Forensic Psychological Assessment Flashcards
what is forensic assessment ?
this requires the psychologist to carry out an assessment on the offender t ensure they are handles with properly after being found guilty/not guilty
why
to understand why the person committed the offence
what risk the offender presents
the treatment needs of the person
the persons treat ability and their readiness
formulation
DEFINITION
a conceptual model representing an offenders various difficulties, the hypothesised underlying mechanisms and their interrelationships.
what does it aim to do
psychological formulation aims to suggest what individual and systematic factors continue to maintain a person’s difficulties/offending behaviour
when do we assess?
pre-sentence admission pre-treatment whilst in treatment post-treatment follow up pre-release post-release
the process of assessment
information is gathered (police reports etc.)
engagement and collaboration (includes attending to the therapeutic relationship)
psychometric testing
psycho physiological assessments (PPG, polygraph)
clinical interviews
report writing and wider communication of findings
role of psychometric testing
forensic psychologists are expected to be formally qualified in the used of forensic tests
choice of psychometric tests is dependant on the purpose of the assessment.
when reporting on tests, must articulate any limitations to the testing within the assessment process, including the reliability and validity of tests used critical and any problems with norms for the person tested.
specialist assessment procedures
PPG
this is used to identify individuals sexual interests
moderately resistant to attempts at faking
measures changes in the circumference of the penis
POLYGRAPH
this is used as part of enhancing disclosure
a machine designed to detect and record changes in physiological characteristics, such as a person’s pulse and breathing rates, used especially as a lie detector.
what do we assess?
consent
person’s goals and aspirations
social support
neurocognitive abiliities
developmental history
family background
social care history
trauma history
education and employment
psychosexual history
relationship (romantic or platonic)
mental health
personality
psychopathy
treatment history
offending history
attitudes towards offending
current mental state
case study:SEX OFFENDERS
cultural norms and expectations –(e.g.-male dominance and sexual entitlement)
early life experiences including insecure attachments to people, sexual abuse and neglect
situational contingencies– parental separation,lack of appropriate role models
inter-generational issues of sex offending replicated and transmitted down the generations through processes of normalisation
case study: MENTALLY DISORDERED
they are called patients not offenders
two groups:
- MENTALLY ILL-detached from their crime (bipolar, schizophrenic)
- PERSONALITY DISORDERED- routinely oppositional and aggressive, but less mad (antisocial, psychopathy)
MDO’s
there are problems with distinction between MI and PD
differences between MI and PD
A mental illness is characterized by the extremity of the traits
A personality disorder is characterized by the moderate character of the traits
A mental illness can develop in a relatively short time
Personality disorders are characterized by lifelong patterns
Mental illness and physical illness are comparable
A personality disorder can’t be compared to a physical illness
MDOs and risk
MI are far more at risk from others and themselves
specific symptoms of mental illness re controversial
the risk of violence increases with the presence of positive not negative symptoms
command hallucinations with violent content predict violence
delusions and hostile content predicts violence
treatment compliance reduces but does not eliminate risk
intimacy- most victims of violent crime are known to the perpetrator
MAJOR DETERMINANTS OF VIOLENCE
socio-demographic and socio-economic factors
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
relating to or concerned with the interaction of social and economic factors.
SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC
relating to, or involving a combination of social and demographic factors
major determinants of violence continue to be socio-demographic and socio-economic factors such as being young, male and if someone is of lower socio-economic status
The public
the public undoubtedly exaggerate both the strength of the relationship between major mental disorder and violence, as well as their own personal risk from the mentally ill.
it is more likely that people with a serious mental illness will be the victim of violence than the perpetrator of violence
co-morbidity
-disease or condition
having a mental disorder more than doubled the risk of an alcohol disorder and increased four-fold the risk of drug abuse disorder.
violence and substance misuse
alcohol is a major risk factor for violent offending
alcohol implicated in :
-40-60% of assaults and homicide
- 30-70% of rapes
- 40-80% of cases of domestic violence
illicit drug use is, in general, more likely to be associated with acquisitive offending and trafficking offences.
misuser’s not only have the highest proportion of violent behaviour but they committed more sever acts of violence and greater frequency
MACARTHUR VIOLENCE RISK ASSESSMENT STUDY(196) FOUND THAT:
MOST VIOLENT OFFENDING OCCURRED WITHIN ONE MONTH OF RELEASE FROM PSYCHIATRIC CARE.
