Forensic mental health assessment (FMHA) has grown into a specialization informed by research and professional guidelines. This series presents up-to-date information on the most important and frequently conducted forms of FMHA. The 19 topical volumes address best approaches to practice for particular types of evaluation in the criminal, civil, and juvenile/family areas. Each volume contains a thorough discussion of the relevant legal and psychological concepts, followed by a step-by-step description of the assessment process from preparing for the evaluation to writing the report and testifying in court. Volumes include the following helpful features: - Boxes that zero in on important information for use in evaluations - Tips for best practice and cautions against common pitfalls - Highlighting of relevant case law and statutes - Separate list of assessment tools for easy reference - Helpful glossary of key terms for the particular topic In making recommendations for best practice, authors consider empirical support, legal relevance, and consistency with ethical and professional standards. These volumes offer invaluable guidance for anyone involved in conducting or using forensic evaluations.

Forensic mental health assessment (FMHA) has grown into a specialization informed by research and professional guidelines. This series presents up-to-date information on the most important and frequently conducted forms of FMHA. The 19 topical volumes address best approaches to practice for particular types of evaluation in the criminal, civil, and juvenile/family areas. Each volume contains a thorough discussion of the relevant legal and psychological concepts, followed by a step-by-step description of the assessment process from preparing for the evaluation to writing the report and testifying in court. Volumes include the following helpful features: - Boxes that zero in on important information for use in evaluations - Tips for best practice and cautions against common pitfalls - Highlighting of relevant case law and statutes - Separate list of assessment tools for easy reference - Helpful gloassary of key terms for the particular topic In making recommendations for best practice, authors consider empirical support, legal relevance, and consistency with ethical and professional standards. These volumes offer invaluable guidance for anyone involved in conducting or using forensic evaluations.

Resource added for the Paralegal program 101101.

Criminal Competency on Trial examines the legal standards by which one can stand trial, and the psychological instruments by which one's mental health status is assessed. Acknowledging that determinations of trial fitness represent the most significant mental health inquiry pursued in the system of criminal law today, this book carefully explains and thoroughly reviews the legal and psychological limits of competency to stand trial (CST). To highlight these limits, authors Bardwell and Arrigo systematically investigate the controversial and high profile case of Colin Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson was identified as the New York City railway killer who, following a competency finding, elected to represent himself and was found guilty of all criminal charges. The text proposes a series of clear, practical, and concise justice policy reforms, designed to improve how the CST doctrine is understood and employed by lawyers, judges, psychologists, and other forensic mental health professionals. The book concludes by demonstrating where and how these policy recommendations would substantially change the application of the CST doctrine, especially in the case of Colin Ferguson and with other high stakes defendants, including that of Theodore Kaczynski (a.k.a. the una-bomber).

The third edition of this award-winning textbook has been revised and thoroughly updated. Building on the success of the previous editions, it continues to address the history and practice of forensic psychiatry, legal regulation of the practice of psychiatry, forensic evaluation and treatment, psychiatry in relation to civil law, criminal law and family law, as well as correctional forensic psychiatry. New chapters address changes in the assessment and treatment of aggression and violence as well as psychological and neuroimaging assessments.

Competency to stand trial has become a major concern for the criminal justice system. As more and more people with mental illness are being arrested, jails are becoming the largest providers of mental health care in the United States. Many of these detainees are found incompetent to stand trial and cannot proceed with their court cases until restored to competency. In order to facilitate the movement of these cases through the forensic system, effective restoration programs need to be developed. By doing so, many challenging problems can be alleviated, such as overcrowding in jails, long waiting lists at forensic hospitals, and the overall cost to the public. This manual was written to provide guidelines for restoring competency to defendants in a structured and efficient manner. Practical information is presented to assist forensic providers from their patient's initial finding of incompetency to the final disposition of the case. In addition, instructional materials and other resources are provided, which include definitions of court terminology, educational activities, competency tests, court report templates, and a certificate of completion. Forensic providers are encouraged to customize the contents of this manual to comply with specific State statutes.

Reflecting the work of an international panel of experts, the International Handbook on Psychopathic Disorders and the Law offers an in-depth and multidisciplinary look at key aspects of the development and etiology of psychopathic disorders, current methods of intervention, treatment and management, and how these disorders impact decision making in civil and criminal law.