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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon

Time: 11:44 pm

Results for cognitive abilities

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Author: Stewart, Lynn A.

Title: Intellectual Deficits Among Incoming Federally-sentenced Men and Women Offenders: Prevalence, Profiles, Outcomes

Summary: Intellectual deficits are impairments of mental abilities that affect adaptive functioning.This study estimated the prevalence of deficits as defined by IQ score among 4,396 men and 292 women offenders entering federal custody and examined the association between IQ and key offender characteristics and correctional outcomes. Results indicated that 2.8% of men scored below 70 IQ (the intellectually disabled range) on a standardized measure of intellectual functioning, rates that are roughly similar those in the Canadian population. A further 7.3% scored in the borderline range (70-79). Federally-sentenced women, however, were more likely to suffer low cognitive function than federal men. Almost 6% of incoming women have an IQ below 70 and 12.7 % score in the borderline range. Combined, these results indicate that twice as many women in CSC are within the intellectually impaired ranges than is found in the Canadian population. The results link lower IQ to lower educational achievement, unstable employment, substance abuse, and symptoms of ADHD. Offenders with lower IQ had higher overall criminal risk and criminogenic need ratings than those in the unimpaired groups. The ratings on the employment and education domain and community function domains showed the greatest difference between the higher and lower IQ groups for the men; the women, however, demonstrated higher need for lower functioning women on all domains. Lower IQ was associated with higher rates of admission to segregation and institutional charges. Analyses of the security incidents showed that while men with lower IQs were not more likely to be victims than those with higher IQ, for women, those with lower IQ were both more likely to be victims and instigators. The rate of program completions for lower IQ offenders is quite good at around 80%. Reflecting their higher risk and need ratings and more problematic institutional behaviour, men and women offenders with lower IQ spent more of their sentences incarcerated prior to release and were less likely be granted discretionary release. IQ was related to men's revocations even when age, risk and need levels, and substance abuse rating were considered. Revocation rates were low for all women, but the same pattern linking low IQ to revocations was found. Higher IQ was a protective factor for women; none of the women in the above average range returned to custody during the follow-up period. Men with lower IQs require assistance with educational and employment training and accessing community services to improve their reintegration potential while the lower functioning women require assistance with all aspects of their functioning. This is especially true for Aboriginal women whose rates of impairment were significantly higher than non-Aboriginal women. Content of CSC's correctional programs, and the pedagogical techniques applied, are consistent with what has been shown to be effective in special education programs. The targets of these programs, with their focus on self regulation skills, are appropriate to the needs of the offenders with lower IQ identified in this research.

Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2015. 64p.

Source: Internet Resource: 2015 No. R-367: Accessed April 5, 2018 at: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/scc-csc/PS83-3-367-eng.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: Canada

URL: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/scc-csc/PS83-3-367-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 149700

Keywords:
Cognitive Abilities
Correctional Programs
Disabilities
Female Offenders
Intellectual Disabilities
Prisoners