The Classification of Federally Sentenced Women in Canada: Addition of Gender-Informed Variables to the Custody Rating Scale Contributes Incremental Predictive Validity

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) uses the Custody Rating Scale (CRS) for initial security classification; it is gender-neutral. Gender-informed scholars contend that gender-neutral assessments are problematic for use with justice-impacted women, as they exclude factors (e.g., victimization)...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Bedard, Theresia E. M. (Author) ; Blanchette, Kelley (Author) ; Brown, Shelley L. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2023
In: Criminal justice and behavior
Year: 2023, Volume: 50, Issue: 12, Pages: 1759-1782
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
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Keywords:
Corrections
Custody Rating Scale
justice-impacted women
Classification
gender-informed
Description
Summary:The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) uses the Custody Rating Scale (CRS) for initial security classification; it is gender-neutral. Gender-informed scholars contend that gender-neutral assessments are problematic for use with justice-impacted women, as they exclude factors (e.g., victimization) deemed more relevant for women. Using an archival database with 1,555 federally sentenced women in Canada, we examined the extent that gender-informed indicators could yield incremental predictive validity (predicting institutional misconduct) beyond the CRS. Specifically, gender-informed variables from these domains were tested: mental health, substance misuse, relationship dysfunction, personal/emotional difficulties, parental/family issues, and victimization. Results revealed at least one gender-informed variable from each domain significantly predicted institutional misconducts. Composite gender-informed scales were created from the set of significant gender-informed predictors. Area under the curve (AUC) and hierarchical Cox regression analyses revealed the composite gender-informed scales contributed incremental predictive validity above and beyond the CRS. Although the CRS was predictive, it can be improved by including gender-informed variables.
ISSN:1552-3594
DOI:10.1177/00938548231202799