Prevalence and profile of reactive and instrumental violent offenders

Previous research has distinguished two groups of violent offender subtypes: reactive violent offenders (RVOs) and instrumental violent offenders (IVOs); the former’s violence occurring in response to perceived provocation and the latter’s being primarily goal-directed (Cornell, 1996). This analysis examined the prevalence and the profiles of IVOs and RVOs within a sample of federally-incarcerated violent offenders.

Criminal histories of 401 violent male offenders were classified as IVO or RVO subtypes based on relevant criteria such as degree of planning or motivation of offence.^{Footnote 1} IVOs and RVOs were then compared on a number of offence and risk-related variables.

Overall, 62% of the sample was classified as predominately IVOs and 37% as RVOs. With regard to offence history, more RVOs were serving a current sentence for assault or a homicide-related offence, relative to IVOs, who were more likely to be serving a sentence for robbery- related offences. No group differences in previous violent adult or youth convictions were observed; however, RVOs were more likely to have previous domestic violent convictions (32% vs. 14%).

In addition, compared to IVOs, RVOs were more likely to have committed a homicide (13% vs 27%) or to have caused serious (10% vs. 16%) or severe injury (9% vs. 18%) to their victims; whereas, IVOs were more likely (35% vs. 8%) to have threatened a victim with a weapon. IVOs were significantly more likely to have committed their violent index offence against a stranger than RVOs (77% vs. 35%). RVOs victim’s were more likely to be an acquaintance (25% vs. 12%), a specific relationship (22% vs. 10%), or a romantic or familial relationship (10% vs. 1%).

Differences in dynamic risk-related needs were also observed by subtype. More RVOs than IVOs were assessed as having considerable needs within the personal/ emotional domain (89% vs. 77%) For example, RVOs were more likely to have difficulties solving interpersonal problems, being aggressive, and having a low frustration tolerance. IVOs were more likely to have issues with managing their time poorly and being thrill-seeking. Comparatively, IVOs, had considerable needs within the Criminal Associates domain than RVOs (49% vs. 35%). Notably, however, community functioning was an asset for more RVOs than IVOs (54% vs.39%). Finally, a subset of the current sample was assessed on the Violence Risk Scale (VRS; Wong & Gordon, 2006).^{Footnote 2}Although both groups were assessed as high risk (scores > 50) at both pre- and post-program, IVOs were assessed at a higher risk level than RVOs.

Despite challenges noted in the literature in distinguishing IV and RV offenders, differential patterns emerged between these subtypes based on type of violent offences, severity of violence, victim relationship, and risk and specific criminogenic needs. Future research could examine program and release related outcomes to understand the broader impact of these differences between subgroups.

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Prepared by: Dena Derkzen