Forensic Training and Practice

Navigating the Expanding Field of Law and Psychology: A Comprehensive Guide to Graduate Education

“…This is particularly important for forensic psychology because of the need for uniformity in evaluation procedures and specific standards for licensure and board certification. As programs continue to grow in response to perceived community needs and faculty interests, it is important that the educational experience of students be standardized to ensure consistency in breadth and depth of training and quality of service to the community (Packer & Borum, 2003). Packer (2008a) has recently articulated the need for educational standards at all levels of training for forensic psychologists.…”

“…Development of these two "tracks" has led to a useful linguistic distinction that appears to be emerging between legal psychology, denoting psychological research related to the legal system, and forensic psychology, denoting clinical practice related to provision of expertise to the legal system (Packer, 2008b;Packer & Borum, 2003). The latter term is consistent with the definition of forensic psychology adopted by the Council of Specialties in Professional Psychology Zapf, 2006).…”

“…Other signs of growth in the emerging field included expanded conference programs and professional publications such as Law and Human Behavior (Grisso et al, 1982). In 2001 the APA formally recognized forensic psychology as a specialty area within the discipline of psychology (Packer & Borum, 2003), further establishing it as an accepted area of study.…”

“…Many of the programs listed were those identified in earlier surveys. A later tally noted 19 doctoral programs (Packer & Borum, 2003). A subsequent calculation by Krauss and Sales (2006) noted more than 30 programs, which they described as 5 JD/PhD programs; 15 doctoral programs with an emphasis or specialty in forensic psychology; 14 programs focusing on "the application of nonclinical psychology areas (e.g., cognitive, social) to forensic issues" (p. 852); and 8 master's level programs.…”

The Role of the Independent Neuropsychologist in Special Education

“…Special education evaluations have elements of forensic reporting because the evaluation may be used, in part, to affix the rights and privileges of individuals, such as educational placement, reimbursement for services or school tuition, or removal from school for disciplinary infractions (Committee on Ethical Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists, 1991;Packer & Borum, 2003). On the other hand, some of the aspirational rules or principles of forensic report writing are not applicable.…”