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