Kelly E. Morton-Bourgon

Bio: Kelly E. Morton-Bourgon is an academic researcher from Canadian Department of Justice. The author has contributed to research in topics: Recidivism & Sex offense. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 4 publications receiving 2409 citations.

The Characteristics of Persistent Sexual Offenders: A Meta-Analysis of Recidivism Studies.

Abstract: A meta-analysis of 82 recidivism studies (1,620 findings from 29,450 sexual offenders) identified deviant sexual preferences and antisocial orientation as the major predictors of sexual recidivism for both adult and adolescent sexual offenders. Antisocial orientation was the major predictor of violent recidivism and general (any) recidivism. The review also identified some dynamic risk factors that have the potential of being useful treatment targets (e.g., sexual preoccupations, general self-regulation problems). Many of the variables commonly addressed in sex offender treatment programs (e.g., psychological distress, denial of sex crime, victim empathy, stated motivation for treatment) had little or no relationship with sexual or violent recidivism.

The accuracy of recidivism risk assessments for sexual offenders: a meta-analysis of 118 prediction studies.

Abstract: This review compared the accuracy of various approaches to the prediction of recidivism among sexual offenders. On the basis of a meta-analysis of 536 findings drawn from 118 distinct samples (45,398 sexual offenders, 16 countries), empirically derived actuarial measures were more accurate than unstructured professional judgment for all outcomes (sexual, violent, or any recidivism). The accuracy of structured professional judgment was intermediate between the accuracy found for the actuarial measures and for unstructured professional judgment. The effect sizes for the actuarial measures were moderate to large by conventional standards (average d values of 0.67-0.97); however, the utility of the actuarial measures will vary according to the referral question and samples assessed. Further research should identify the psychologically meaningfully factors that contribute to risk for reoffending. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved).

Predyktory recydywy przestępstw seksualnych: uaktualniona metaanaliza

Abstract: Przedmiotem niniejszej analizy ilościowej są wyniki badan empirycznych, poświeconych czynnikom zwiekszającym ryzyko recydywy wśrod przestepcow seksualnych. Dokonano przeglądu 95 roznych badan, w ktorych uczestniczylo ponad 31 tys. Przestepcow seksualnych, analizując niemal 2000 prognoz recydywy. Wyniki analizy potwierdzily, ze dewiacyjne zainteresowania seksualne i orientacja antyspoleczna są istotnymi predyktorami recydywy przestepstw seksualnych. Orientacja antyspoleczna (np. niestabilny styl zycia, historia lamania regul) okazala sie rowniez szczegolnie waznym predyktorem recydywy przestepstw nieseksualnych z uzyciem przemocy oraz recydywy ogolnej. Badanie ujawnilo takze kilka nowych zmiennych prognostycznych, przy czym niektore z tych odkryc mogą sie okazac uzyteczne z punktu widzenia dzialan interwencyjnych (np. obsesje seksualne, konflikty w związkach intymnych, identyfikacja emocjonalna z dziecmi, wrogośc). W porownaniu ze swobodną oceną kliniczną, aktuarialne (matematyczne) narzedzia oceny ryzyka charakteryzowaly sie wiekszą trafnością w przewidywaniu recydywy przestepstw seksualnych, recydywy przestepstw nieseksualnych z uzyciem przemocy oraz recydywy ogolnej. Jeśli chodzi o prognozowanie recydywy przestepstw seksualnych, nie zaobserwowano roznic w trafności prognostycznej rozmaitych miar aktuarialnych (np. SORAG, Static-99). Miary aktuarialne sluzące do prognozowania recydywy ogolnej (czyli recydywy wszystkich rodzajow przestepstw) okazaly sie silnymi predyktorami recydywy wśrod sprawcow przestepstw seksualnych.

Rehabilitating criminal justice policy and practice.

