Psychopathy Checklist-Revised Use and Reporting Practices in Sexually Violent Predator Evaluations

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Legal Psychology

Background:

• Sexually violent predator evaluations are critical for legal proceedings.
• The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is frequently used in these evaluations.
• Understanding current practices and potential biases in PCL-R use is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey evaluators on their use of the PCL-R in sexually violent predator cases.
• To examine the rationale behind PCL-R use and scoring practices.
• To identify discrepancies between research recommendations and clinical application.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 95 evaluators conducting sexually violent predator evaluations.
• Data collected included frequency of PCL-R use, reasons for use, and scoring methods.
• Evaluators' interpretation and scoring of PCL-R and other risk measures were assessed.

Main Results:

• Evaluators perceive the PCL-R as versatile for assessing mental disorder and risk.
• Gaps exist between research and practice, with limited use of predictive factor/facet scores.
• Inconsistent use of sexual deviance measures with PCL-R and evidence of adversarial allegiance and bias blind spots were observed.

Conclusions:

• Evaluator practices in PCL-R use for sexually violent predator assessments may not fully align with current research.
• Adversarial settings may influence scoring and interpretation, necessitating self-awareness of potential bias.
• Further training and adherence to evidence-based practices are recommended for improved evaluation accuracy.