Tens of thousands of readers have relied on this leading text and
practitioner reference--now revised and updated--to understand the
issues the legal system most commonly asks mental health professionals
to address. The volume demystifies the forensic psychological assessment
process and provides guidelines for participating effectively and
ethically in legal proceedings. Presented are clinical and legal
concepts and evidence-based assessment procedures pertaining to criminal
and civil competencies, the insanity defense and related doctrines,
sentencing, civil commitment, personal injury claims, antidiscrimination
laws, child custody, juvenile justice, and other justice-related areas.
Case examples, exercises, and a glossary facilitate learning; 19 sample
reports illustrate how to conduct and write up thorough, legally
admissible evaluations.
New to This Edition
*Extensively revised to reflect important legal, empirical, and
clinical developments.
*Increased attention to medical and neuroscientific research.
*New protocols relevant to competence, risk assessment, child custody,
and mental injury evaluations.
*Updates on insanity, sentencing, civil commitment, the Americans with
Disabilities Act, Social Security, juvenile and family law, and the
admissibility of expert testimony.
*Material on immigration law (including a sample report) and
international law.
*New and revised sample reports.
