FORENSICS, JUSTICE, AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY WHERE THE EVIDENCE LEADS Seminar presentation at Argosy University, Dallas Texas School of Professional Psychology April 11, 2013, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.,

FROM THE GATEHOUSE TO THE COURTHOUSE AND BEYOND

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT ISN’T, AND WHEN TO BE CAREFUL

PSYCHOLOGISTS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE QUALITY OF THAT ROAD JUSTICE And, sometimes, they may interfere 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 EVIDENCE VS. PSYCHOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

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 After Grisso’s Model of Forensic Assessment, 2003

FORENSIC WORK REQUIRES PREPAREDNESS TO TESTIFY WHAT’S YOUR COMFORT LEVEL?

AND THEN, WHAT ABOUT THE “NON-FORENSIC” PRACTITIONER

HOW IS “JUSTICE” REPRESENTED IN CLINICAL PRACTICE JUSTICE How might a “non-forensic” therapist become involved in a civil or criminal case?

JUSTICE HOW IS “JUSTICE” REPRESENTED IN CLINICAL PRACTICE 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 Psychology American Academy of Forensic Psychology American Psychology-Law Society academics/careersoverview.html