Forensic Clinical Case Studies

Catalog description

This is an advanced course focused on the intersection of psychology and the law. The course focuses on the use of clinical mental health information in courts and other legal settings in cases that involve adults and children. The course reviews the framework of law in civil and criminal cases that are most likely to involve psychologists as forensic evaluators or expert witnesses. Forensic evaluations in criminal cases include competency to stand trial evaluations and mental health evaluations for legal purposes. The role of the clinical psychologist in conducting forensic evaluations is discussed in detail, including specific kinds of clinical and ethical challenges that may arise. Specialized evaluations within the legal system, such as violence risk assessments, substance use assessments, and intimate partner violence assessments are described. Particular attention is paid to how clinical psychologists conduct forensic evaluations for use in civil and criminal proceedings, and how their findings are communicated in the form of written reports or testimony before the court.