Introduction
The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL) measures traits linked to psychopathy to predict future criminal behaviours like violence or reoffending. One notable court case (Ewert v. Canada) raised concerns that this popular tool might be biased or inappropriate for Indigenous individuals. This is because the tool’s design did not consider the Indigenous cultural background. This study investigates whether the Hare PCL-R works equally well for Indigenous and non-Indigenous men in Canadian federal prisons. The researchers aimed to explore whether the test is fair, accurate, and meaningful for both groups.
Methods
The researchers used data from 1,163 male federal inmates across multiple prison sites in Canada’s Prairie Region. About 39% of these individuals identified as Indigenous. The team studied the men’s PCL-R scores and criminal records, as the men had already participated in various correctional studies. The study combined four existing datasets to increase the reliability and power of the findings. The researchers assessed how well the PCL-R predicted future offenses (recidivism), including both violent and general crimes. They also assessed whether the test measured psychopathy identically for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. They determined this based on the test’s structure and consistency.
Findings
The study found that Indigenous men tended to score higher on the PCL-R. Results especially depicted this for items linked to impulsive behaviour and criminal lifestyle. Indigenous men also showed higher rates of reoffending. Despite these differences, the PCL-R demonstrated efficacy in predicting future crimes in both groups. The test demonstrated similar predictive accuracy across Indigenous and non-Indigenous offenders, with only small and mostly insignificant differences. The researchers also noticed consistency for both groups regarding the test’s structure. That is, how the items grouped together into traits. Overall, higher PCL-R scores correlated with higher chances of reoffending regardless of the person’s background.
Implications
These results suggest the validity and usefulness of the PCL-R for assessing psychopathy. It seemingly predicts risks in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadian inmates in an accurate manner. Nonetheless, the fact that Indigenous individuals typically scored higher and reoffended more highlights the need for careful interpretation. Professionals using this tool should consider the broader social and historical contexts. This includes the Indigenous overrepresentation in the criminal justice system and the effects of colonization, trauma, and systemic inequality. While the tool may statistically work, cultural awareness and ethical caution are necessary.
Limitations
Though large and thorough, the study demonstrated important limitations. The PCL-R test did not originally consider Indigenous cultures. This means that it could miss or misinterpret culturally specific behaviours and values. The study also didn’t explore deeper cultural or systemic reasons behind higher scores and reoffending rates among Indigenous men. Also, the findings focused on men in federal prisons in Canada’s Prairie Region. The results might not apply to other populations or areas, like women, youth, or those in provincial institutions.
Reference
Olver, M. E., Neumann, C. S., Sewall, L. A., Lewis, K., Hare, R. D., & Wong, S. C. P. (2018). A comprehensive examination of the psychometric properties of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised in a Canadian multisite sample of Indigenous and non-Indigenous offenders. Psychological Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0000533
About the Author
Maryam Dawood is an Honours Bachelor of Science graduate in Forensic Psychology from the University of Toronto, with research experience centered on legal decision-making, correctional psychology, and the stigmatization of offenders. She intends to pursue a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology, where she will explore wrongful convictions and self-stigma among justice-involved individuals to support evidence-based reforms and rehabilitation. Connect with Maryam on LinkedIn.
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