and non‐violent groups. Victimisation significantly moderated the relationship between gang involvement and knife‐related offending, amplifying the likelihood of violent behaviour among those with dual exposure. Mental health difficulties, although prevalent, did not mediate this relationship. AssetPlus facilitated comprehensive information‐gathering but showed inconsistencies in analytical application, with variability in data entry quality highlighting the need for standardised quality assurance. Conclusions Findings indicate that violent knife offending represents a distinct subgroup characterised by elevated psychosocial vulnerabilities. Trauma‐informed and contextually aware interventions are essential, with supplementary assessments focusing on gang involvement and victimisation recommended to enhance understanding of individual risk profiles and support more tailored responses to knife‐related offending.
Abstract Background Contemporary terrorist pathways are increasingly shaped online. In AI‐mediated digital environments, exposure to grievance‐based narratives, ideological reinforcement and social validation may occur without deliberate intent, challenging assumptions about agency, endorsement and risk within counter‐terrorism practice. For practitioners supervising individuals convicted of terrorist offences, internet use is routine in case management. Yet, responses have largely prioritised restriction and monitoring, with limited focus on the psychological functions that online behaviour may serve. Aims To examine the challenges practitioners face when managing internet use in terrorism rehabilitation and propose a psychologically informed approach to assessment and intervention. Materials and Methods This conceptual article draws on psychological theory and practice‐informed insights from applied work within His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Counter Terrorism Assessment and Rehabilitation Centre (CT‐ARC) to synthesise evidence and practice. Results The article reframes internet use as a domain for psychological formulation, needs assessment and skill development, rather than solely risk management. It introduces the My Internet Use resource pack as a structured approach to supporting practitioner–participant conversations that identify the psychological needs underpinning online engagement and promote healthier, prosocial digital routines. Discussion A formulation‐led approach enables practitioners to move beyond restrictive management by considering the role of online behaviour in identity formation, emotional regulation and disengagement, addressing vulnerabilities associated with extremist engagement. Conclusion As digital environments continue to shape pathways into and out of terrorism, psychologically informed approaches to internet use may strengthen rehabilitation by supporting sustainable behaviour change and reducing vulnerability to re‐engagement beyond supervision.
Abstract Objective This study aimed to explore the mediating role of hope in the relationship between family functioning and resilience among incarcerated female property offenders. Methods A total of 437 female property offenders completed questionnaires including the Resilience Scale, Family Functioning Scale, and Hope Scale. Results (1) Mediation analysis provided evidence consistent with a possible partial mediating role of hope in the relationship between family functioning and resilience. (2) Network analysis indicated that family functioning, hope, and resilience were closely interconnected and structurally stable. The core nodes identified were “I consider myself a strong person,” “Parents are aware of their children's needs,” “Family members are tolerant of one another,” and “Past successes give me confidence to face challenges.” Hope served as a crucial bridge node linking family functioning and resilience. Conclusion Hope may be considered a potential focus of interventions aimed at supporting resilience in this population. These findings provide meaningful insights for educational rehabilitation, recidivism prevention, and social reintegration of female offenders convicted of property crimes.
Objective This study aimed to develop the Juvenile Criminal Propensity Questionnaire (JCPS) and evaluate its reliability, validity, measurement invariance across gender and groups, and core features.Methods Based on criminological theories and existing domestic and international instruments for assessing criminal propensity, an initial questionnaire was constructed. Item analysis and exploratory factor analysis were conducted with a sample of 206 incarcerated juveniles. A second sample of 2281 participants-including students from regular schools, students from special schools and incarcerated juveniles in a juvenile detention centre-was used to perform confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability and validity testing, measurement invariance assessment, and network analysis.Results (1) The finalized JCPS comprised 32 items with high discriminative power. CFA supported a four-factor, third-order model with satisfactory fit indices. (2) The questionnaire demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .91) and good test-retest reliability (0.86). (3) Criminal propensity was significantly and negatively correlated with brief self-control and belief in a just world, and significantly and positively correlated with moral disengagement and conduct problem tendency. (4) The JCPS exhibited strong measurement invariance across gender and weak invariance across groups. (5) Network analysis revealed distinct core features of juvenile criminal propensity in different contexts, providing targeted intervention points.Conclusion The JCPS demonstrates sound psychometric properties and can serve as an effective tool for assessing juvenile criminal propensity. Its identified core features offer novel, stratified pathways for preventing juvenile offending.
