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Psychological Assessments from NCS Offer Assistance to Corrections Administrators

Study Confirms Prison's New Role as Mental Hospital

September 27, 1999, MINNEAPOLIS—The number of emotionally disturbed people in the nation's jails and prisons is rapidly growing, according to a study conducted by the U.S. Justice Department. There are currently 283,800 inmates with severe mental illness, which is equivalent to 16 percent of the total jail population.

Furthermore, emotionally disturbed inmates tend to be homeless prior to incarceration and after incarceration they are turned back to the streets. Many are arrested again for crimes that may stem from their illness. The majority have experienced physical and sexual abuse during childhood, are more likely to have been convicted of a violent crime, and spend an average of 15 months longer behind bars than other prisoners.

Through the use of time-tested psychological assessments that focus directly on the unique needs of the corrections and criminal justice systems, NCS can offer targeted psychological profiles of inmates that may help reduce some of the strain placed on these systems.

• MCMI-III™ (Millon™ Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III) Corrections Report test—An incisive assessment of inmate personalities that can lead to faster, more cost-effective decision-making by providing an in-depth understanding of prisoners' character disorders. The interpretive report has a one-page summary that helps address corrections-specific issues, and has been normed on a corrections population.



• GAMA^® (General Ability Measure for Adults)—This brief, nonverbal intelligence test helps measure an individual's general intellectual ability. This 25-minute self-or group-administered test is especially useful with non-English speaking and mentally retarded inmates.



• MMPI-2™ (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2™) Criminal Justice and Correctional Report—Available in late 1999, this new report for the MMPI-2 test features the Megargee System for Classifying Criminal Offenders. Developed from research of corrections populations, the report includes ratings on nine relevant behavioral dimensions and nine possible problem areas.