Forensic Reports and Testimony: A Guide to Effective Communication for Psychologists and Psychiatrists - Tapa dura

"Communication is the heart of forensic practice and this book provides a lot of heart. The authors cover every aspect of the art of forensic communication from A to Z in an easily understood, concise way. Forensic Reports and Testimony is a must-have book for trainees in forensic mental health and contains much that will be of value to seasoned clinicians. I predict that this text will become the essential guide to developing professional report writing and testifying skills in training programs in psychiatry and psychology." ?Steven K. Hoge, MD, Clinical Professor; Director, Columbia-Cornell Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program; Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY "In this terrifically practical book, the authors define a scholarly foundation for forensic reports, a process for conceptualizing and structuring them, and excellent how-to guidance on report writing and testimony preparation. They have made the subject come alive with many examples of good and bad reports and testimony and show how transparency and acknowledgment of limitations serves both experts and the justice system well." ?Stanley L. Brodsky, Ph.D., The University of Alabama This is the best step by step guide to report writing coupled with research based, practical advice on how to give effective testimony. It contains the crystalized wisdom of three leading forensic psychologists on how to be persuasive while staying within the ethical guidelines for forensic psychologists and psychiatrists. The authors provide multiple examples of sophisticated, nuanced responses to challenging cross examination questions. ?Phillip J. Resnick, M.D. Professor of Psychiatry Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Forensic 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 what you think, and connecting the dots between facts and conclusions Provides numerous examples of experts testimony, affidavits, reports-with commentary and critiques Expert forensic work deserves to be presented in a clear, precise, and understandable way so that it is useful to attorneys, judges, and juries. Forensic Reports & Testimony provides the guidelines and models forensic psychologists and forensic psychiatrists need to make that happen.