ABSTRACT
Psychopathic offenders present a particular challenge to professionals in correctional and health systems charged with their rehabilitation. They are widely accepted as both posing a substantial risk and being difficult to treat. The idea that they present a high risk is supported by most research studies. Psychopathy, at least as defined by the Hare Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL–R; Hare, 1991), appears to be a robust predictor of both general offending and violence (e.g., Hemphill, Hare, & Wong, 1998). The treatability of psychopaths has aroused more controversy. Opinions seem to veer between those who (at least at the time) believed they were being treated effectively (”Here psychopaths are treated with success.” from a Canadian government report on the Oak Ridge therapeutic community; Quinsey, Harris, Rice & Cormier, 1998) to those who believe they are untreatable (e.g., Treves-Brown, 1977; Vaillant, 1975).
