Citation

Hare RD, Olver ME, Stockdale KC, Neumann CS, Mokros A, Baskin-Sommers A, Brand E, Folino J, Gacono C, Gray NS, Kiehl K, Knight R, Leon-Mayer E, Logan M, Meloy JR, Roy S, Salekin RT, Snowden RJ, Thomson N, Tillem S, Vitacco M, Yoon D. Psychol. Public Policy Law 2020; 26(4): 519-522.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, University of Arizona College of Law and the University of Miami School of Law, Publisher American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/law0000290

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

DeMatteo et al. (2020b) published a Statement in this journal declaring that the Psychopathy Checklist--Revised (PCL-R) "cannot and should not [emphasis added]" (p. 134) be used in U.S. capital-sentencing cases to assess risk for serious institutional violence. Their stated concerns were the "imperfect interrater reliability" (p. 137), the "variability in their predictive validity" (p. 137), and the prejudicial effects of PCL-R ratings on the defendant. In a Cautionary Note, we (Olver et al., 2020) raised questions about the Statement's evaluation of the PCL-R's psychometric properties; presented new data, including a meta-analysis; and argued that the evidence did not support the Statement's declaration that the PCL-R cannot be used in high-stakes contexts. In their reply, titled "Death is Different," DeMatteo et al. (2020a) concurred with several points in our Cautionary Note, disputed others, asserted that we had misunderstood or mischaracterized their Statement, and dismissed our new data and comments as irrelevant to the Statement's purpose. This perspective on our commentary is inimical to balanced academic discourse. In this article, we contend that DeMatteo et al. (2020a) underestimated the reliability and predictive validity of PCL-R ratings, overestimated the centrality of the PCL-R in sentencing decisions, and underplayed the importance of other factors. Most of their arguments depended on sources other than capital cases, including mock trials, sexually violent predator hearings, and studies that included the prediction of general violence. We conclude that the rationale for the bold "cannot and should not" decree is open to debate and in need of research in real-life venues. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

Language: en

Keywords

Adjudication; Capital Punishment; Predictive Validity; Psychopathy; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Test Reliability; Violence