A preliminary evaluation of the adaptation of four assessments for offenders with special needs

Abstract

Background Appropriate assessment is an essential part of treating sexual offenders. Few assessments exist that can be used with offenders who have lower levels of intellectual functioning and/or literacy deficits.

Method This study describes the adaptation of four self‐report assessments for sexual offenders with special needs: (i) the Social Intimacy Scale (SIS: Miller & Lefcourt, 1982); (ii) the Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ: Griffin & Bartholomew, 1994a); (iii) the Criminal Sentiments Scale (CSS: Gendreau, Grant, Leipciger, & Collins, 1979); and (iv) the Victim Empathy Distortion Scale (QVES: Beckett & Fisher, 1994). Each scale was adapted in an effort to simplify content and language and to improve readability. Preliminary data are presented on the comparability of each adapted measure to the original, as well as the internal consistency, reliability, and concurrent validity of the adapted tests.

Results The SIS and the QVES were identified as appropriate assessment measures, comparable to the original with good reliability and validity. One subscale of the RSQ had fair reliability and validity, while the remaining subscales had varied psychometric properties. The adapted CSS had poor psychometric qualities and the adaptation of this test appears not to have been successful.

Conclusions The relevance of these findings to our understanding of offending by this population is discussed.

Keywords:

• Assessment
• offenders
• special needs
• sexual offending