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Author's Justification
Published in Bernat-N. Tiffon, Atlas of Forensic and Criminal Psychology, 2022
I believe that forensic psychology is currently at a point in time where it is being publicly recognized and acknowledged. However, those of us who are dedicated to this profession are extremely cautious, as our expert opinions are supposed be based on the strictest possible objectivity.
Forensic Assessment
Published in Louis B. Schlesinger, Sexual Murder, 2021
Melton, Petrila, Poythress, Slobogin, Otto, Mossman, and Condie (2018) describe various differences between a forensic and a clinical (or what they refer to as a therapeutic) assessment (see Table 2.1). They note differences in the scope of the evaluation, the client’s perspective, voluntariness, autonomy, threats to validity, relationship and dynamics, and pace and setting. The fundamental distinction, however, is that, in forensic assessments, there is a high likelihood that the defendant will not always be truthful as he has an obvious motive to lie, exaggerate, or distort symptoms and events. Thus, the traditional clinical approach (in which mental health professionals have been trained) cannot be used for forensic assessments. Forensic psychology (or psychiatry) is not simply the practice of clinical psychology (or general psychiatry) in a forensic setting (Schlesinger, 2003, 2005). Forensic psychology is a separate specialty that requires a modification of the traditional clinical approach. Unfortunately, this distinction is not stressed enough in books on forensic psychology/psychiatry. In fact, several well-known texts do not even mention the basics of a forensic examination (Blau, 1998; Bluglass and Bowden, 1990; Cook, 1980; Gunn and Taylor, 1993; Guttmacher and Weihoffer, 1952; Hess and Weiner, 1999; Irvine and Brelje, 1972; Power and Selwood, 1987). Instead, these volumes focus on various laws, legal tests, and legal standards that forensic practitioners need to know.
Psychoanalytic assessment in a forensic setting
Published in Jed A. Yalof, Anthony D. Bram, Psychoanalytic Assessment Applications for Different Settings, 2020
Forensic psychology involves the application of the science of psychology into the law (American Psychological Association, 2013). Forensic psychologists are often called to conduct evaluations of individuals in a civil or criminal legal proceeding. Psychologists who practice forensic psychology utilize a multi-method assessment that includes clinical interviews, psychological testing, and review of medical records, legal documents, and collateral information (Heilbrun, Marczyk, DeMatteo, & Mack-Allen, 2007).
Legal Admissibility of the Rorschach and R-PAS: A Review of Research, Practice, and Case Law
Published in Journal of Personality Assessment, 2022
Donald J. Viglione, Corine de Ruiter, Christopher M. King, Gregory J. Meyer, Aaron J. Kivisto, Benjamin A. Rubin, John Hunsley
Finally, the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology recommend that evaluators have necessary competencies, including knowing legal and professional standards, laws, rules, and precedent, as well as the legal rights of evaluees, and that evaluators obtain informed consent or assent and focus on legally relevant factors (Guidelines 2.04, 6.01, and 10.01; APA, 2013). Thus, R-PAS should not be admissible when used by a less than competent evaluator, when used without standard procedures without good reasons and tempered interpretations, or when not applied to a relevant psycholegal issue. To ensure admissibility, evaluators should engage in appropriate practices to honor the rights of the evaluee and make clear connections to opinions about recognized functional legal capacities. If R-PAS interpretations are not sensitive to the strengths and weaknesses of specific variables or known individual and group differences, the admissibility of such interpretations should be challenged for risk of excessive prejudice, confusing the factfinder, or misleadingness.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: An International Practice Survey of Forensic Mental Health Clinicians
Published in International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 2021
Kaitlyn McLachlan, Katelyn Mullally, Chantel Ritter, Mansfield Mela, Jacqueline Pei
Our sample included 81 forensic clinicians (56% female). Clinicians were primarily psychologists with areas of practice in forensic and/or clinical psychology, and a small number were forensic psychiatrists (Table 1). Median years of practice experience as a mental health professional for the overall sample was 13.5 (IQR = 24, range = 1–40 years). Clinicians belonged to a range of clinical and forensic mental health professional associations, and 16% were diplomates in forensic psychology. Clinicians worked in a variety of settings, including private practice, forensic/court clinics, and both inpatient and outpatient forensic mental health facilities.1 The sample included forensic clinicians from the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Europe (Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, plus unspecified countries), and Argentina.
Searching for Truth: The Forensic Interviewer’s Use of an Assessment Approach While Conducting Child Sexual Abuse Interviews
Published in Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 2020
The assessment of truth in children’s disclosure narratives is a process of evaluating the evidence. Currently, this process is conceptualized as one conducted primarily by child welfare, law enforcement, and forensic psychology professionals in making a final decision about substantiation, criminal offenses, or veracity for court proceedings. However, this process of assessing truth begins in the moments of direct interaction between forensic interviewers and children as interviewers elicit disclosure narratives. The mechanisms through which forensic interviewers assess children’s responses have remained unclear, yet this research suggests that assessment is inherent in the interviewer’s objective search for facts. Recognition of the characteristics of children’s disclosure narratives that are identified and addressed in the process of eliciting details by interviewers will facilitate fact finding by new and experienced interviewers using various interviewing models and will promote understanding about the challenges children face in describing a coherent disclosure. Additionally, those teams allowing for immediate MDT feedback can consider how additional questions can help clarify inconsistencies in order to make a final determination about the truth of disclosure narratives.