Predictive Validity of the Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ)

The Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ) is a self-report instrument for predicting violent and nonviolent release failure of adult male offenders. It is a quantitative risk/need instrument, consisting of 67 items, comprising six subscales. One hundred fifty-three federally sentenced Canadian male offenders who had completed the SAQ while incarcerated were followed for 24 months after their release to the community. Predictive criterion variables were committing parole violations, recidivating, committing new violent acts, and committing any failure on release. Results indicate that the SAQ has adequate predictive validity.