In contrast to growing regard for the psychological construct of hope in medical and psychological arenas, hope has not yet found a permanent place in the field of criminology. Traditionally, treatment programs and risk assessment tools have focused on the deficits that criminal offenders possess. However, the orientation of our approach to corrections has recently shifted to embrace more strengths-based, offender-focused programming designed to rehabilitate offenders. The assessment for risk for recidivism has been slower to make this transition and use research supporting the use of more dynamic risk factors for reducing reoffending. This study investigates the nature of hope in offenders in relation to their risk for future criminal behaviour. The results indicate that hope is indeed related to the risk for reoffending. The information obtained through this research will inform researchers and clinicians about the nature of hope in a correctional population and its relation with risk for future criminal behaviour.
Andrews, D.A., Bonta, J., & Wormith, J.S. ( 1995). Level of Service Inventory-Ontario revision (LSI-OR): Interview and scoring guide. Toronto, CA: Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services.
2.
Babyak, M.A., Snyder, C.R., & Yoshinobu, L. ( 1993). Psychometric properties of the Hope Scale: A confirmatory factor analysis. Journal of Research in Personality, 27(2), 154-169.
3.
Beck, A., Brown, G., Berchick, R., Stewart, B., & Steer, R. ( 1990). Relationship between hopelessness and ultimate suicide: A replication with psychiatric outpatients. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147(2), 190-195.
4.
Biggam, F.H., & Power, K.G. ( 1999). Social problem-solving skills and psychological distress among incarcerated young offenders: The issue of bullying and victimization . Cognitive Therapy and Research, 23(3), 307-326.
5.
Bonta, J., Pang, B., & Wallace-Capretta, S. (1995). Predictors of recidivism among incarcerated female offenders. The Prison Journal, 75(3), 277-294.
6.
Brews, A., & Wormith, J.S. ( 2007). LSI-OR and female offenders: Addressing issues of predictive validity. Paper presented at the North American Correctional and Criminal Justice Psychology Conference, Ottawa, Canada.
7.
Cheavens, J., Michael, S.T., & Snyder, C.R. ( 2005). The correlates of hope: Psychological and physiological benefits. In J. A. Eliott (Ed.), Interdisciplinary perspectives on hope (pp. 119-132). New York: Nova Science.
8.
Curry, L.A., Snyder, C.R., Cook, D.L., Ruby, B.C., & Rehm, M. ( 1997). Role of hope in academic and sport achievement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(6), 1257-1267.
9.
D’Zurilla, T.J., & Maydeu-Olivares, A. (1995). Conceptual and methodological issues in social problem-solving assessment. Behavior Therapy , 26(3), 409-432.
10.
D’Zurilla, T.J., Nezu, A.M., & Maydeu-Olivares, A. (2002). Manual for the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R). Toronto, Ontario , Canada: Multi-Health Systems.
11.
Elliott, T.R., Witty, T.E., Herrick, S.M., & Hoffman, J.T. ( 1991). Negotiating reality after physical loss: Hope, depression, and disability. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 61(4), 608-613.
12.
Everson, S.A., Kaplan, G.A., Goldberg, D.E., Salonen, R., & Salonen, J.T. ( 1997). Hopelessness and 4-year progression of carotid atherosclerosis: The Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 17(8), 1490-1495.
13.
Gendreau, P., Little, T., & Goggin, C. ( 1996). A meta-analysis of the predictors of adult offender recidivism: What works!Criminology, 34(4), 575-608.
14.
Girard, L., & Wormith, J.S. ( 2004). The predictive validity of the Level of Service Inventory-Ontario Revision on general and violent recidivism among various offender groups. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 31(2), 150-181.
15.
Irving, L.M., Seidner, A.L., Burling, T.A., Pagliarini, R., & Robbins-Sisco, D. (1998). Hope and recovery from substance dependence in homeless veterans. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 17(4), 389-406.
16.
Langan, N.P., & Pelissier, B.M. (2001). The effect of drug treatment on inmate misconduct in federal prisons. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 34(2), 21-30.
17.
Lopez, S.J., Snyder, C.R., & Pedrotti, J.T. (2003). Hope: Many definitions, many measures. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
18.
Marshall, W.L. ( 2005). Therapist style in sexual offender treatment: Influence on indices of change. Sexual Abuse: Journal of Research and Treatment, 17(2), 109-116.
19.
Marshall, W.L., Anderson, D., & Champagne, F. ( 1997). Self-esteem and its relationship to sexual offending . Psychology, Crime and Law, 3(3), 161-186.
20.
Marshall, W.L., Anderson, D., & Fernandez, Y.M. (1999). Cognitive behavioural treatment of sexual offenders. Chichester, UK: Wiley.
21.
Marshall, W.L., Champagne, F., Brown, C., & Miller, S. ( 1997). Empathy, intimacy, loneliness, and self-esteem in nonfamilial child molesters: A brief report. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse , 6(3), 87-98.
22.
Marx, E.M., Williams, J.M.G., & Claridge, G.C. (1992). Depression and social problem solving. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101(1), 78-86.
23.
Maydeu-Olivares, A., & D’Zurilla, T.J. (1996). A factor-analytic study of the social problem-solving inventory: An integration of theory and data . Cognitive Therapy and Research, 20(2), 115-133.
24.
Motiuk, L., Boe, R., & Nafekh, M. ( 2003). The safe return of offenders to the community: Statistical overview. Ottawa, Canada: Research Branch Policy, Planning and Coordination, CSC.
25.
Moulden, H.M., & Marshall, W.L. (2005). Hope in the treatment of sexual offenders: The potential application of hope theory. Psychology, Crime and Law, 11(3), 329-342.
26.
Peters, R.H., Strozier, A.L., Murrin, M.R., & Kearns, W.D. ( 1997). Treatment of substance-abusing jail inmates: Examination of gender differences. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment , 14(4), 339-349.
27.
Platt, N.J., & Spivack, G. ( 1975). Manual for the Means End Problem Solving Procedure (MEPS): A measure of interpersonal cognitive problem solving skill. Unpublished manuscript.
28.
Reilley, S.P., Geers, A.L., Lindsay, D.L., Deronde, L., & Dember, W.N. ( 2005). Convergence and predictive validity in measures of optimism and pessimism: Sequential studies. Current Psychology, 24(1), 43-59.
29.
Sadowski, C., Moore, L.A., & Kelley, M.L. ( 1994). Psychometric properties of the social problem solving inventory (SPSI) with normal and emotionally disturbed adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 22(4), 487-500.
30.
Scheier, M.F., & Carver, C.S. ( 1985). Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies. Health Psychology, 4(3), 219-247.
31.
Snyder, C. R. (Ed.). (2000). Handbook of hope: Theory, measures, and applications. London: Academic Press.
32.
Snyder, C.R., Feldman, D.B., Taylor, J.D., Schroeder, L.L., & Adams, V.H. ( 2000). The roles of hopeful thinking in preventing problems and enhancing strengths. Applied & Preventive Psychology , 9(4), 249-269.
33.
Snyder, C.R., Harris, C., Anderson, J.R., Holleran, S.A., Irving, L.M., Sigmon, S.T., et al. (1991). The will and the ways: Development and validation of an individual-differences measure of hope. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60(4), 570-585.
34.
Snyder, C.R., Ilardi, S.S., Cheavens, J., Michael, S.T., Yamhure, L., & Sympson, S.C. ( 2000). The role of hope in cognitive-behavior therapies. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 24(6), 747-762.
35.
Spivack, G., Platt, J.J., & Shure, M.B. ( 1976). The problem-solving approach to adjustment. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
36.
Tabachnick, B.G., & Fidell, L.S. ( 1983). Using multivariate statistics. New York: Harper & Row.
37.
Ward, T. ( 2002). The management of risk and the design of good lives. Australian Psychologist, 37(3), 172-179.
