Use and Then Prove, or Prove and Then Use? Some Thoughts on the Ethics of Mental Health Professionals' Courtroom Involvement

• NCJ Number: 156317
• Journal: Ethics and Behavior Volume: 3 Issue: 3 and 4 Dated: (1993) Pages: 359-380
• Author(s): D Faust
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 22 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

The use of psychologists in the courtroom is explored.

Abstract

Psychologists' courtroom involvement and testimony should not be dictated solely by what the judge or court allows, but also should require the application of personal or professional standards. This article explores various standards that might be used to determine whether psychological evidence is ready for courtroom application, whether or which evaluative procedures should be performed prior to courtroom use, and the potential tensions between personal validation or impression and formal scientific evidence. The author argues that although determining just how tough the professional standards ought to be involves complex issues, the field should take a strong stance against testimony that is based largely on personal validation and that lacks scientific support or conflicts with research evidence. The article concludes that much of current testimony violates this minimal standard. References