A forensic evaluation is a comprehensive and elaborate process that incorporates collection, analysis, and integration of information form multiple sources. Child welfare related evaluations are one of the most complex types of forensic evaluations requiring expert opinion and recommendations on matters pertaining to child custody and visitation, parental fitness and termination of parental rights, and evaluation of adoptive and foster parents. The primary purpose of these evaluations is to inform the court and facilitate decision-making process in child welfare cases. During a child custody evaluation the main doctrine to uphold is the “best interest of the child.” The safety of the child is of paramount consideration. This along with well-being …show more content…
Data collection includes an extensive clinical and or forensic interview of the person/child in question; Interview of the collateral sources; behavioral / bonding observations; administration and interpretation of appropriate and required objective and standardized neurocognitive, psychological, and forensic tests; and through review of available records. Data analysis and integration comprises of synthesis of information received from the interviews, collateral sources, testing and the records. During this process special emphasis is on looking at the consistencies and inconsistencies in the data. Consideration of special needs of the child and families, available resources, and cultural factors are an integral part of this process. Finally, case is formulated based on the theoretical knowledge, legal presumptions, care and safety doctrine and scientific principles. Subsequently, the referral question is answered with maximum clinical/psychological certainty. All these steps are performed in the most ethical manner and the evaluator is to uphold the highest professional standard of practice of …show more content…
I have been involved in conducting forensic psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for the Department of Child and Families (formally DYFS) for over four years. I was providing these services through Forensic Psychology and Neuropsychology Services (FPNS), a company based out of Hamilton, NJ. I am on the FPNS contract with DCPP to provide forensic evaluations as a psychologist. I worked in an assistive capacity for the first three years under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Mack, Psy.D., a licensed psychologist and subsequently worked independently on cases conducting forensic evaluations for DCPP through FPNS. I also have training and experience in conducting other forensic evaluations involving both civil and criminal matters. I have a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from APA credentialed Suffolk University, Boston, MA. During my doctoral training, I completed course work in human development theory including child development; assessment of adults and children; psychopathology; multicultural issues and individual differences; ethics; and empirically
State of Michigan Governor’s Task Force On Child Abuse And Neglect And Department Of Human Services. Forensic Interviewing Protocol. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/DHS-PUB-0779_211637_7.pdf
Forensic Psychology is a specialized practice by psychologists in areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, and neuropsychology. You will be engaged regularly as an expert and primarily proposed to offer professional psychological expertise to the judicial system.
Risk assessment is the process of understanding a hazard such that its potential negative impact can be limited. In forensic services, violence risk assessment and management are critical elements of the delivery of services by professionals from various disciplines including psychology, psychiatry, nursing, social work, and occupational therapy (Hart, 2001; Doyle & Dolan, 2002). These professionals hold an ethical and legal responsibility to prevent or limit future violence by their clients. This serves to ensure not only the safety of the public from violent acts, but also that of healthcare professionals who may be involved in the care of potentially violent individuals, and the clients from self-harmful consequences of violence (Hart & Logan, 2011).
In order to understand Forensic Anthropology we must break it down into the components. According to Oxford American Dictionary the term Forensic is significant to the use of scientific methods to investigate a crime. Anthropology is defined by Oxford American Dictionary as the study of societies, cultures, and human origins. The combination of both, Forensic and Anthropology, consists of applying the principles which are introduced by Anthropologists to solving a crime. Forensic Anthropology is currently a small field but is expected to grow in the upcoming years due how it is being portrayed in books, television shows, classes, and many other resources. The usage of this field is becoming crucial because of how gruesome the crimes being committed by criminals are becoming. Although Forensic Anthropology is currently a small field it requires a lot of education, carries plenty of job responsibilities, and continues to aid in the solving of crimes.
Forensic nursing has not always been recognized although practiced by nurses every day. In reality, all nurses no matter the specialty have developed some investigative techniques. A forensic nurse is a nurse who deals with violence, sexual abuse victims, and abusers. “In 1995 forensic nursing gained specialty recognition by the American Nurses Association. It is an emerging global nursing specialty, with subspecialties that focus on nursing practice at the clinical legal interface of tending to victims and offender, living and deceased” (Kent-Wilkinson, 2010, p.425). Today there is a great potential for professional growth and promotion in the forensic field of nursing. With many pros and cons to this field of nursing, it is the nurse’s personal desire to pursue this career that would make this career rewarding.
In reading about this case, I am struck first and foremost, by the damaging effects of improperly executed child witness interrogation practices, and the enormous value of the immense body of research and the resultantly improved understanding of the effects of the proper handling of such a delicate undertaking. I can’t help but feel that the interrogation process itself, can in effect be a traumatic event, and the manner in which it is carried out acting as either a benefit or an added stressor, to a child already in obvious distress. These considerations are directly responsible for so many cases of child abuse not being reported, out of a fear of worsening an already painful experience, and underline the great need for, and value of, such protective and progressive institutions, such as child advocacy centers.
