Investigating the criminal thinking styles of mentally disordered offenders within the UK

Journal article

Spruin, E., Dunleavy, T., Mitchell, C. and Siesmaa, B. 2022. Investigating the criminal thinking styles of mentally disordered offenders within the UK. Journal of Forensic Practice. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-03-2022-0014
AuthorsSpruin, E., Dunleavy, T., Mitchell, C. and Siesmaa, B.
Abstract

Purpose
This study aims to evaluate the utility and reliability of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) to investigate the criminal cognitions of mentally disordered offenders (MDOs) from the UK.

Design/methodology/approach
The reliability and validity of the PICTS scales were investigated within an MDO sample from the UK (N = 45) and compared to PICTS data from the USA and general offenders in the UK.

Findings
The findings showed that the PICTS functioned in a similar way when used in MDO and non-MDO populations, indicating that from a psychometric perspective, the PICTS scales produce consistent results across both populations. Evidence is further provided to indicate that MDOs from the UK endorse criminal cognitions at a similar level to those in the USA and at a significantly higher level than general UK offenders.

Practical implications
The implications and insight that these findings provide into the criminal cognitions of MDOs are discussed, with specific focus on the significant difference between general offenders and offenders with serious mental illness.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to use the PICTS with MDOs in the UK, comparing the criminal thinking styles of MDOs and non-MDOs.

KeywordsCriminology; Mental disorders; Criminals; Offenders; UK; United Kingdom; Crime; Mental health
Year2022
JournalJournal of Forensic Practice
PublisherEmerald
ISSN2050-8794
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-03-2022-0014
Official URLhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JFP-03-2022-0014/full/html
Publication dates
Online28 Jul 2022
Publication process dates
Accepted13 May 2022
Deposited18 May 2022
Accepted author manuscript
License
Output statusIn press
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