Five-Factor Personality Profiles of Violent and Non-Violent Offenders in a South Indian Prison Setting

Background: Violent crime presents a significant global public health challenge, underscoring the importance of understanding associated personality traits to improve risk assessment, prevention strategies, and rehabilitation efforts for prisoners. Objective: To explore personality profiles in the South Indian prison population, aiding in the development of culturally sensitive risk assessment tools to understand personality traits linked with criminal behaviour. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 60 convicted prisoners at Central Prison, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, from January to March 2025. Data were collected using a semi-structured proforma and the NEO-FFI-3 personality inventory. Results: An analysis of 60 inmates revealed a psychological profile of extremely low agreeableness (83.3%) and conscientiousness (91.7%), with high neuroticism. This was pronounced among the 53 violent offenders, yet paradoxically, 92.5% had no prior incarcerations. These offenders typically came from a low socioeconomic background (54.7%) and were unskilled (49.1%). A stark educational contrast existed: 34% of violent offenders held a university degree, an achievement absent in the non-violent group, 57.1% of whom were skilled workers with zero unemployment. Conclusion: The study identifies key sociodemographic patterns, offence profiles, and personality traits among convicted prisoners in South India, guiding tailored rehabilitation and minimize recidivism.