LSP Forensic Psychology & Legal Issues 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A forensic evaluator discovers mid-evaluation that a defendant has been coached on how to respond. The evaluator's best course of action is to:
- Continue the evaluation and disregard the coaching
- Document the coaching attempt and address it in the report, noting its potential impact on validity (Correct answer)
- Immediately stop and refuse to write any report
- Report the coaching only to the defense attorney
Correct answer: Document the coaching attempt and address it in the report, noting its potential impact on validity
Coaching affects the validity of findings and must be documented and addressed in the forensic report so the court can weigh its impact on the results.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a static risk factor for sexual recidivism?
- Participation in treatment
- Current substance abuse
- Age at first sexual offense (Correct answer)
- Quality of social support
Correct answer: Age at first sexual offense
Static risk factors are historical and unchangeable; age at first sexual offense is a fixed historical variable that predicts recidivism risk.
Question 3: In the context of expert testimony, what does 'reasonable degree of psychological certainty' typically mean?
- The opinion is proven beyond a reasonable doubt
- The opinion is more likely true than not (more probable than not) (Correct answer)
- The opinion has a 95% confidence interval
- The opinion is based solely on peer-reviewed research
Correct answer: The opinion is more likely true than not (more probable than not)
Reasonable degree of psychological certainty generally equates to the civil standard of more probable than not, not the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.
Question 4: A child discloses sexual abuse during a forensic interview. Which interview protocol is considered the gold standard for minimizing suggestibility?
- Cognitive Interview
- NICHD Protocol (Correct answer)
- Structured Clinical Interview (SCID)
- Motivational Interviewing
Correct answer: NICHD Protocol
The NICHD Protocol is an empirically validated forensic interview approach designed to elicit accurate, reliable disclosures from children while minimizing suggestibility.
Question 5: A defendant claims he did not know right from wrong at the time of the offense due to a severe mental illness. Which insanity standard does this reflect?
- Durham rule
- Model Penal Code test
- M'Naghten standard (Correct answer)
- Irresistible impulse test
Correct answer: M'Naghten standard
The M'Naghten standard focuses on whether, due to a mental disease, the defendant did not know the nature of the act or did not know it was wrong.
Question 6: Which ethical obligation distinguishes forensic psychological evaluations from standard clinical assessments regarding informed consent?
- Forensic evaluees must consent to all aspects of treatment
- Forensic evaluees must be informed that confidentiality is limited and findings may be disclosed to third parties (Correct answer)
- Forensic evaluees have the right to refuse participation without consequence
- Forensic evaluees must receive a copy of the final report
Correct answer: Forensic evaluees must be informed that confidentiality is limited and findings may be disclosed to third parties
In forensic contexts, evaluees must be clearly informed that the evaluation is not confidential and that findings will be shared with the court or retaining party.
Question 7: Which concept describes the legal standard that juveniles adjudicated delinquent must receive equivalent due process protections as adult criminal defendants?
- Parens patriae doctrine
- In re Gault decision (Correct answer)
- Kent v. United States ruling
- Roper v. Simmons holding
Correct answer: In re Gault decision
In re Gault (1967) established that juveniles in delinquency proceedings are entitled to due process rights including notice of charges, right to counsel, and privilege against self-incrimination.
LSP Forensic Psychology & Legal Issues 5
A forensic evaluator discovers mid-evaluation that a defendant has been coached on how to respond.
The evaluator's best course of action is to: