Predictive validity of the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV) in a sample of New Zealand Māori and European male prisoners.

Abstract

Numerous studies have investigated the predictive validity of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist (PCL), but the majority have used samples from North America. The PCL may inform important decisions about people's futures; recognition has been growing of the importance of ensuring that its psychometric properties are established in each jurisdiction where it is used, especially for Indigenous and non-European populations. The present study examined the predictive properties of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV; Hart et al., 1995) in 371 New Zealand (NZ) male prisoners, including NZ European and NZ Māori subsamples. Discrimination analyses showed that PCL:SV total scores had moderate predictive accuracy for any new conviction within 5 years of release; no significant differences were detected for Māori versus NZ European on this outcome. PCL:SV Factor 2 (Lifestyle/Antisocial) scores were moderately predictive of violent recidivism within 5 years of release. In a second, independent sample of male prisoners (n = 102), both PCL:SV total and Factor 2 scores showed moderate predictive accuracy for serious institutional violence. Additionally, PCL:SV Facets 1 (Interpersonal) and 2 (Affective) scores were uniquely associated with time to sexual and violent recidivism, respectively. Understanding the predictive performance of clinical risk measures across diverse ethnic groups is an important step toward identifying and addressing ethnic disparities in criminal justice outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).