UQ to develop state-of-the-art psychological testing for prison system

The University of Queensland will today sign a major agreement with the New South Wales Department of Corrective Services to develop an automated system for psychologically testing inmates.

The system, to be developed by UQ's Key Centre for Human Factors and Applied Cognitive Psychology over the next 12 months, is likely to be used in all NSW prisons and potentially in other states.

NSW Commissioner for Corrective Services Dr Leo Keliher will sign the $20,000 agreement with UQ's Director of the Office of Research and Postgraduate Studies Jan Massey at 9.30am on Friday, June 29, 2001.

Key centre Director Professor Michael Humphreys said postdoctoral fellow Dr Peter Kwantes would develop the state-of-the-art system.

Professor Humphreys said the likely advantages of the new system, to be used for a range of assessments including suitability for parole, was that it was fast, accurate and removed the transcription and deliberate errors common to traditional person-to-person testing methods.

"It involves an inmate sitting down at a computer and using a mouse to tick answers on a screen," he said.

"Dr Kwantes developed an early version of the system for Canadian Corrections."

Ms Massey said the agreement was believed to be the first of its kind in Australia.

Media: The signing ceremony will be held at the offices of the Key Centre for Human Facts and Applied Cognitive Psychology, ground floor, Psychology Building, UQ St Lucia campus. For more information, contact Professor Michael Humphreys (telephone 07 3365 6670), UQ Manager Commercialisation Dr John Glaister (telephone 07 3365 6015 or mobile 0419 185 358) or Jan King at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 1120 or mobile 0413 601 248).