Description
Evaluation of a Forensic Psychological Report
This course has provided you with a foundational knowledge of forensic psychological assessment. Successful integration of your skills is a significant aspect of this course. Throughout this course, you have learned about the variety of forensic psychological assessments.
In this assignment, apply what you have learned in this course to analyze a report of a recently paroled offender.
Scenario:
You are working as a forensic mental health professional in a parole outpatient clinic, which has received a forensic psychological and risk assessment report on a paroled offender. You have been asked evaluate the report and present it to the Board of Parole.
Click here to download the forensic psychology and risk assessment report.
Tasks:
Evaluate the forensic psychology and risk assessment report and create an 8- to 10-page essay in a Microsoft Word document addressing the following:
- Identify and describe the role and purpose of the report. Comment on whether the evaluation was or was not necessary. State the reasons for your opinion.
- Apply considerations of any information or sections that you found missing in the report as well as information that you found to be not relevant, i.e., elements that should have been omitted. In other words, what could have been added to or excluded from the report?
- Discuss the ways in which cultural sensitivity and aspects of diversity were addressed in the report, including any ways in which the report could be made more culturally sensitive and include greater considerations of elements of diversity.
- Identify and describe at least two additional psychological assessments or measures that you would have administered to obtain additional relevant information for the report. Feel free to list more than two as appropriate. Be sure to also consider cultural implications of the tests which you select.
- Explain how you would use the recommendations in the report to assist in the development of a treatment plan.
- Discuss in what capacity the report may be used in alternative venues. For example, can this report be utilized by other professionals in the future? If so, in what capacity?
- Discuss the overall quality and readability of this report, including a scholarly critique of the writing.
As you evaluate the report be sure to avoid using the word “I” in formal writing. Remember, the reader of your assignment will know it is your voice since you are the author of your paper. Also, consider the difference between the following two statements, “I think the report needed to have included . . .” and “The report needed to have included . . .” The first statement has some redundancy by the writer’s use of the word “I,” whereas the second statement displays greater confidence.
Your essay should rely upon at least seven scholarly resources from the professional literature that are cited in APA format. The literature may include the Argosy University online library resources; relevant textbooks; peer-reviewed journal articles; and websites created by professional organizations, agencies, or institutions (.edu or .gov).
Submission Details:
- By the due date assigned, save your essay as M5_A2_Lastname_Firstname.doc and submit it to the Submissions Area.
The LASA is worth 300 points and will be graded according to the following rubric:
Assignment Component | Proficient | Maximum Points |
Identify and describe the role and purpose of the report. Comment on whether the evaluation was or was not necessary. State the reasons for your viewpoint. | The role and purpose as well as the necessity of the report were stated and considered ethical considerations. The reasons for their viewpoints were fully articulated. |
44 |
Apply considerations of any information or sections that should be added to or removed from the report | Considerations of any information or sections that should be added to or removed from the report are complete, detailed and accurate. |
40 |
Discuss the ways in which cultural sensitivity and aspects of diversity were addressed in the report, including any ways in which the report could be made more culturally sensitive and include greater considerations of elements of diversity. | Analysis of the ways in which cultural sensitivity and aspects of diversity were addressed in the report and improvements for cultural sensitivity were complete, detailed and accurate. Several outside resources were utilized. |
44 |
Identify and describe at least two additional psychological assessments or measures that you would have administered to obtain additional relevant information for the report. Feel free to list more than two as appropriate. Be sure to also consider cultural applications of the tests which you select. | Two psychological assessment instruments were identified and discussed. Cultural implications of the selected measures were considered. |
44 |
Explain how you would use the recommendations in the report to assist in the development of a treatment plan. | An explanation of how the recommendations in the report could be used to assist in the development of a treatment plan was complete and accurate. |
44 |
Discuss in what capacity the report may be used in alternative venues by other professionals in the future and in what capacity | A discussion of how the report can be used in alternative venues by other professionals in the future and in what capacity was complete and accurate. |
28 |
Discuss the quality and readability of this report; include a scholarly critique of the writing. | A discussion of the quality and readability of the report and a scholarly critique of the writing were complete and detailed. |
28 |
Academic Writing | ||
Writing is generally clear and in an organized manner. It demonstrates ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and generally displays accurate spelling, grammar, punctuation. Errors are few, isolated, and do not interfere with reader's comprehension. Citations in text and at the end of the document are in correct APA format. |
Writing is generally clear and in an organized manner. It demonstrates ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and generally displays accurate spelling, grammar, punctuation. Errors are few, isolated, and do not interfere with reader's comprehension. Citations in text and at the end of the document are in correct APA format. |
28 |
Total: |
300 |
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Explanation & Answer
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OUTLINE
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Reference
Running head: EVALUATING A FORENSIC REPORT.
Evaluating a Forensic Report
Student Name:
Institutional Affiliation:
EVALUATING A FORENSIC REPORT
2
Evaluating a Forensic Report
The Forensic report was a document prepared by a psychologist to determine the suitability of
John Smith to be considered for parole. The record includes psychological evaluation and risk
assessments used as a basis for deciding to issue parole or decline request.
The purpose of the report is to enable the board of parole under the department of corrections to
decide the fate of John Smith who was incarcerated to be considered for parole owing to
significant behavior change.
The evaluation by a psychologist to determine the level of correction, and secondly to assess the
potential risk to society; with Mr. John Smith there is adequate evid ence of cooperation and
behavior change and a low threat to society, therefore, the parolee has a high chance of being
granted.
The reasons for the opinions are; first, John Smith enrolled in a program to address substance
abuse of which twenty-seven hours have been completed indicating the level of commitment
towards change. Secondly, John Smith obtained for vocational training to increase his
employability and attractiveness to employers. Thirdly, the low risk to society score is evidence
that John Smith life in society will be easily near normal. The desire to change and show a
favorable image to the daughter is a motivator to a fresh start for John Smith. John Smith is
reported to be cooperative and confident and has shown willingness to change by enrolling in
correctional programs. The fact that John Smith was saving means that he is willing to get a new
lease on life. The girlfriends who is working in a stable job has potential to provides social
support to John Smith as he starts living in Denver.
EVALUATING A FORENSIC REPORT
3
The report indicates that John Smith had anti-social behavior but fails to provide evidence, a
psychological evaluation by a psychologist also fails to diagnose Anti-social behavior. The
ability of John Smith to have a girlfriend, trust the girl friend to open savings account for him
in addition to thinking about the daughter from a previous relationship are indications of
efforts to create and maintain relationships. In my opinion, in such circumstances, it is not
fair to brand Mr. John Smith as Anti-social. There is no definite evidence of John Smith
suffering depression, and the only evidence is circumstantial arising from substance abuse.
The report suggests that there may be other stressors that have not identified which could
have driven John Smith to substance abuse as a reaction to the depressive stressors.
There is evidence that violent robbery and assault happened after substances abuse. There is
a possibility that if John Smith were sober, maybe he would not have been involved in
criminal activities. On two occasions, crime follows engagement with alcohol. The report
needs to have included a psychiatric evaluation on the state of mental health with concerns to
mental stability, assessment of the possible psychosis to warrant the recommendation of the
anti-psychotropic drug...