The choice of this paper is to discuss the best practices of conducting child custody evaluations and the diverse roles of the child custody evaluators and the counselor. Mental health counselors are called upon to help with the plethora of custody cases in the judicial system for evaluations. Family courts counselors provide invaluable services as forensic experts or with treatment. Due to the uniqueness of each instance it is imperative that the mental health counselors comprehend the diversity in each instance. The counselors must also be able to practice ethics and legal to prevent the ramification in malpractice.
The Forensic interview technique is a result of the increasing awareness of child abuse and neglect cases in the United States in the last quarter of the 20th century (Newlin et al, 2015). Forensic interviewing has come a long way from when it was first being developed and has continuously evolved to have the best outcome for children. The purpose of Forensic interviewing is to be more child friendly, to consider the age and development of the child, and to be cognizant of a child’s trauma which is specified in the “Purpose of the Child Forensic Interview” and “Considerations Regarding the Child” sections of the Newlin article. Forensic interviewing has become more specialized and developed since it first began to be utilized. It has developed
Forensic evidence can provide just outcomes in criminal matters. However, it is not yet an exact science as it can be flawed. It can be misrepresented through the reliability of the evidence, through nonstandard guidelines, and through public perception. Forensic science can be dangerously faulty without focus on the ‘science’ aspect. It can at times be just matching patterns based on an individual’s interpretations. This can lead to a miscarriage of justice and forever alter a person’s life due to a perceived “grey area” (Merritt C, 2010) resulting in a loss of confidence in the reliability of forensic evidence.
Child custody is a difficult and sensitive matter. During the disputes people go through multiple interviews, background checks, and other privacy invading matters. Child custody evaluations are need when parents are divorcing. This is all done in order to obtain custody of one or more children. The children do not have to be the parents biological children in order to be able to fight for custody of the child. In the evaluations multiple factors are taken into consideration. Through the entire process the most important aspect about the outcome of the evaluations, is that the child’s best interest is always the main factor. Child custody evaluations attempt to investigate and find the best situation for the child between the parties fighting over custody.
Forensic Science and Criminal Justice MSc (Distance Learning) ASSESSMENT 1: TRACE EVIDENCE ANALYSIS (CH7202) Student: Gan Sze Tan (Yanzhi Chen) Student I.D. No: 169032116 Tutor: Dr. Alex Goddard 2016 (999 words) 1 Q) Critically evaluate whether comparison evidence types continue to have a valid role in the forensic investigation of volume crime such as burglary and vehicle offences. 1.
John Irvine described a computer forensic analyst as having many job titles such as digital forensic analyst, media exploiter, and computer forensics investigator but they all do the same thing which is delve deeply into computers that have either been the victim, instrumentality, or witness to a crime. (John Irvine, forensicsfocus.com) Computer forensics is the art of collecting, analysing, preserving and presenting digital evidence collected from a computer in a legally acceptable manner (Darshan Karia, digitalforensicsmagazine.com). Although a computer forensics analyst aids in solving crimes, it faces the challenge of anti-forensics which can distort evidence that can result in misleading results and/or inadmissible evidence. Anti-forensics is the “practice of attempting to thwart computer forensics analyst.” (forensicscontrol.com) This area includes encryption, over-writing of data to make it unrecoverable, the modification of files’ metadata, and file obstruction which is disguising files (forensicscontrol.com).
Child maltreatment is a widespread issue that affects thousands of children every year. There are four common types of child maltreatment: sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. All of these types of abuse are very serious and can have many consequences for the children and families. The most common consequence of severe child maltreatment is the removal of that child from their home (Benbenishty, Segev, Surkis, and Elias, 2002). Most social workers trying to determine the likelihood of removal evaluate the type and severity of abuse, as well as the child’s relationship with their parents (Benbenishty et al., 2002).
In order to pursue my dream as a Forensic Psychologists I am aware that I have to put in a lot of effort and determination in to school. There are various aspects to pursuing my career such as getting good grades, volunteering in police departments, networking, and doing an immense amount of research on my field. The career I chose requires a lot of my time not only as a student but as an adult. What I mean by this is that from now on, my time is devoted in to acquiring skills and changing my persona in order to be better qualified for the my job. Throughout this road map I will talk about what is a Forensic Psychologist, what are the requirements, skills necessary, what I could do with this degree, the personality types that are best suited for this job, and what are the prospects of moving up.
The topic I find such fascinating is Forensic Science and how forensic science has significantly changed over the years. “The area of forensic science has grown considerably over the last 150 years and more so since the mid 1980’s.” (Lyman, 2016) Forensic science has gone from taking basic information, and fingerprints to DNA and blood splatter. During a crime scene investigation evidence is collected, analyzed in a crime laboratory and then if needed are presented to the court. However, today the crime laboratory is becoming mobile and can go to the scene to analyze the evidence. Each crime scene and investigation is unique and distinctive, with the help of forensics it can help solve a case.