Introducing Policing to the Psychopath

Introducing Policing to the Psychopath
(An excerpt from an unpublished paper)

By

Robert D. Hare Ph.D
Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia

SSA Mary Ellen O’ Toole Ph.D
FBI Behavioral Science Unit, Quantico, Virginia

Sgt. Matt Logan Ph.D
RCMP Behavioral Science Unit, Vancouver, BC

Psychopathy
Psychopaths are characterized by shallow emotions, impulsiveness, irresponsibility, egocentricity, and a lack of empathy or guilt. Dr. Robert Hare, world authority in the study of psychopaths, characterizes them as "intraspecies predators who use charm, manipulation, intimidation, and violence to control others and to satisfy their own selfish needs." He adds, "lacking in conscience and in feelings for others, psychopaths cold-bloodedly take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret."

 1% of Society
 25% of Prison Population
 25% of Pedophiles
 40% of Rapists
 50+% of Violent Crime Perpetrators
 50% of Cop Killers
 90% of Serial Killers

Psychopaths simply do not experience emotions in the same way that we do. They don't experience empathy or love in the way that we do. Because of this they are more likely to stick a knife in someone to get what they want because they just don't care about the other person.

Is it worth really paying attention to them? Absolutely. There may only be small number of psychopaths in the population but the damage they inflict on society is widespread. It is estimated that this 20-25% of the prison population are responsible for more than half of the violent crime in our society. It is imperative that we in law enforcement understand this particular disorder and focus our attention on this group of people.

In the kind of work the authors are involved in perhaps most of the offenders are psychopaths. The importance of people in law enforcement, whether it be in corrections, or in a police agency, to be able to understand these people is really critical. Now perhaps a patrol officer won't encounter a psychopath every day but when they do it may be the link in that one crucial case or in that one very violent crime. If they miss it, the crime can go unsolved and the victim can go for a long period of time without being found.

Detecting the potential psychopath may also be paramount in officer safety. A 1992 FBI Report on cop killers was indeed noteworthy and chilling, particularly for law enforcement officers. The killers' characteristics referred to as antisocial personality in the FBI report were as follows: Sense of entitlement, unremorseful, apathetic to others, unconscionable, blameful of others, manipulative and conning, affectively cold, disparate understanding of behavior and socially acceptable behavior, disregardful of social obligations, nonconforming to social norms, irresponsible. These killers were not simply persistently antisocial individuals who met DSM-IV criteria for ASPD; they were psychopaths- remorseless predators who use charm, intimidation and, if necessary, impulsive and cold-blooded violence to attain their ends.

Many of the characteristics important for inhibiting antisocial and violent behavior –empathy, close emotional bonds, fear of punishment, guilt– are lacking or seriously deficient in psychopaths. Moreover, their egocentricity, grandiosity, sense of entitlement, impulsivity, general lack of behavioral inhibitions, and need for power and control, constitute what might be described as the perfect prescription for asocial, antisocial, and criminal acts. This would help to explain why psychopaths make up only about 1% of the general population but as much as a quarter of our prison populations. It also would explain why they find it so easy to victimize the vulnerable and to use intimidation and violence as tools to achieve power and control over others.

Hare ‘et al’ (2000) in a study conducted within Her Majesty’s Prison Service (England), followed the re-conviction rate of 268 released inmates over two years and found that psychopaths were re-convicted for General Offenses at twice (2X) the rate of non-psychopaths. The most startling finding was that they are also re-convicted at nine times (9X) the rate for Violent Offenses.

The violence of psychopaths is more gratuitous and sadistic than that of other offenders. It is also more instrumental than impulsive, a fact that further reveals the callous and predatory nature of the violence. These factors are significant for crime scene investigators.

Many of the attitudes and behaviors of psychopaths have a predatory quality about them. Psychopaths apparently see others as little more than emotional, physical, and financial prey, and feel justified in their belief that the world is made up of “givers and takers” and that they are “natural born takers.” They are skilled at camouflage (deception, manipulation), stalking, and locating life’s “feeding grounds” and “watering holes.” The reactions of psychopaths to the damage they have inflicted are more likely to be cool indifference, a sense of power, pleasure, or smug satisfaction than regret or concern for what they have done. The ease with which psychopaths engage in violence has very real significance for society in general and for law enforcement personnel in particular.

Understanding the mind of the psychopath and the personality and behavioural traits associated allows us to predict strategies that are more likely to work as we investigate and communicate with the psychopath. Although psychopathy should be diagnosed by a mental health professional with specialized training, the traits specified in the PCL-R can be detected by others. We are presently working on an “I-Scan” to be used by police investigators to detect psychopathy. This will be computer-based and a suspect or target can be scored using a simple rating scheme. An immediate feedback document will be returned to the investigator with recommendations for communication, interviewing strategies, negotiation strategies, and undercover project strategies.

Focus on the High Risk Psychopathic Offender

Placing a focus on the estimated 30% of High Risk Offenders who are at an even more elevated risk allows us to proactively provide safer homes and communities. This can be accomplished through Partnerships, Assessment, Selection, Training, and Enforcement (PASTE).

Partnerships

•Corrections
- Providing file info on offenders
- Psych Diagnosis of Psychopathy and other Actuarial Risk Assessments

•Police
- Integrated Sexual Predator Observation Teams (ISPOT)
- Report to Crown (RTC) indicating psychopathy diagnosis and crime cycle info

•Crown Counsel (Prosecutors)
- Emphasis on psychopathy and crime cycle in sentencing and breaches

•Judges
- Decisions on sentencing and conditions with consideration of this information provided


Assessment

A five - point scale can be utilized based on factors that research has shown as highly predictive of violent recidivism: Psychopathy, Deviant Arousal, Impulse Control, Previous Violence & Sadistic Elements, Target Environment, and use of Other Actuarial Measures.

Selection

The assessment phase is to prioritize the list and determine which targets are the most dangerous to the public and most likely to re-offend.


Training


In order to solidify the partnership between Corrections and Policing, training is being offered to all stakeholders. Training is being offered in the following areas: Paraphilia, Deviant Fantasy, Behavioural Progression (Crime Cycle), and Predators.


Enforcement

1. To reduce sexual violence and sexual exploitation by focusing on those offenders deemed to be a high risk for sexual re-offending.
2. To work with our Correctional Partners in monitoring these offenders, paying close attention to observations or information indicating movement into a crime cycle.
3. To conduct short-term surveillance on these high-risk offenders living in the community under court imposed conditions and to ascertain the level of non-compliance with those conditions.
4. To conduct enforcement with respect to any breaches or any observed criminal acts.
5. To arrest and take before the court those high-risk sexual predators who are observed to be in their crime cycle and are breaching their orders.
6. To specifically request further incarceration with treatment or that their conditions be amended to ensure tighter supervision.


Behavioural Science Units within the FBI and RCMP can be reached for clarification and for assistance with crime scene analysis, crime cycle analysis, indirect personality assessment, and direct personality assessment.