Background Legal systems rely heavily on eyewitness testimony. However, contextual factors surrounding identification and testimony can affect how witness testimony is perceived. Whether eyewitnesses receive compensation for their testimony may influence perceptions of their reliability, but this notion has not been empirically investigated. To that end, three studies examined how the presence or absence of compensation for witness testimony influenced evaluators' perceptions of witnesses.Method Participants read brief statements (Experiment 1) or a mock-trial vignettes (Experiments 2 and 3) describing whether witnesses received compensation, did not receive compensation, or lacked any mention of compensation. Experiments 2 and 3 also manipulated the magnitude of the compensation, such that witnesses either received a weak or a strong incentive to testify.Results and Discussion Participants were more sceptical of witnesses who received compensation for their testimony when witness information was presented in isolation (Experiment 1). However, this effect was not observed in the more complex mock-trial scenarios (Experiments 2 and 3). Across Experiments 2 and 3, compensation effects were non-significant and accounted for around 1% of the variance in confidence and accuracy, suggesting a negligible impact of compensation on performance. Participants who did not receive information about witness compensation in Experiments 2 and 3 overestimated how much it would influence their judgements compared to how much people who received this information reported relying on it when making their judgements. These findings suggest that witness compensation might not harm perceptions of witness testimony.
Purpose To examine whether scores on a self-report instrument can serve as a valid proxy for clinically assessed psychopathy.Method Using data from the Pathways to Desistance study, we applied a hybrid NEAT (non-equivalent groups with anchor test)-SG (single group) equating design to link the Psychopathy Checklist-Youth Version (PCL-YV) with the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI). The precision and accuracy of the equated scores were evaluated in three ways: (1) by computing the standard error of equating (SEE), (2) by assessing their correspondence with observed PCL-YV scores as the criterion and (3) by identifying the score range in which the two scales correlated most strongly.Results SEE values indicated that the equated scores were tightly clustered, reflecting high precision. However, the equated scores deviated substantially from the observed scores, indicating poor accuracy. Within the clinically important range near the conventional PCL-YV threshold of >= 30, equated and observed scores were unexpectedly negatively correlated.Conclusion These findings suggest that conditions more stringent than equating precision alone must be met before a self-report scale can be considered a valid screening tool for clinically significant psychopathy.
Aim This study investigates the decision-making processes of Dutch district police teams during high-volume criminal investigations, exploring which investigative activities are selected and explaining variation across teams. Additionally, we present the focal concerns guiding decisions in these investigations.Method Using a novel vignette-based 'building block' methodology, eight district teams simulated an armed robbery investigation by constructing their investigative paths with building blocks, representing individual activities. Their investigations were followed by semi-structured group discussions, providing rich qualitative and quantitative data.Results The study identified 76 unique activities across the investigative paths, of which 41 were classified as investigative activities. Analyses revealed considerable variation in activity employment between teams, though common activities included interviewing witnesses, collecting video footage, requesting the help of the public, collecting intelligence, seizures, and forensic investigation. Cluster analyses indicated some grouping in investigative strategies. Qualitative data showed that decision-making was influenced by shared considerations, such as evidentiary thresholds, victim reimbursement, operational constraints, and legal considerations. Moreover, detectives applied their discretion to increase investigative efficacy.Conclusion Our results echo frameworks like Lipsky's street-level bureaucracy and focal concerns theory in decision-making by investigators. While all district teams operated within a shared legal and procedural framework, their choices reflected localized resources, constraints, and strategies. We found that detectives investigating high-volume serious crime are focused on doing the most with the least, sharing operational goals while applying their local resources and discretion to reach them.
Purpose This study examines incarcerated individuals' beliefs about deception detection, focusing on perceptions of successful liars, cues used to identify deception and endorsement of stereotypical beliefs.Methods A mixed-methods design combining qualitative and quantitative methods was used. Data were collected from 42 inmates (21 females; M = 40.55 years, SD = 10.5) in a maximum-security prison.Results Inmates generally believed people can detect lies but may tolerate them to avoid conflict or maintain social harmony. Successful liars were thought to rely on verbal and nonverbal strategies and traits such as self-control and persuasiveness. Participants reported a broad range of verbal and nonverbal deception cues, endorsing empirically documented beliefs about the importance of verbal cues, but also stereotypical ones about the diagnostic function of nonverbal indicators.Conclusions The prisoners in our study viewed lie detection as dependent on the liar's individual characteristics and behaviours, with both positive and negative effects on interpersonal relationships and society. They believed that choosing to trust others without constantly verifying their statements can help avoid conflict, whereas the repeated tolerance or failure to detect lies may allow lie tellers to specialize and ultimately use deception for criminal purposes.
