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Computer Profiles Guide Sex-Offender Therapy

NCJ Number
114745
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 50 Issue: 7 Dated: (December 1988) Pages: 150-159
Author(s)
D Szymanowski; G R McKee
Date Published
1988
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The Comprehensive Sex Offender Treatment and Research Program of the South Carolina Department of Corrections computerizes pretreatment evaluations to be individualized, timely, and specific regarding the inmate's type and degree of pathology, amenability for treatment, and recommendations for treatment strategies.
Abstract
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and the Multiphasic Sex Inventory compose the psychological test battery, because they assess general psychological functioning in addition to sexual attitudes, knowledge, history, and denial/defensiveness. A computerized system was developed to provide for a comprehensive, individualized, and integrated, yet rapid, interpretation of each client's test results. The Computer-Assisted Profile System blends the interpretive skill of a clinician with the data retrieval capacities of a computer. The computer's data base is a list of 522 interpretive statements. Once the client's tests have been scored, the psychologist chooses those numbered sentences that best describe that client's responses. The list of numbers corresponding to the statements is then entered into the computer and a report is produced. Therapists report that the evaluations are helpful in understanding the client's dynamics and are useful in assigning a client to additional treatment groups. 6 references.