Abstract: For over 30 years, criminal justice policy has been dominated by a “get tough” approach to offenders. Increasing punitive measures have failed to reduce criminal recidivism and instead have led to a rapidly growing correctional system that has strained government budgets. The inability of reliance on official punishment to deter crime is understandable within the context of the psychology of human conduct. However, this knowledge was largely ignored in the quest for harsher punishment. A better option for dealing with crime is to place greater effort on the rehabilitation of offenders. In particular, programs that adhere to the Risk-NeedResponsivity (RNR) model have been shown to reduce offender recidivism by up to 35%. The model describes: a) who should receive services (moderate and higher risk cases), b) the appropriate targets for rehabilitation services (criminogenic needs), and c) the powerful influence strategies for reducing criminal behavior (cognitive social learning). Although the RNR model is well known in the correctional field it is less well known, but equally relevant, for forensic, clinical, and counseling psychology. The paper summarizes the empirical base to RNR along with implications for research, policy, and practice.

The accuracy of recidivism risk assessments for sexual offenders: a meta-analysis of 118 prediction studies.

Abstract: This review compared the accuracy of various approaches to the prediction of recidivism among sexual offenders. On the basis of a meta-analysis of 536 findings drawn from 118 distinct samples (45,398 sexual offenders, 16 countries), empirically derived actuarial measures were more accurate than unstructured professional judgment for all outcomes (sexual, violent, or any recidivism). The accuracy of structured professional judgment was intermediate between the accuracy found for the actuarial measures and for unstructured professional judgment. The effect sizes for the actuarial measures were moderate to large by conventional standards (average d values of 0.67-0.97); however, the utility of the actuarial measures will vary according to the referral question and samples assessed. Further research should identify the psychologically meaningfully factors that contribute to risk for reoffending. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved).

Assessing Risk for Sexual Recidivism: Some Proposals on the Nature of Psychologically Meaningful Risk Factors:

Abstract: Risk assessment and treatment for sexual offenders should focus on individual characteristics associated with recidivism risk. Although it is possible to conduct risk assessments based purely on empirical correlates, the most useful evaluations also explain the source of the risk. In this review, the authors propose that the basic requirements for a psychologically meaningful risk factor are (a) a plausible rationale that the factor is a cause of sexual offending and (b) strong evidence that it predicts sexual recidivism. Based on the second of these criteria, the authors categorize potential risk factors according to the strength of the evidence for their relationship with offending. The most strongly supported variables should be emphasized in both assessment and treatment of sexual offenders. Further research is required, however, to establish causal connections between these variables and recidivism and to examine the extent to which changes in these factors leads to reductions in recidivism potential.

Deficient Fear Conditioning in Psychopathy A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Abstract: Context Psychopaths belong to a larger group of persons with antisocial personality disorder and are characterized by an inability to have emotional involvement and by the repeated violation of the rights of others. It was hypothesized that this behavior might be the consequence of deficient fear conditioning. Objective To study the cerebral, peripheral, and subjective correlates of fear conditioning in criminal psychopaths and healthy control subjects. Design An aversive differential pavlovian delay conditioning paradigm with slides of neutral faces serving as conditioned and painful pressure as unconditioned stimuli. Setting The Department of Medical Psychology at the University of Tubingen, Tubingen, Germany. Participants Ten male psychopaths as defined by the Hare Psychopathy Checklist–Revised and 10 age- and education-matched healthy male controls. The psychopaths were criminal offenders on bail and waiting for their trial or were on parole. The healthy controls were recruited from the community. Main Outcome Measures Brain activation based on functional magnetic resonance imaging, electrodermal responses, emotional valence, arousal, and contingency ratings. Results The healthy controls showed enhanced differential activation in the limbic-prefrontal circuit (amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, insula, and anterior cingulate) during the acquisition of fear and successful verbal and autonomic conditioning. The psychopaths displayed no significant activity in this circuit and failed to show conditioned skin conductance and emotional valence ratings, although contingency and arousal ratings were normal. Conclusion This dissociation of emotional and cognitive processing may be the neural basis of the lack of anticipation of aversive events in criminal psychopaths.