Using the KBIT-2 in the Prison System

While the KBIT-2 assessment is most commonly used to determine the intellectual capabilities of both gifted and at-risk students in schools, the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test-2 has many other applications. One applications you might find surprising is the use of the KBIT test within the prison system.  The test is given to identify inmates who may have diminished mental capacity and, thus, are unable to adapt positively to prison life.

For those with diminished mental capacity, prison often does more harm than good. The test, or “competency evaluation,” is conducted to ensure that the individual receives the best rehabilitation experience possible. People with diminished mental capacity can often appear to be functioning normally, so administering a test such as the KBIT-2 is essential to ensuring that the individual is rehabilitated properly.

The KBIT-2 test can be administered while an individual is on trial for a crime or it may be given after he or she is convicted. If a person’s score is sufficiently low, indicating diminished mental capacity or mental retardation, the individual is most often committed to a mental facility or hospital instead of a jail or prison.