Principles of Forensic Mental Health Assessment

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

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2. Introduction

   1. Developing Principles of Forensic Mental Health Assessment

      Pages 3-18

3. Preparation

   1. First Contacts

      Pages 21-63

   2. Defining the Evaluator’s Role

      Pages 65-82

   3. Using a Model

      Pages 83-96

4. Data Collection

   1. Selection

      Pages 99-134

   2. Administration

      Pages 135-161

5. Data Interpretation

   1. Assessing Response Style

      Pages 165-188

   2. Incorporating Scientific Reasoning and Data

      Pages 189-212

   3. Making Assertions and Clarifying Limits

      Pages 213-237

6. Communication

   1. Communicating Clearly

      Pages 241-253

   2. Testifying Effectively

      Pages 255-282

7. Applying the Principles of Forensic Mental Health Assessment

   1. Implications for Research, Training, Practice, and Policy

      Pages 285-308

8. Back Matter

   Pages 309-344

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Most of the literature in forensic mental health assessment is organized around the particular legal issue that is the focus of a given assessment, tool, or research study. This book starts with a different assumption: There are broad principles of forensic assessment that are applicable across different legal issues. If such principles exist, they should be derived from and supported by sources of authority in ethics, law, science, and prof- sional practice. This is what I seek to do in this book, with each of the 29 broad principles of forensic mental health assessment described and a- lyzed from the perspective of these sources of authority. There are a number of individuals who have contributed in various ways to making this a better book. It seems best to begin with a general acknowledgment: Those interested in forensic mental health assessment, particularly my colleagues from the American Psychology–Law Society and the American Board of Forensic Psychology, have been an extraor- narily helpful and congenial group. I have learned a great deal from them over the years and they challenged me to undertake the daunting task of trying to capture the broad views of the field in this book.

• Training
• assessment
• forensic psychology
• law
• psychology

• MCP Hahnemann University, Philadelphia

  Kirk Heilbrun

• Villanova University, Philadelphia

  Kirk Heilbrun

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