Accuracy of Psychology Interns’ Clinical Predictions of Re-Incarceration of Delinquents

Abstract

This study involved the assessment of three psychology interns’ ability to predict re-incarceration based on the use of clinical judgement. Three psychology interns in an APA-accredited internship were given training on how to use clinical judgement in predicting future incarceration on the part of youth incarcerated in a juvenile correctional facility. After this training, the psychology interns were asked to select at least ten youth whom they believed would be incarcerated for criminal behavior perpetrated within two years post-release. The preliminary results indicated that the psychology interns were correct in their predictions. The recidivism of the youth that were predicted to re-offend were significantly higher than a control group of residents chosen at random throughout the institution as analyzed using a chi-square.

Key Words:

• Clinical prediction
• juvenile delinquents
• juvenile offenders
• recidivism