Ethics in Forensic Psychology Practice

Ethics in Forensic Psychology Practice addresses major concerns of psychologists and other mental health professionals who conduct evaluations, provide treatment, carry out research, and teach and train in various and diverse legal contexts.  Informed by the newly approved APA Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology, the standard by which ethical and legal conduct is measured, this book is organized around substantive practice issues that cut across various functions and roles.  It covers training, business practices, roles, privacy, confidentiality, report writing, testifying and other topics  in order  to help practitioners practice in a manner consistent with their highest ideals and professional standards.

RANDY K. OTTO, PHD, ABPP, is a faculty member in the Department of Mental Health Law & Policy at the University of South Florida, with adjunct appointments in the Departments of Psychology and Criminology.

ALAN M. GOLDSTEIN, PHD, ABPP, is board certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is in independent practice of forensic psychology.

KIRK HEILBRUN, PHD, ABPP, is a professor in the Department of Psychology at Drexel University.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS ix

PREFACE xi

CHAPTER 1 Introduction 1

CHAPTER 2 Sources of Authority 11

CHAPTER 3 Competence 34

CHAPTER 4 Roles 55

CHAPTER 5 Working with Attorneys and Other Referral Sources 82

CHAPTER 6 Informed Consent, Assent, and Notification 109

CHAPTER 7 Privacy, Confidentiality, Privilege, and Access to Records 124

CHAPTER 8 Assessment 141

CHAPTER 9 Collateral Sources of Information 160

CHAPTER 10 Documentation 177

CHAPTER 11 Communication 190

APPENDIX: SPECIALTY GUIDELINES FOR FORENSIC

PSYCHOLOGY 201

REFERENCES 234

AUTHOR INDEX 243

SUBJECT INDEX 247