According to a study done in Canada in 1998 and other evidence, psychopaths are much more likely to recidivate compared to non-psychopaths. This study divided 231 released prisoners into three groups (low, medium, and high psychopathy) based on their score on the Hare Checklist and followed them for three years. The results are shown in the figure below:

Tulane University

Research shows that crime is extremely common among psychopaths. In fact, psychopathy is the variable most highly correlated to being in prison. For instance, 16% of adult males currently in prison, jail, parole, or probation are psychopaths. Additionally, about 1,150,000 adult males in the United States meet the criteria for psychopathy and 93% of them are in prison, jail, parole, or probation.

The above data is as of 2011.

Crime and Psychopathy

Kiehl, K. A., & Hoffman, M. B. (2011). THE CRIMINAL PSYCHOPATH: HISTORY, NEUROSCIENCE, TREATMENT, AND ECONOMICS. Jurimetrics, 51, 355–397.

Relationship between crime and psychopathy

Research shows that psychopaths are more likely to be released early from prison compared to non-psychopathic inmates. A scholar suggests that this might be due to psychopaths' ability to manipulate and deceive prison officials.

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