| It has become increasingly evident that the term “gang” does not fit every type of individual or organization. The concept of Security Threat Groups (STGs) was developed to better describe these other type of inmates (Curry etal, 1994). The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparison of psychopathy and violence among Security Threat Group and non-Security Threat Group members in a federal prison setting. The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised version and institution incident reports were compared in a random sample of Security Threat Group members with a matched sample of non-Security Threat Group members. The project consisted of an analysis of previously collected data, resulting in no direct inmate involvement. The sample for the research consisted of 250 pretrial, forensic studies conducted at the United States Penitentiary, Atlanta, Georgia, from 1990–2000. Standard t-tests and an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were preformed to statistically analyze the differences between PCL-R scores, STG affiliation, and institutional infractions (violent and nonviolent). Results indicated (1) that a member of a Security Threat Group is more likely to be a psychopath; (2) that there was a significant relationship between the numbers of violent and nonviolent infractions, the length of time served in prison setting, Security Threat Troup affiliation, and factor scores on the PCL-R; and (3) that the best predictors for distinguishing between members and non-members of STGs are number of violent infractions, length of sentence, months served, and 7 scales of the PCL-R (callous/lack of empathy, impulsivity, early behavioral problems, shallow affect, need for stimulation/proness to boredom, lack of remorse or guilt, and failure to accept responsibility for own actions). |
