Search

Clinical psychology is characterized by persistent disagreement about fundamental aspects of the discipline ranging from what mental disorders are to what constitutes effective treatment. Attempts to address the problem of epistemic disagreement have been frequently based on establishing the correct answer by fiat without identifying and addressing the sources of the disagreement. We argue that this strategy has not worked very well and the result is frequently ongoing and intractable disagreement, with each side in an argument convinced they are correct. In this paper, we outline an epistemic disagreement procedural model intended to assist researchers and clinicians in the field of clinical psychology to identify, explore, and develop inquiry strategies that capitalize on situations where competing knowledge claims are made. The result is a flexible conceptual framework committed to a defensible epistemic pluralism, fallibilism, and contextualism, across the various research tasks constituting the field of clinical psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the Good Lives Model's (GLM) inception, researchers and practitioners have faced questions about its implementation. Programs claiming to use the GLM vary substantially in the extent to which the GLM informs treatment, and no tools exist to monitor therapist fidelity to the GLM. The aim of the current paper is to offer a concrete tool to monitor therapist fidelity to the GLM. The GLM Fidelity Monitoring Tool offers the beginnings of a method for how therapists and supervisors can address the central question of "How well are we implementing the Good Lives Model?" The tool consists of three sections: (i) Fundamental Considerations and Processes, which focus on therapeutic process variables consistent with the GLM but not specific to the GLM, and are rated numerically for fidelity, (ii) GLM-Specific Considerations and Processes, also rated numerically for fidelity, and (iii) Client-Focused GLM Considerations, which are a set of questions exploring the therapist's progress developing a GLM grounded case formulation and therapy plan for individual clients. The tool is designed to help guide supervision discussions and promote therapist fidelity to the GLM. Future research implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important part of the work of forensic scientists is communicating accurate information to lay factfinders under conditions of uncertainty. It is an ethically demanding role as it obliges scientists to disclose information that may call their own authority into question. Similar issues arise in other areas of applied science, for example climate science. This article builds the ethical framework for scientific communication under uncertainty proposed by Keohane, Lane and Oppenheimer and argues that with some modifications their work provides useful guidance for forensic scientists. It also questions whether the current system of Streamlined Forensic Reporting is compatible with that framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practice frameworks are a unique type of theory that bridge the gap between abstract explanatory theories, knowledge categories, normative assumptions, and treatment theories. The values component of practice frameworks is particularly critical as it frames the problem space (niches) within which practitioners engage in practice tasks, for example, moral repair, risk reduction, or community integration. It also picks out the specific kinds of entities and their relationships that researchers are most interested in. In effect, values and their related principles play a major role in abstractly mapping out domains of practice while the knowledge related assumptions (e.g., core categories and causal powers) flesh out core entities and processes indicated by these values. In this paper we provide an overview of practice frameworks and examine the role of their normative assumptions in mapping out correctional research and practice tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, epistemic pluralism has received considerable endorsement as an approach to constructing scientific explanations and pursuing empirical research programs. In this article, we briefly discuss the advantages of an epistemically pluralist approach before outlining our own model of epistemic pluralism. The model we present emphasizes the specific considerations that occur when determining and justifying the selection of conceptual strategies and how conceptual strategies work together to provide task-relevant insights. By clarifying these constraint relationships, we highlight the kinds of systematic considerations that must be taken into account when selecting conceptual strategies for research tasks. We present a case study based on gang research to demonstrate how such considerations occur and the epistemic and pragmatic benefits of doing so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The model of evidence-based practice (EBP) directs clinicians to integrate the best available research evidence, clinical expertise, client preferences and values, and social and cultural factors in the assessment and treatment of psychological problems. Despite its many strengths, the five-step inquiry component of the EBP model suffers from several conceptual and practical problems that make it difficult to implement in practice. In this article, we first outline the transdisciplinary EBP model. Second, several criticisms of the overall EBP model are outlined and briefly discussed. Third, five pressing problems in the inquiry component of the EBP model are identified: (a) information overload, (b) a focus on questions rather than tasks, (c) neglect of theory, (d) difficulty dealing with conflicting evidence, and (e) an oversimplified view of the role of values in research and practice. Fourth, we suggest ways of modifying the inquiry part of the model to address these problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Case commentary of the Court of Appeal ruling in R v Brecani [2021] EWCA Crim 731. