The Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form as a predictor of federal parole/probation/supervised release outcome: A 3-year follow-up

• Published in: Legal and criminological psychology 1998-09, Vol.3 (2), p.173-181
• Main Authors: Walters, Glenn D., McDonough, John R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clients; Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form; Northeastern USA; Outcomes; Predictors; Probation departments; Supervision
• ISSN: 1355-3259; 2044-8333
• DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8333.1998.tb00357.x

Purpose. This study was conducted in an effort to predict the long‐term outcome of federal parole, probation and supervised release clients with the Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form (LCSF). Methods. A sample of 52 federal parolees/probationers/supervised releasees, the entire caseload of a US federal probation officer, were scored on the LCSF and followed up for three years. Outcome measures included revocation, all violations (revocation and technical) and adjustment (revocation, technical violations, drug use, employment). Results. Analyses revealed that the LCSF successfully predicted revocations, technical violations and poor adjustment independent of age, race or gender. A cutting score of 10 correctly classified 69.2 per cent of the sample in terms of good or poor adjustment, 75.0 per cent of the sample on revocations leading to incarceration, and 73.1 per cent of the sample with respect to all violations (technical and criminal). Conclusions. These findings lend further credence to the practical utility of the LCSF as a predictor of future adjustment difficulties in federal parolees, probationers and supervised releasees.