A Comparison Between Self-Report and Interview-Based Inventories in Offender Classification

Abstract

A paper-and-pencil measure of offender risk/needs was derived from the Level of Supervision Inventory (LSI), an interview-based classification instrument. This resulting Self-Report Inventory (SRI) was evaluated on 100 male inmates with respect to reliability, validity, and utility. A psychometric battery including the LSI was administered. The SRI demonstrated acceptable interrater reliability and internal consistency as well as modest validity. The results suggest that offender self-reports, in combination with more traditional risks/needs assessment, can be useful for offender prediction and the identification of needs.