F O R E N S I C S , J U S T I C E , A N D C L I N I C A L P S Y C H O L O G Y
WHERE THE EVIDENCE LEADS
Seminar presentation at Argosy University, DallasTexas School of Professional PsychologyApril 11, 2013, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.,
FROM THE GATEHOUSE TO THE COURTHOUSE
AND BEYOND
FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGYW HAT IT IS , W HAT IT ISN ’ T, AN D W HEN TO B E C AREFUL
P S YC H O L O G I S T S M AY C O N T R I B U T E T O T H E Q U A L I T Y O F T H AT R O A D
JUSTICE
And, sometimes, they mayinterfere with it.
JUSTICE – A FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE
• Accessibility to all for full quality of benefits and contributions of psychology as delivered by psychologists• Use of judgment and precaution “to ensure that
potential biases, the boundaries of competence and the limitations of expertise do not lead to or condone unjust practices”• Consideration should be given to how this principle is
applied in clinical practice when legal issues are present
TO WHOM DO WE OWE JUSTICE?
AS CLINICIANS AND FORENSIC SPECIALISTS
CONCEPT OF “FORENSIC”
• “Concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles”• “Used or applied in the investigation and
establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law”
PHYSICAL EV IDENCE VS . PSYCHOLOGICAL EV IDENCE
METHODOLOGIES AND TECHNIQUES OF INVESTIGATION
BROAD APPLICATIONS OF FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
• Law enforcement• Correctional settings• Academic research settings
THE SCOPE OF “FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY”
• What do forensic psychologists/specialists do?
• Broad definition
• Narrow definition
FORENSIC APPLICATIONS IN “CLINICAL PRACTICE”
• Clinical• Assessment• Treatment
• Quasi forensic applications• Experimental/Research
TOOLS OF THE PROFESSION
GENERAL
TYPICAL WORK OF FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST
• Child custody evaluations and recommendations pertaining to “BIOC”
• Presentencing evaluations for likelihood of recidivism• Mitigation evaluations of defendant’s in capital cases• Assessment of competency to stand trial• Assessment of state of mind at time of offense
(Sanity)• Assessments for dispositional hearings in juvenile
cases• Assessments of juveniles in motions for transfer to
criminal court
ISSUE SPECIFIC
Increasing range of issue specific instruments
INTEGRATION OF CLINICAL AND FORENSIC ASSESSMENT
Relevant Law
Psycho-Legal
Question
Psychological Construct
After Grisso’s Model of Forensic Assessment, 2003
The “evidence” must support the opinion which addresses the legal-psychological question
FORENSIC WORK REQU IRES PREPAREDNESS TO TEST IFY
WHAT’S YOUR COMFORT LEVEL?
AND THEN,WHAT ABOUT THE “NON-FORENSIC”
PRACTITIONER
H O W I S “ J U S T I C E ” R E P R E S E N T E D I N C L I N I C A L P R A C T I C E
JUSTICE
How might a “non-forensic” therapist become involved in a civil or criminal case?
JUSTICE
H O W I S “ J U S T I C E ” R E P R E S E N T E D I N C L I N I C A L P R A C T I C E
What’s the role of a clinician whose patient/client is a witness or victim in a pending case?
FORENSIC CONSIDERATIONS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE • What might the implications of
this be?• For the patient?• For others?
KNOW YOUR ROLE , DO YOUR JOB , AND BE PREPARED
ANY PSYCHOLOGIST MAY END UP IN COURT
RELEVANT WEB LINKS
• American Board of Forensic Psychologyhttp://www.abfp.com/
• American Academy of Forensic Psychologyhttp://www.aafp.ws/
• American Psychology-Law Societyhttp://www.ap-ls.org/http://www.aplsstudentsection.com/http://www.ap-ls.org/
academics/careersoverview.html