Clinical Psychology

Justice Journal, Law and Psychology Review, Criminal
Justice and Behavior, Behavioral Sciences and the Law,
American Journal of Forensic Psychology, andPsychol-
ogy, Public Policy, and Law.

Professional Issues

For some years, many were concerned that forensic
psychologists lacked status and recognition in the
eyes of their peers in other specialties (e.g., Kurke,
1980). The establishment of the American Board of
Forensic Psychology (ABFP) in 1978, to help the
public identify qualified practitioners and to pro-
mote the discipline, has served to allay some of
these concerns. Nevertheless, professional matters
such as certification and licensing have long been
issues of importance to forensic psychologists.

Training. Training in forensic psychology primarily
occurs at the doctorate and postdoctoral level. De-
Matteo and colleagues (2009) recommend that clinical
psychology graduate students interested in forensic
psychology obtain training and experience in the
foundations of clinical psychology, in research meth-
odology and statistics, in legal knowledge, in integra-
tive law-psychology, in ethics and professional issues,
and in clinical forensics. Increasingly, academic psy-
chology departments are offering forensic courses.
Currently, the Web site of Division 41 of the Ameri-
can Psychological Association (American Psychology-
Law Society) identifies 16 clinical Ph.D./Psy.D.
programs with a psychology and law emphasis as
well as 9 nonclinical programs with this emphasis.
There are currently 6 joint programs awarding both
psychology doctorates and the J.D. degree. In addition,
17 master’sprogramswithafocusonforensic

psychology are available, as are postdoctoral training

opportunities. Each year, the number and kinds of

programs continue to grow. Web site 19-2 at the

end of this chapter presents the most up-to-date infor-

mation on training opportunities.

Ethics and Standards. All of the ethical principles

and guidelines explored in previous chapters are rel-

evant here as well. In addition, it is recommended

that the forensic scientist follow the code of the

American Academy of Forensic Sciences. This code

stresses (a) completeness and accuracy in stating one’s

professional qualifications, (b) technical and scientific

accuracy and honesty in reports and testimony, and

(c) impartiality. As a further resource, Division 41

(American Psychology-Law Society) of APA has

developed a set ofSpecialty Guidelines for Forensic Psy-

chologists (Committee on Ethical Guidelines for

Forensic Psychologists, in press) that elaborate on

APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists as they

apply to the practice of forensic psychology (see

Web site 19-4). These include guidelines in the

areas of responsibilities, competence, relationships,

fees, informed consent/notification and assent, con-

flicts in practice, privacy and confidentiality, and

privilege, assessment, and communications.

Still, as we will discuss later in this chapter, the

ethical issues encountered by forensic psychologists in

the adversarial legal system can be formidable

(Wrightsman et al., 1998). Finally, Blau (1998) has

proposed several very explicit guidelines for the expert

witness activities of psychologists. They involve mat-

ters of work quality, competence and decorum, and

financial arrangements. Blau’s standards for financial

arrangements are presented in Table 19-2.

T A B L E 19-2 Standards for Financial Arrangements Applicable to the Expert Witness

1. The psychologist should never accept a fee contingent upon the outcome of a case.


2. The fee structure and details of reimbursement should be established between the psychologist and the retaining
   attorney during the initial consultation. The understanding should be in writing between the two parties.


3. All outstanding fees should be paid before the psychologist testifies.


4. Misunderstandings or disagreements about fees should be resolved before proceeding in the case.


5. Psychologists who testify regularly as expert witnesses should devote some portion of their professional time to
   pro bono publico*cases.

*Cases without compensation for the purpose of advancing a social cause or representing someone who cannot otherwise afford it.
SOURCE: Blau (1998), p. 402.

542 CHAPTER 19