Purpose The participation of victims and witnesses of severe community violence in the criminal-legal system (CLS) is critical for the success of police investigations and prosecutions. However, such participation is far from guaranteed. This systematic literature review synthesizes existing research to identify the factors that consistently influence victims' and witnesses' engagement with the CLS across three key stages: reporting crimes to law enforcement, participating in police investigations and participating in court proceedings.Methods The review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We systematically searched 10 databases to identify empirical studies published in English since 1990 that focus on CLS participation in the United States by victims or witnesses of severe community violence.Results A total of 52 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies largely consisted of quantitative analyses of incident characteristics associated with crime reporting and qualitative inquiries exploring barriers to CLS participation, particularly among disadvantaged groups. Key findings highlight common predictors of CLS participation (e.g., victim demographics and crime severity) and self-reported explanations for lack of engagement with the CLS (e.g., negative perceptions of the police, perceived inability to claim victim status, adherence to anti-snitching norms).Conclusion This review identifies significant gaps in the literature, mainly an inconsistent focus on certain populations and a lack of research examining participation in the police investigation and court proceeding stages of the CLS. We discuss potential recommendations to enhance victim and witness participation in the CLS and outline future research priorities.
Background Information gathered during court hearings is crucial for legal decision-making in Germany, as it can directly influence the accuracy and fairness of judicial outcomes.Aim This study is the first aiming to explore how legal practitioners (i.e. criminal judges, public prosecutors, defence lawyers) gather information in german criminal courts.Method A total of 71 witness interviews were live-coded using a predefined schema.Results The findings revealed that unproductive utterances-mainly leading (64%) and specific questions (31%)- were more frequent than productive utterances (e.g. open-ended questions and invitations), which made up less than 5%. Additionally, criminal judges used more productive utterances than defence lawyers, but public prosecutors did not follow the same pattern. Unexpectedly, criminal judges also used more unproductive utterances than both public prosecutors and defence lawyers. Judges typically explained the purpose of the interview and legal regulations. However, they did not consistently communicate conversational ground rules and, in some cases, disclosed too much case-related information, which can bias witness statements.Discussion This study highlights the need to improve the quality of information gathering through witness interviews conducted by legal practitioners in Germany.Conclusion The findings underscore the need for changes in Germany to establish clear standards for evidence-based interviewing, provide comprehensive training, and ensure a systematic framework for recording all interviews. Such changes are essential to improve the quality of information gathered in court and to support fair judicial decision-making.
Purpose Despite efforts to reduce non-consensual sterilization of people with intellectual disability, little is known about how such cases are judged. Using an incremental mock jury paradigm, this study examined how contextual information shapes lay judicial judgements.Methods Two hundred and thirteen French jury-eligible participants evaluated a criminal scenario involving a non-consensual sterilization and indicated what information could justify the decision. Depending on condition, participants rejected any justification, considered disability sufficient or requested contextual information: custody removal or genetic risk. A control group evaluated a case without victim disability. Participants rated justifiability, emotions, sentence, penological orientations and eugenic attitudes.Results Two-thirds of participants requested information before judging. Justifiability was associated with moral acceptability, lower anger and disgust, and reduced sentences. Those endorsing disability alone showed higher eugenic attitudes, sympathy for the physician and less for the victim. Custody removal information decreased sentences by 2.35 years; genetic risk had no effect. Controls judged more harshly, showing less sympathy for the physician and stronger endorsement of incapacitation and deterrence, whereas disability conditions endorsed exoneration more strongly.Conclusion Victim disability reduced punishment tendencies and shifted penological reasoning towards relatively greater exoneration despite low absolute levels. Four profiles emerged before any information was given: participants who rejected sterilization outright, those who considered disability alone sufficient and those who required additional information about child welfare or genetic risk. These profiles already differed in eugenic attitudes. Genetic transmission information had no effect on judgements; what mattered was how participants viewed disability before knowing the full case.
