As prison populations continue to grow to unprecedented levels, prisons and courts face staggering demands to classify criminal offenders effectively and economically. The MMPI®-2 Criminal Justice and Correctional Report helps to address this pressing need by providing a classification tool that is both comprehensive and cost-effective. The report was developed by Edwin I. Megargee, PhD, CCHP, a well-known researcher in the assessment of corrections populations for more than 35 years. The report provides information that is relevant to critical needs assessment, risk assessment, and program planning for criminal offenders.
The report builds on the success of the highly respected MMPI-2 test. A 1999 study reported that, in regard to personality assessment, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory®( MMPI®/MMPI®-2) test is used by more state correctional institutions than any other instrument at the time of intake.1 The Criminal Justice and Correctional Report includes the MMPI-2 validity, clinical, and content scales and the supplementary scales that have proven useful in criminal justice settings.
Based on decades of research conducted in correctional settings, the report includes the widely respected Megargee Offender Classification System, nine Behavioral Dimensions, and nine Possible Problem Areas. All of these compare offenders to other offenders. The report also includes critical items related to self-injury and suicide.
Megargee Offender Classification System
The Megargee Classification System, which has been in use since the 1970's, provides a compelling empirical basis for defensible classification and placement decisions. The Megargee system describes the likely behavior of 10 types of offenders and suggests strategies for management and treatment. The system has been reported to effectively classify up to 95% of the MMPI-2 profiles produced in most probations, parole, and correctional settings.
Behavioral Dimensions
The report includes the following nine Behavioral Dimensions that compare offenders to other offenders rather than to the general population.
- Apparent need for further mental health assessment or programming
- Apparent leadership ability, dominance
- Indications of conflicts with or resentment of authorities
- Likelihood of positive or favorable response to academic programming
- Indications of socially deviant behavior or attitudes
- Apparent need for social participation, extroversion
- Likelihood of mature, responsible behavior; positive response to supervision
- Likelihood of positive or favorable response to vocational programming
- Likelihood of hostile or antagonistic peer relations
Possible Problem Areas
- Difficulties with alcohol or other substance abuse
- Manipulation or exploitation of others
- Thought disorder
- Overcontrolled hostility
- Family conflict or alienation from family
| - Depressive affect or mood disorder
- Awkward or difficult interpersonal relationships
- Extensive use of sick call
- Anger control problem
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MMPI-2 Scales and Features
In addition to the Megargee Offender Classification System, the nine Behavioral Dimensions, and the nine Possible Problem Areas, the MMPI-2 Criminal Justice and Correctional Report includes the following:
- Validity and Clinical Scales Profile
- Content Scales Profile
- Selected Supplementary Scales Profile
| - Profile Frequency
- Critical Items relating to self-injury and suicide
- Omitted Items
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The report includes a profile of the seven MMPI-2 supplementary scales that are especially useful in criminal justice and correctional settings:
- Special symptom patterns:
MAC-R (MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale-Revised)
APS (Addiction Potential Scale)
AAS (Addiction Admission Scale)
O-H (Overcontrolled Hostility)
MDS (Marital Distress Scale) - Positive aspects of interpersonal functioning:
Do (Dominance) and Re (Social Responsibility).
Putting the Report to Work
As a leading provider of psychological assessments for more than 40 years and the distributor of the MMPI-2 test, Pearson has helped put real-life experience to work in the development of this innovative, relevant report. Criminal justice and correctional psychologists can use the information in the report to help:
- Reliably classify inmates at initial intake or the reception phase of incarceration to support important management, treatment, and programming decisions
- Identify the likely behavior of problem inmates to help in placement and security level decisions which may lead to a decrease in serious assaults
- Identify inmates who may present less risk to the system, possibly allowing a downgrade in security level, which may lead to savings
- Better understand an inmate's background, attitudes, and abilities to determine if they will benefit from treatment for substance abuse, mental health programming, and other services
- Identify inmates that may do well in prison work programs based on their educational and vocational abilities and attitudes
- Accurately evaluate and reclassify inmates over the course of their incarceration to support important programming or treatment decisions
- Assess inmates for their readiness to be released and develop effective aftercare or parole programs
Cost-efficient, Flexible Administration
- The MMPI-2 test can be administered in English, Spanish, Hmong, or French for Canada in the traditional pencil-and-paper format or by audiocassette recording.
- Administration can be readily and routinely handled by properly trained personnel in prison settings, helping to make more efficient use of psychologists' time.
- A comprehensive user's guide provides interpretive guidelines for all of the scales, the Behavioral Dimensions, Possible Problem Areas, and the Megargee Offender Classification System.
References
1 Gallaghar, R. W., Somwaru, D. P., & Ben-Porath, Y. S. (1999). Current usage of psychological tests in state correctional settings. National Journal for Corrections, The Corrections Compendium, Vol. 24, #7.