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental disorders are arguably one of the most complex and serious problems facing health practitioners today and yet their causes remain, largely, a mystery. Accordingly, there is frequent and heated debate over which of the many available models of mental disorder and their associated therapeutic interventions are likely to be most useful. The prevailing attitude toward the conceptualization of mental distress appears to be that a single superior model will emerge that neatly accounts for one or more disorder presentations: the "One Best Model" (OBM) perspective. In this article, we argue for a transition away from the OBM perspective toward a multiple model approach to psychopathology that is collaborative and pluralistic. We begin by outlining the particulars of the OBM perspective and elaborating on the problems it presents for psychopathology theory and practice. We then suggest specific ways in which this problem may be ameliorated, by adjusting how we approach the processes of modelling disorder, translating models into interventions, and applying models and interventions in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the makeup of mental disorders has great value for both research and practice in psychopathology. The richer and more detailed our compositional explanations of mental disorder—that is, comprehensive accounts of client signs and symptoms—the more information we have to inform etiological explanations, classification schemes, clinical assessment, and treatment. However, at present, no explicit compositional explanations of psychopathology have been developed and the existing descriptive accounts that could conceivably fill this role—DSM/ICD syndromes, transdiagnostic and dimensional approaches, symptom network models, historical accounts, case narratives, and the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)—fall short in critical ways. In this article, we discuss what compositional explanations are, their role in scientific inquiry, and their importance for psychopathology research and practice. We then explain why current descriptive accounts of mental disorder fall short of providing such an explanation and demonstrate how effective compositional explanations could be constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Good Lives Model and restorative justice, although both innovative practices with a number of common traits, interests and aims, have been developing in parallel or even at odds with each other for a number of years. As a consequence, they have rarely been examined as possibly complementary and of use to each other. In this article we aim to explore these innovative practices individually and to look at how they might work together to address the harm in a positive and constructive way for all stakeholders. We examine the possibilities of how a new approach to criminology, a criminology of trust, could be further developed through their lens and their possible complementarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a series of judicial decisions and Practice Directions, the English courts have developed a rule that expert evidence must have 'a sufficiently reliable scientific basis to be admitted'. There is a dearth of case-law as to what degree of reliability is 'sufficient'. This article argues that the test should be interpreted as analogous to one developed in the law of hearsay: expert evidence (scientific or otherwise) must be 'potentially safely reliable' in the context of the evidence as a whole. The implications of this test will vary according to the relationship between the expert evidence and the other evidence in the case. The article identifies three main patterns into which this relationship falls. Whether the jury relies upon the evidence will depend upon what they regard as the best explanation of the evidence and how far they trust the expert. Whether their reliance is safe (as a basis for conviction) depends on whether they could rationally rule out explanations consistent with innocence, and whether the degree to which they take the expert's evidence on trust is consistent with prosecution's burden of proving the essential elements of its case, including the reliability of any scientific techniques on which it relies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we briefly overview some current approaches to identifying targets of explanation in psychopathology. We suggest that DSM syndromes and symptom network models are too large to facilitate explanatory progress, while approaches couched in the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) are too tightly focused, thereby overlooking the self-maintaining structures and processes that constitute mental disorders. We then present the Relational Analysis of Phenomena (RAP) as a complementary method. The RAP is a metamethodological explanatory framework that prescribes the repeated targeting of "phenomena complexes" (PCs). PCs are small systems of clinical phenomena and their relations. We describe a process by which PCs are targeted, richly described, and then explained. The RAP's explanatory focus is on the relationships between clinical phenomena, which should help to reveal the constitutional structure of mental disorders. This framework is designed to be useful for theoreticians, research teams planning multidisciplinary investigatory projects, and clinicians reflecting on their explanatory methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our understanding of mental disorders is facilitated by our theoretical explanations of them. At present, these explanations are practically and theoretically insufficient; possessing widespread conceptual issues (e.g., lack of richness and specificity) and producing therapeutic treatments that lack effectiveness. In our view, one reason for such issues is that we are currently without a systematic method for the construction of these explanations. We therefore present to the reader the Phenomena Detection Method for Theory Construction (PDM-TC), a preliminary systematic framework for the construction of psychopathological explanation comprising three phases: (a) selecting an appropriate explanatory target, (b) developing a rich compositional description, and (c) developing a quality etiological explanation. Using theories of eating disorders as a sustained example, we demonstrate how current explanations of psychopathology execute the tasks associated with each of these phases insufficiently and how the conceptual issues they evidence can be ameliorated by the PDM-TC framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the 2019 England and Wales Court of Appeals case Liverpool Victoria Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Zafar which deals with a complaint of civil contempt against expert witness Dr. Zafar based on a report that he amended and submitted in a whiplash injury-based legal action. The legal aspects of making a false statement in a legal document are examined, along with statements of truth and British criminal practice directives.

