Forensic Mental Health Assessment of Children And Adolescents

by Sparta, Steven N.; Koocher, Gerald P.

• ISBN13: 9780195145847
• ISBN10: 0195145844
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-03-16
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Most professional forensic literature addresses the assessment of adults yet neglects the necessary differences that arise when working with minors. Forensic Mental Health Assessment of Children presents the reader with essential knowledge and practical suggestions regarding the forensicassessment of minors involved in a variety of legal applications. Methods of evaluation are described by leading experts regarding topics frequently encountered and of great importance to the courts including:-Physical and sexual child abuse-Domestic violence-Child custody in divorce proceedings-Risk assesment for violence-Potential for rehabilitation in juvenile court cases-Special education-Childhood development and trauma as mitigating circumstances in death penalty casesIn addition to reviewing a broad spectrum of topics, methods of evaluation, and the application of specific tests, chapters also address forensic assessment matters such as ethical issues, professional liability, and cultural considerations. This comprehensive resource will be indispensable tomental health practitioners and legal professionals, and of great interest to researchers and students.

Author Biography

Dr. Steven N. Sparta is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, Adjunct Professor of Law, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, and Adjunct Professor of Psychology San Diego State University. He was Chair of the Ethics Committee of the American Psychological Association, former President and Fellow of the San Diego Psychological Association and previously served as Commissioner, Juvenile Justice Commission San Diego County. Dr. Sparta is Boarded in Clinical and Forensic Psychology (ABPP) and maintains an independent practice.LDr. Koocher is President-Elect of the American Psychological Association (APA), a Fellow of twelve divisions of (APA) and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is the only psychologist to have earned five specialty diplomas from the American Boards of Professional Psychology (Clinical, Clinical Child/Adolescent, Family, Forensic, and Health Psychology). Dr. Koocher's professional practice focuses on coping with chronic and life-threatening illness, bereavement, and the interface of mental health practice, ethics, and law.

Table of Contents

Foreword	vii
Thomas Grisso
Contributors	xvii
Introduction to Forensic Assessment of Children	3	(8)
Part I Forensic Assessment Issues: Ethics, Lawyers, Courts, Cultural Considerations, and Professional Liability
The Legal Contexts of Forensic Assessment of Children and Families	11	(19)
Lois A. Weithorn
Integrating Assessment, Treatment, and Justice: Pipe Dream or Possibility?	30	(16)
Gary B. Melton
Robin J. Kimbrough-Melton
Ethical Issues in Forensic Assessment of Children and Adolescents	46	(18)
Gerald P. Koocher
Ten Rules: How to Get Along Better With Lawyers and the Legal System	64	(10)
William E. Foote
Avoiding Malpractice in Child Forensic Assessment	74	(14)
O. Brandt Caudill, Jr.
Working With Courts, Judges, and Lawyers: What Forensic Mental Health Professionals Should Know About Being Expert Witnesses	88	(9)
Steven R. Smith
Interpreting Forensic Interview and Test Data of Latino Children: Recommendations for Culturally Competent Evaluations	97	(18)
Roberto J. Velasquez
Jeanett Castellanos
Maria Garrido
Paula Maness
Ulla Anderson
Part II Forensic Mental Health Applications
Forensic Interviewing of Children and Adolescents	115	(14)
Linda Sayler Gudas
Jerome M. Sattler
Assessing Child Sexual Abuse Allegations in a Legal Context	129	(20)
Kathryn Kuehnle
Steven N. Sparta
Evaluating the Effects of Domestic Violence on Children	149	(26)
Lois Oberlander Condie
Child Physical Abuse and Neglect: Medical and Other Considerations in Forensic Psychological Assessment	175	(15)
Amy C. Tishelman
Alice W. Newton
Jennifer E. Denton
Andrea M. Vandeven
Assessing Risk for Violence Among Juvenile Offenders	190	(13)
Randy Borum
Psychological Evaluation for Child Custody	203	(27)
Steven N. Sparta
Philip M. Stahl
Assessing Eligibility for and Appropriateness of Special Education Services	230	(15)
Stephen T. DeMers
Leah Nellis
Examining Children in Personal Injury Claims	245	(15)
Michael A. Goldberg
Neuropsychological Considerations in Forensic Child Assessment	260	(25)
Karen E. Wills
Jerry J. Sweet
A Pediatric Lead Litigation Primer: Foundations for Mental Health Assessment	285	(16)
Steven B. Bisbing
Bullying and Stalking in Children and Adolescents: Assessing Obsessional Harassment	301	(10)
Joseph T. McCann
Forensic Assessment of Amenability to Rehabilitation in Juvenile Delinquency	311	(19)
Robert Kinscherff
Forensic Assessment of Parenting in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases	330	(12)
Catherine Ayoub
Robert Kinscherff
Forensic Evaluation of Juvenile Sexual Offenders	342	(23)
David Medoff
Robert Kinscherff
Assessing Childhood Trauma and Developmental Factors as Mitigation in Capital Cases	365	(16)
Alan M. Goldstein
Naomi E. Goldstein
Rachel Kalbeitzer
Assessing Firesetting Behavior in Children and Adolescents	381	(20)
David K. Wilcox
Part III Selected Measurement Issues
The MMPI-A in Forensic Assessment	401	(11)
James N. Butcher
Kenneth S. Pope
Measures for Evaluating Child Sexual Abuse	412	(12)
William N. Friedrich
Measuring Adolescent Personality and Psychopathology With the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI)	424	(17)
Joseph T. McCann
Index	441