Principles of Forensic Report Writing

Description

Principles of Forensic Report Writing explores the psychology of report writing, including the motivations of readers and writers, communicative and performative concerns, and the cognitive science that applies to the process.

The book addresses foundational principles rather than mechanics and how these feed back to the assessment process. Emphasis is placed throughout on the problem of applying general research, nomothetic tests, and generally useful actuarials to specific cases.

Table of contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. The Functions of Forensic Reports
2. Organization of the Report
3. Converting the Legal Issue Into a Psychological Question
4. Laying the Groundwork for an Opinion
5. Citing Different Kinds of Evidence
6. How to Present Your Opinion
7. Critical Thinking in Forensic Analysis
8. Legal and Ethical Pitfalls
9. Culturally Competent Report Writing
10. Writing an Effective Report
Appendix: Two Sample Reports
References
Index
About the Authors