Forensic Reporting Principles

Important Principles in Forensic Reporting and Documentation Forensic reporting is a communication method that accounts for the client and practitioner’s interactions in sessions. This includes assessments, treatment sessions, and mental status examinations. After years of working with a client, they may be referred to another professional in order to receive different mental health services. With that transfer, documents are the major form of communication between the two clinicians. This open communication ultimately benefits the services provided to the client. In a legal setting, forensic documentation provides a transcript of the sessions between the client and practitioner. If legal matters persist, the counselor may need to disclose

This can be extremely difficult in forensic psychology due to the population that is being worked with. If a forensic psychologist is assessing a defendant convicted of raping and murdering a child, remaining objective is a huge responsibility to uphold. Objectively requires the practitioner to make statements without promoting their personal agenda or taking moral positions in cases. This isn’t to say that the clinician can’t feel a certain way about their clients, but objectivity is important in accurately representing them. Evaluations made cannot favor one side over the other or “omit reporting potentially exculpatory data and findings,” conveying the practitioner is neutral in their reports (Weissman & Debow, 2003). This doesn’t mean that all information documented is only based on concrete facts. After all, a psychologist’s job is to take data on behaviors and cognitions and form interpretations. In forensic documentations, practitioners are given the chance to state their own inferences and opinions if they distinguish between them and report it

Think of a typical car accident and the steps needed to inform an insurance provider. Parties take down each other’s information, take photos of the incident, and give it all to the insurance company. In forensic reporting, all documents act as insurance. Barnett (2015) explains that ineffective forensic reporting can pose as a risk management issue. Should a matter arise, effective documentation allows the practitioner the opportunity provide a transcript of the interaction with the client. The reports provide the services give, the patient’s responses to treatment, and the level of cooperation from the client (2015). Although this may not guarantee the outcome to favor in the practitioner’s side, it makes an impact in the suit that is being filed. Risk management also relies on the clinician’s organizational skills. Practitioners often see multiple clients simultaneously, a risk if they don’t document the treatment for each one. It’s almost impossible to remember the needs for each patient and where each session leaves off. To protect the rights of the clients, effective reporting prevents practitioners from revealing personal information to the wrong client. This avoids the risk of confidentially breaches all while being attentive to each client’s needs and treatment