Citation

Hervé HF, Mitchell D, Cooper BS, Spidel A, Hare RD. Can. J. Behav. Sci. 2004; 36(2): 137-145.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Canadian Psychological Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1037/h0087224

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Given their particular constellation of interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial features, we hypothesized that psychopaths would be more likely than other offenders to unlawfully confine another person. The present archival study investigated victim and offence characteristics, and the prevalence of psychopathy in offenders who perpetrated criminal acts of unlawful confinement. Of federal offenders incarcerated in the Pacific Region of Canada between the late 1960s and 1998, 136 (11.3%) had committed acts of unlawful confinement, 90 of whom had PCL-R assessments on file.

RESULTS indicated that 49% of these perpetrators were psychopathic (i.e., PCL-R > 30). These perpetrators typically were under the age of 30 years, and were characterized by a lack of formal education, substance abuse problems, psychiatric histories, and previous violence. Most of the offences appeared to be instrumental and involved sexual misconduct and the use of weapons. The majority were perpetrated against females, were of short duration, and rarely resulted in the victim's death. Implications for the criminal justice system are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

Keywords

Antisocial Personality Disorder; Crime Victims; Criminal Behavior; Criminal Offenders; Demographic Characteristics; Kidnapping; Psychopathy