High psychopathy among Maltese inmates, high rate of repeat offenders

Some 38% of Maltese prison inmates had high psychopathic traits, according to a new study that highlights the need for specialised rehabilitation programmes. The study, that looked into 123 sentenced Maltese inmates, warned that the high scores for such traits could also be due to cultural aspects.

These psychopathic traits had repercussions on the rates of non-compliance while in jail and recidivism, according to the study which showed that some 86% of Maltese prison inmates are repeat offenders.

The study, titled ‘High Psychopathic Traits and its Association with the Severity of Offending, Recidivism and Failure or Resistance to Treatment amongst Incarcerated Offenders in Malta’, was published in the Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice Systems.

Authors Rianne Psaila, Ravi Dave and Kevin Sammut Henwood aimed to assess, for the first time, the level of psychopathic traits among Maltese incarcerated offenders and estimate recidivism rates within this population. Foreign inmates were not included in the research.

What is psychopathy?

Psychopathy is characterised by traits such as callousness, grandiosity, remorselessness, superficial charm, deceitfulness, externalisation of blame, attachment difficulties and high anxiety.

However, the study cautions that cultural context may influence the expression and understanding of psychopathy, given how culture shapes values, behaviours and cognition.

Research has noted that Malta’s dense population and colonial history may have contributed to psychological and behavioural traits among its people.

One such concept, “amoral familism”, suggests that people often seek immediate gains for their family, which could mirror psychopathic tendencies – justified under the guise of familial benefit. Additionally, stigmatisation by the criminal justice system may also affect the development and perception of psychopathic traits in Malta.

The study randomly selected 123 files of Maltese offenders who were convicted and serving prison sentences between 2020 and 2022.

Psychopathy levels were measured using the PCL-R:SV, a screening tool for psychopathic characteristics. Risk factors such as recidivism, severity of offending, substance abuse, employment and education history, family relations, social detachment and negative attitudes towards the criminal justice system were assessed using the tool.

Out of the 123 inmate records reviewed, 93% were male, with 57% aged between 31 and 45. The most common offences were theft (44%), followed by drug offences (18%), economic crimes (11%) and sexual offences (10%).

Substance use was high, with 85% reporting usage – cocaine (79%) and heroin (63%) being the most common. A total of 39% were in a relationship, 33% had difficulty relating to their children, 41% had a positive relationship with their father, and 60% with their mother.

More than a third – 35% – came from a criminal family background, while 42% had a history of mental health issues, and 29% were currently receiving mental health services.

Repeat offenders and tailored programmes 

The data showed that the average psychopathy score on the PCL:SV was 14.61. In total, 47 inmates (38%) scored 18 or higher, meeting the threshold for a psychopathy diagnosis. Another 25% scored between 13 and 17, indicating moderately high traits. The remaining 37% had low scores.

The 38% of inmates who met the psychopathy threshold is significantly higher than the estimated 10-15% reported in US federal prisons, the study noted.

The researchers suggested that prison administration should embark on more specific programmes.

The sample represented a highly recidivist group, with 86% having prior convictions, and almost 80% having been incarcerated more than once.

These high reoffending rates could reflect historical inconsistencies in rehabilitation efforts. However, the authors stressed, the Corradino Services Agency recently attempted to address the rate of recidivism through the launch of correctional care-plans in February 2020 and the introduction of structured offender behavioural programmes during the same year.

The lack of investment in psychosocial and professional staff has also been addressed to the date of the submission of the study. In light of this, a review of these figures in future studies would determine whether the investment and the introduced programmes had the desired effect.

Further research into community-based samples could help clarify whether factors such as overpopulation, high density and familial dynamics contributed to psychopathic traits