NCJ Number
166768
Journal
Children's Legal Rights Journal Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: (Fall 1996) Pages: 2-6
Date Published
1996
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Juvenile justice and child welfare professionals need to understand the role of the psychologist in the forensic evaluation process in cases involving child abuse and neglect and to communicate effectively with the psychologist to ensure that the psychological evaluation is used to its fullest potential.
Abstract
Forensic psychologists may be asked to evaluate adults, adolescents, or children. They typically see clients individually; however, they may see clients together as a family to observe interactions. Time is usually limited. The background information provided by the referral source is extremely helpful to the clinical interview. A thorough social history of the family members should include a developmental history, descriptions of the behavior that led to the referral, school performance, employment history, family and social relationships, and legal history. The psychological evaluation usually consists of a review of the documents from the referral source, a clinical interview with the client, and psychological testing. The evaluation provides an expert analysis of the client's current functioning and a reasonable estimation of the client's future behavior; it does not address the client's likelihood of acting violently or their ability to parent. Interdisciplinary dialogue should be a dynamic and ongoing component of the forensic evaluation system to clarify and address the needs of the client, the court, and the professionals involved.