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The ability to identify factors predictive of recidivism among individuals who have offended is integral to properly targeting supervision and treatment focus. Instruments such as the Level of Service Inventory–Revised (LSI-R) show promise with general justice-involved females, but no study to our knowledge has assessed it with women who have sexually offended. The purpose of this study is to examine the utility of the LSI-R in a sample of 243 women from the State of Texas who have sexually offended. Results indicate that the total score was significantly related to criminal recidivism (Harrell's C =.67) and any recidivism (Harrell's C =.65). Analyses of the subscales indicated that criminal history and alcohol/drug subscales were significantly related to all forms of recidivism, while the education/employment and financial scales were significantly related to criminal recidivism and any recidivism. These results provide insight into risk assessment and treatment for women who have sexually offended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many instruments have been validated to assess risk of sexual recidivism among men, no similar tool exists for women who have sexually offended. As a result, some jurisdictions use male-based instruments to assess women despite the lack of validation research examining the predictive utility for this subgroup. This study examined the utility of the Static-99R in predicting sexual recidivism among women. Based on a sample of 739 women convicted of sexual offenses in Texas, findings show that the total score was not significantly associated with sexual recidivism. When looking at individual items, other than a history of prior sexual offenses and noncontact sexual offenses, no item of the Static-99R was significantly associated with sexual recidivism among women. Furthermore, only three items (female victims/solo offender, 4+ sentencing dates, and having not lived with a romantic other for 2+ years) were significantly associated with nonsexual recidivism. These findings indicate that the Static-99R is not suitable to assess risk of recidivism among women convicted of sexual offenses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As there are no validated risk assessment tools to predict recidivism for females who have sexually offended, the current study examines the utility of PCL-R to predict recidivism for this population. Psychopathy scores were collected from a sample of 244 women that received risk assessments before they were released from prison for a sexual offense. Results indicate that only one woman in the sample sexually recidivated during the follow-up time. However, 40% of the sample recidivated with any type of arrest, including general, violent, and breach offenses. Harrell's C and Cox Regression analyses found significant predictions for the PCL-R total score, factors, and items on overall recidivism and criminal recidivism for the sample, with most of the relationships small to moderate in effect. Additionally, some of the PCL-R items were significant predictors, offering more detailed information about connections to recidivism for this population. However, when control variables were added to multivariate prediction, age and number of total prior arrests negated many significant predictors for the PCL-R. The construct of psychopathy may be part of a risk assessment scheme when assessing risk of women who have sexually offended, especially in relation to items on the PCL-R. • The study's purpose was to examine the utility of the PCL-R in women convicted of a sexual offense. • Sample consisted of 244 women who were incarcerated in Texas for a sexual offense and being released from prison. • Results from Harrell's C found significant associations between PCL-R, age, prior arrests, and recidivism types. • After controlling for age and prior arrests, results from Cox regression showed PCL-R association was no longer significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the leadership styles of police chiefs and how these styles related to demographic, personality, and effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach – Participants included 161 police chiefs in Texas who completed the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ 5X-Short) leader form, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), and a background characteristics form. Findings – Results indicate that the police chiefs were fairly evenly classified across leadership styles with the Transformational leaders rated as most effective. Transformational leaders are characterized as confident, energetic, and open-minded. Although few of the demographic variables predicted leadership styles, several of the personality characteristics were significant predictors. Originality/value – Few previous studies have reported the relationship between police leadership style, personality, and effectiveness. This study adds to the body of knowledge regarding the relationship between these variables by specifically targeting police chiefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine whether gender differences exist in the rate, type, and general predictors of recidivism for nonviolent offenders. A total of 328 male and female Texas state jail offenders were matched on current offense, total number of arrests, age, and race. Contrary to previous findings, the results demonstrated no significant gender differences for recidivism rates, although significant gender differences were found for those who had reoffended with property and prostitution offenses. Similar to previous findings, age and total arrests were significant predictors for both male and female offenders. In the current sample, substance abuse was predictive for male offenders only. Although no gender differences were found across the recidivism predictors of static and criminogenic need, the protective factors of positive social support significantly predicted recidivism for female offenders and not male offenders. The current results add to the understanding of gender differences for the assessment, risk prediction, and treatment of offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reexamines the relationship between acculturation and illicit drug use among a sample of Mexican-American adolescents in South Texas (n=3,186). Logistic regression was used to test the relationship between marijuana and cocaine use and two acculturation scales while controlling for structural properties and social dynamics characterizing use environment. Findings suggest that acculturation correlates with increased use of both substances when operationalized by language but not when measurement is based in social interaction. Gang membership was found to be a more explanative indicator of drug use than acculturation, suggesting that Mexican-American drug use is better understood through utilization of models factoring delinquent peer effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study surveyed a random sample of Texas law enforcement officers (N = 109) about their training in detecting deception. Texas officers reported that their training entailed the equivalent of a 2-day, lecture-style workshop in the kinesic interview technique or Reid technique, two popular police training modules, with subsequent training more often the exception than the rule. The authors examine these results in light of previous social science research regarding officers' accuracy in detecting deception and make suggestions for future training programs for police officers in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]