Purpose The present study examined whether three commonly used assessment instruments can predict treatment non-completion from a community treatment programme for individuals convicted of sexual offences.Method All 289 male sexual offenders in the sample completed a standard intake assessment, which included a clinical interview, completion of the URICA, the Static-99R and the Stable-2007. Clinicians certified in the administration of the Static-99R and Stable-2007 administered, scored and interpreted these instruments based on information from the clinical interview and collateral records.Results The Stable-2007 consistently predicted treatment attrition, whereas the Static-99R and URICA did not add significant predictive power once dynamic risk was accounted for. Item-level analysis of the Stable-2007 revealed that Poor Problem Solving was the strongest individual risk factor associated with treatment non-completion, though other subscales of the Stable-2007 also predicted non-completion.Conclusions These findings suggest that dynamic criminogenic needs may play a central role in identifying which sexual offenders are at risk of not completing treatment. The implications of this exploratory study are discussed, including how the Stable-2007 can help identify criminogenic needs for intervention to improve treatment completion rates.
Purpose The present study examines whether incarcerated individuals' meta-malleability, the belief that others perceive them as capable of change, predicts support for restorative justice (RJ), and which emotional mechanisms moderate this influence. Moving beyond prior work on self-perceptions, we foreground a social-reflective lens that considers how perceived societal views shape offenders' emotions and restorative orientation.Methods A survey was administered to 173 male inmates in four prisons. Participants completed measures of meta-malleability, support for RJ and three candidate mediators: shame, guilt and responsibility-taking.Results Correlational analyses indicated that higher meta-malleability was associated with stronger support for RJ and with greater guilt and responsibility. Mediation analyses showed that guilt and, most robustly, responsibility-taking significantly mediated the meta-malleability-RJ association. While positively correlated with RJ support, shame was not a significant mediator.Conclusions The findings identify perceived societal attitudes as a key correlate of inmates' emotional readiness for restorative processes. Conceptually, the results suggest that effective rehabilitation may require not only intrapersonal change but also shifts in the 'social mirror' through which offenders interpret and assess their capacity for change. Practically, prison-based RJ preparation that highlights constructive community signals and fosters responsibility-taking may enhance engagement with RJ.
Background This article describes the origins and development of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Investigative Interview Protocol. The author's original interest in exploring the reliability of children's accounts of their behaviour and experiences morphed into the assessment of various techniques that increased the ability and willingness of young children to provide richly detailed and accurate descriptions of their experiences. Conclusions These techniques and strategies were then compiled into a tool, the NICHD Protocol, which was shown to improve the quality of forensic interviewing. Subsequently, the Revised NICHD Protocol incorporated an additional suite of practices addressing the emotional and motivational factors that made some children reluctant to cooperate with interviewers.
Purpose This study examined public perceptions of diverse police interrogation techniques, complimenting the existing research focused on accusatorial methods. It further investigated the influence of individual characteristics on the acceptance of these techniques.Methods An online questionnaire was administered to the 1204 jury-eligible citizens and their responses were analysed to identify the factors of interrogation techniques. Further, the influence of personality traits (i.e. empathy and belief in a just world) on their perceptions was examined through regression analyses.Results The five approaches were derived from exploratory factor analysis: Collaborative/Respectful, Persuasive, Confrontational, Personal Rapport and Evidence Presentation. The Confrontational Approach was rated as the least appropriate, consistent with prior findings. Conversely, the Collaborative/Respectful Approach was deemed the most appropriate. The Personal Rapport Approach was rated the second least appropriate, suggesting that the public favours ethical cooperation over personal connections. Regression analyses showed that Empathic Concern was the only trait significantly related to all five approaches; it positively predicted acceptance of four non-confrontational approaches but negatively predicted acceptance of the Confrontational Approach. Notably, a belief in a just world only positively predicted acceptance of the Confrontational Approach. Participants' experience as suspects or witnesses had negligible associations with the perception of interrogation techniques.Conclusions These findings highlight a nuanced public judgement of relational interviewing approaches and confirm that punitive personalities are uniquely associated with accepting aggressive techniques. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding public perceptions to ensure the fairness and admissibility of confession evidence in the citizen judge system.
