Gender Differences in Predictors of Prison Violence: Assessing the Predictive Validity of a Risk Classification System

Can the same risk classification instrument be used for both female and male prisoners? The authors answer this question using data for federal prisoners by comparing female and male prison violence rates and by comparing the predictive validity of a risk classification instrument used to predict female and male violence. The authors find women commit less violence and less serious violence than men. However, despite these gender differences, they find the same classification instrument predicts violent behavior equally well for women and men. Taken together, these results lead the authors to argue for correctional policies requiring separate classification systems for women and men.