Psychopathy and the prospective prediction of adult offending through age 29: Revisiting unfulfilled promises of developmental criminology. (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lussier, Patrick; McCuish, Evan; Corrado, Raymond
• Is Part Of: Journal of criminal justice. Volume 80(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: Adult offending -- Chronic offending -- Developmental criminology -- Juvenile delinquency -- Longitudinal study -- Psychopathy; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; Justice pénale -- Administration -- Périodiques; 364.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2020.101770
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-2352

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: This study prospectively examines the assertion that early risk factors do not predict continuity in offending across the adolescence-adulthood transition as suggested by developmental criminology. Against such statements, psychopathy is asserted to be a pivotal risk factor for offending continuity. Methods: The study is based on a sample of 326 incarcerated youth followed through age 29. Features of psychopathy were measured during adolescence using scores from the PCL:YV and adult convictions were modeled in various ways, including latent trajectories of convictions, adjusted for exposure. Results: The study findings provide evidence that chronic juvenile offenders and those with high psychopathy scores during adolescence are at a higher risk of being repeatedly convicted in adulthood. Conclusions: While the study findings showed that features of psychopathy predicted adult offending outcomes at the group level, individual-level prediction is more difficult and therefore caution should be exercised before using these findings in practical settings to make predictions about whether a specific youth will continue to offend at a particular rate in adulthood. Highlights: Life course theorists suggest that the long-term prediction of offending is futile and inaccurate. The study examines the prospective prediction of features of psychopathy measured during adolescence. The study includes multiple criminal career operationalisations of adult offending up to age 29. The study provides empirical evidence supporting the relevance of the concept of psychopathy for developmental criminology.