Psychological variables which predicted physical violence recidivism at adult prisoners

The aim of this study was to compare the psychosocial variables between the first-time prisoners of physical violence (wounding and/or killing) and those who reconvicted and to determine the variables that predicted the reconviction of physical violence. The Demographic Information Form, which was created by Andrews and Bonta (2010) to cover the criminogenic requirements of the Risk - Needs - Sensitivity Model, and the Turkish version of Measurement of Criminal Attitudes and Associates, UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale, Criminal Thinking Scale, Upon-Release Future Expectations Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Data were collected from 529 adult male convicts in closed and open prisons in Ankara, Zonguldak, Eskişehir and Kırşehir. Individuals who were first imprisoned for the crime of physical violence had significantly less experience of violence before the age of 18, alcohol use and crime in the family, alcohol and substance abuse before the penal institution, disciplinary punishment, number of friends who had committed criminal behavior, antisocial intent, power orientation, excitement seeking, urgency, perceived social support from family and friends. When the variables predicting recurrent crime behavior were examined, it was found that the age of the first time criminal behavior and the total number of violent crimes to date were statistically significant predictors. In addition, according to the mediator model analysis, the power orientation has a significant mediating effect between seeking excitement and reconviction for physical violence. Looking at the regression analysis of the future expectations after release: perceived danger of release predicted concerns about future; perceived social support from family and power orientation predicted coping trust; future anxiety, attitudes towards people who commit criminal behavior, rationalizing the crime, seeking excitement and the number of disciplinary penalties predicted the perceived danger after release. Considering the limitations of the study, it is thought that the findings will contribute to preventive improvement studies and policies.