The Psychiatric Witness in Court

What Mental Health Professionals Need to Know

By (author) Calvin A. Colarusso

Publication date:

24 September 2014

Length of book:

320 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781442230392

In The Psychiatric Witness In Court: What Mental Health Professionals Need to Know, Cal Colarusso documents how the psychiatric profession plays a vital role in the legal process. Reports of evaluations and psychological test reports are provided, in addition to examples of direct testimony and cross-examination taken from actual cases. Colarusso ultimately demystifies the process by demonstrating that the well-prepared mental health expert has little to fear from cross-examination.

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1: Accepting the Role

Chapter 2: Professional and Personal Relationships with Lawyers.

Chapter 3: Components of a Thorough Adult Forensic Evaluation.

Chapter 4: Components of a Thorough Child Forensic Psychiatric Evaluation

Chapter 5: The Deposition

Chapter 6: Testifying in Court

Chapter 7: Testifying in Court

Chapter 8: The Case of Evan Doe

Chapter 9: A Survey of the Legal Literature

Bibliography

Calvin Colarusso, who has written about the devastating impact of childhood sexual abuse, now turns his attention to the art and science of being a psychiatric witness in the legal system. With the help of lucid vignettes and in a step-by-step manner, Colarusso dispels misconceptions regarding the courtroom and guides us through the labyrinthine process of cross-examination in the court. He delineates the stands one needs to take in order to be comprehensible, even-handed, and just under such circumstances. Since any and all of us can be called to testify on behalf of our patients, Colarusso’s book is of immense help!