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Assignment Instructions Assignment Title: Forensic Psychology Assessment Report Objective: To evaluate forensic mental health assessments and ethical considerations. Scenario: As a forensic psychologist, you are reviewing a case involving competency and mental health evaluation. Requirements:
- Summarize the psychological assessment conducted.
- Evaluate its reliability and validity using scholarly frameworks.
- Discuss ethical implications of the findings. Formatting: APA format, 3–4 pages, minimum three references. Submission: Submit through the psychology course portal. Forensic Psychology School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Capella University PSYC-FPX 3130: Criminal Psychology and Behavior The Purpose of Mental Health Assessment in Forensic Psychology
In forensic psychology mental health assessments can be required for multiple reasons. This paper will reflect the importance of mental health assessments when evaluating an offender for the insanity defense, the reliability and validity of assessments and measures, and the APA ethical codes to take into consideration. Mental health assessments are used when ordered by the court or any type of investigative organization. These requirements have been put into place to rehabilitate offenders back to society versus incarceration. (Bartol & Bartol, 2021) The sole and most important purpose of the insanity defense is to evaluate an offender who has a mental illness, for they should not be held criminally responsible for it is considered unjust to do so. (Gilligan, 2019) Information obtained within the results of the assessment will be reviewed by a psychologist to either rule the offender incompetent and suggest treatment in a mental health facility or incarceration. (Gilligan, 2019) Once an offender has had the proper treatment, they shall then either be ruled competent to stand trial or shall be released; the holding of an individual with a mental health illness without treatment is unjust and cruel. (Gilligan, 2019) Reliability and validity are important when accessing the creditability of a mental health assessment. Reliability measures wither an assessment gives the same results each time it is utilized. (Sullivan, 2011) We can look at reliability as the results being consistent and dependable. (Sullivan, 2011) Validity measures or refers to the accuracy of the assessment’s measurements. (Sullivan, 2011) In order for the assessment results to be credible it must be both reliable and valid. (Sullivan, 2011) The reliability and validity of an assessment must be first examined then reported and referenced that are cited, for each assessment used to measure any outcomes of study. (Sullivan, 2011) Both the reliability and validity can be measured, the following paragraph will explain how both are measured. There are several ways that reliability can be measured for accuracy. A few of the tests are as follows: Cronbach alpha measures the correlation between values with the answers of the assessment. (Sullivan, 2011) The test/retest method test to ensure that the same results are given each time the assessment is taking. (Sullivan, 2011) Another way to measure the reliability of an assessment includes interrater reliability which consists of studying the effect of different raters who have used the same tool. (Sullivan, 2011) The validity of an assessment requires several more sources of evidence to make sure the assessment is measuring what it is supposed to measure.
References American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Author. Gilligan, J. (2019). Why we should universalize the insanity defense and replace punishment with therapy and education. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 46, 225–231. Sullivan G. M. (2011). A primer on the validity of assessment instruments. Journal of graduate medical education, 3(2), 119–120.
