Normative Data, Predictive Validity, and Factor Structure of a Fourth-Generation Risk Assessment Tool (ORAC-PCQ) in a Population of Adjudicated Individuals Serving Short Sentences in the Province of Québec (Canada)

This study examines the psychometric properties of the ORAC-PCQ, a fourth-generation actuarial tool designed to assess recidivism risk and criminogenic needs among individuals serving short sentences in Quebec. The instrument consists of three sections: Sociocriminological Profile (eight items), Cri...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Giguère, Guy (Autor) ; Brouillette-Alarie, Sébastien (Autor) ; Charette, Yanick (Autor) ; Arbour, William (Autor)
Tipo de documento: Electrónico Artículo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2026
En: Criminal justice and behavior
Año: 2026, Volumen: 53, Número: 2, Páginas: 159-180
Acceso en línea: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Verificar disponibilidad: HBZ Gateway
Palabras clave:
ORAC-PCQ
Construct Validity
Criminogenic needs
Risk Factors
risk-need responsivity
Recidivism
Predictive Validity
Gender
Risk assessment
Descripción
Sumario:This study examines the psychometric properties of the ORAC-PCQ, a fourth-generation actuarial tool designed to assess recidivism risk and criminogenic needs among individuals serving short sentences in Quebec. The instrument consists of three sections: Sociocriminological Profile (eight items), Criminogenic Needs (16 items), and Clinical Information (26 unscored items). Based on a sample of 14,320 individuals, we report normative data, optimal cutoff scores, and predictive validity across four subgroups defined by gender and Indigenous status. The ORAC-PCQ demonstrated satisfactory overall predictive accuracy (AUC = .75), with slightly higher values for non-Indigenous individuals and women. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a stable four-factor structure—Criminal Background, Substance Abuse, Interpersonal Conflicts, and Employment Problems—across all groups, supporting structural validity and measurement invariance. These findings provide initial evidence of both construct and predictive validity for a new risk assessment tool specifically tailored to short-sentence populations.
ISSN:1552-3594
DOI:10.1177/00938548251372071