Description
Book SynopsisForensic Reports & Testimony: A Guide to Effective Communication for Psychologists and Psychiatrists provides a roadmap for the mental health professional who wants to provide consistently accurate, defensible, and useful reports and testimony to the legal system. Authors Randy K. Otto, Richart L. DeMier, and Marcus Boccaccini, recognized experts in the field, cover all aspects of the process, including preparing affidavits and reports, preparing for depositions, and testifying.
Every written or spoken communication for the courts must be clear and precise, and distinguish between facts, inferences, and opinions. This book uniquely:
Shows the critical differences between forensic psychological reports and the clinical reports psychologists and psychiatrists are accustomed to writing
Includes and explains important maxims of forensic report writing, including separating facts from inferences, focusing on offering expert opinions, explaining why you think w
Table of Contents
Foreword Thomas Grisso, ph.d. vii
Preface xi
About the authors xv
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
Chapter 2 Functions of Forensic Reports 9
Chapter 3 Content of Forensic Reports 17
Chapter 4 Principles of Forensic Reports 34
Chapter 5 Structure of Forensic Reports 54
Chapter 6 Interrogatories, Affidavits, Declarations, Demonstrative Exhibits, and Demonstrative Aids 91
Chapter 7 Conceptual Issues Regarding Testimony 97
Chapter 8 Testifying at Depositions 118
Chapter 9 Testifying in Admissibility Hearings 129
Chapter 10 Pretrial Preparation 137
Chapter 11 Direct Examination 151
Chapter 12 Cross-Examination 171
Appendix A Sample Reports 223
Appendix B Sample Affidavits and Declaration 315
References 341
Author index 355
Subject index 361
