Forensic Psychotherapy Assessments and the Legal System (From A Practical Guide to Forensic Psychotherapy, P 246-252, 1997, Estela V Welldon and Cleo Van Velsen, eds. -- See NCJ- 168168)

• NCJ Number: 168203
• Author(s): C Minne
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Publication Type: Training (Aid/Material)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

Two clinical vignettes illustrate the application of psychodynamic assessments to the legal system, followed by guidelines for preparing assessment reports for the court and appearing in court to present the assessment.

Abstract

Both of the clinical vignettes show a number of difficulties in preparing psychodynamic assessments for a court. In the first case, psychotherapeutic treatment came to a premature ending as the condition of treatment interfered too much with the therapeutic alliance. In the second case, the patient successfully completed his 2-year probation order and is still in weekly individual psychotherapy treatment. These cases also illustrate the need for forensic psychotherapy reports to present individually tailored recommendations that take into account treatment needs and availability, as well as patient suitability for such treatment. Furthermore, they should include consideration of security and containment needs that a court would request, given its requirement to apply justice and protect the public. By focusing on the individual, it is possible to achieve a balance between addressing both the need of that individual and those of society in offering a psychodynamic perspective of an offender to the legal system. Guidelines for preparing assessment reports for court address preliminary matters and the planning of the written report. Guidelines for appearing in court to present the assessment focus on preparation.