This article looks at human trafficking from a perspective influenced by the 'vulnerability theory' developed by Martha Fineman and her associates. It draws particularly on empirical studies of human trafficking from Albania to the UK and elsewhere. It suggests that Fineman's approach needs to be modified to see the state not only as ameliorating vulnerability, or failing to do so, but as actively creating and using vulnerability to control or exploit its population. The fact that people are placed, for political, social and economic reasons, in situations of heightened vulnerability does not of itself deprive them of agency or responsibility. People should, however, be understood as 'vulnerable subjects' whose capacity for autonomy may be lost when they are deprived of supportive social relationships. The implications of this view for the criminal responsibility of trafficking victims are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychopathology classification is at a conceptual crossroads. It is becoming increasingly accepted that the flaws of the DSM relate to its struggles to pick out "real" entities as opposed to clusters of symptoms. The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) was formulated in response to this failure, and attempts to address the concerns confronting the DSM by shifting to a causal and continuous model of psychopathology. Noting key criticisms of neurocentricism and problems with conceptual validity leveled at the RDoC, we argue that they stem from its grounding in the metaphysical position of eliminative materialism, or at least material-reductionism. We propose that 3e cognition (viewing the mind as embodied, embedded, and enactive) offers a superior alternative to eliminative materialism. A 3e-informed framework of mental disorder is sketched out and its advantages as a basis for classifying and conceptualizing mental disorders are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cases of human trafficking are known to be difficult to prosecute. In this article we identify several issues in the law of evidence that may contribute to these difficulties. We argue for the victims' rights as an important factor in evidential decisions, coupled with an insistence that such rights cannot trump the defendant's right to a fair trial. Restrictions on evidence of a witness's bad character or sexual history should not be interpreted in such a way as to prevent the defence from introducing evidence, or asking questions, that are of substantial probative value, even if they are potentially distressing to witnesses; but such evidence and questioning should be limited to what is necessary for a fair trial. The protection of victims and witnesses may also justify a relatively flexible approach to the admission of hearsay evidence, which avoids prejudging the truth of a witness's evidence in order to establish that s/he is in fear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article criticises H. L. Ho’s argument that the exclusion of improperly obtained evidence can best be understood in terms of a ‘political’ rather than ‘epistemic’ conception of the criminal trial. It argues that an epistemic conception of the trial, as an institution primarily concerned with arriving at accurate verdicts on the part of an independent and impartial fact-finder, is an important element of the rule of law. The court also has a duty to uphold other elements of the rule of law. The rule of law should be seen as concerned with upholding moral and political rights, including those of victims as well as defendants. The ‘vindication principle’, requiring decisions on exclusion of evidence to take account of both these sets of rights, is defended as being consistent with this understanding of the rule of law and with the epistemic conception of the trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some patients with chronic physical complaints, detailed examination fails to reveal a well-recognized underlying disease process. In this situation, the physician may suspect a psychological cause. In this review, we critically evaluated the evidence for this causal claim, focusing on complaints presenting as neurological disorders. There were four main conclusions. First, patients with these complaints frequently exhibit psychopathology but not consistently more often than patients with a comparable "organic" diagnosis, so a causal role cannot be inferred. Second, these patients report a high incidence of adverse life experiences, but again, there is insufficient evidence to indicate a causal role for any particular type of experience. Third, although psychogenic illnesses are believed to be more responsive to psychological interventions than comparable "organic" illnesses, there is currently no evidence to support this claim. Finally, recent evidence suggests that biological and physical factors play a much greater causal role in these illnesses than previously believed. We conclude that there is currently little evidential support for psychogenic theories of illness in the neurological domain. In future research, researchers need to take a wider view concerning the etiology of these illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the relationships between indicators of offender supervision outcomes and dimensions of positive psychological states (PPS). Results of a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed that the first-order positive psychology constructs converge to form a higher order construct of PPS which was inversely associated with supervision outcomes. Furthermore, the mediating effect of PPS on the relationship between criminogenic risk factors and all offender supervision outcome variables was statistically significant, suggesting that offenders with heightened PPS are likely to have fewer criminogenic risk factors and are less likely to be reported for technical violation, charged, reconvicted, and imprisoned. The implications of these findings for correctional theory, practice, and policy conclude the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous literature has highlighted a number of concerns about forensic care and rehabilitation by those who use the services. The Good Lives Model (GLM) is a strength-based, humanistic approach to offender rehabilitation that has been largely overlooked by forensic mental health practitioners. This study explored the impact of a brief GLM program on forensic service users' perceptions of rehabilitation, both within and beyond therapeutic programs, using a thematically linked, multiple-case study research design. Pre-post comparisons of participants' perceptions of rehabilitation suggested three different outcomes: definite change, subtle change, and no change. Possible factors associated with participants' divergent experiences included level of exposure to the GLM, readiness to change, and practitioners' adherence to the GLM and experience with the model. The importance of attending to the wider system for successful implementation of this innovative approach is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of DNA evidence in the sexual offence case R v FNC in Great Britain. The topics discussed include the decision of the Court of Appeals on the case, the sufficiency of the DNA evidence as a concrete proof to determine the existence of a case, and the situation when the men ejaculated on the trousers of the victim while boarding the underground train.

An amendment to the Criminal Practice Direction issued by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales lays down guidance for judges to follow in determining whether expert evidence is ‘sufficiently reliable to be admitted’. Although the guidelines are based on those proposed by the Law Commission in 2011, they do not include a definition of ‘sufficiently reliable’, such as would have been provided by the Law Commission’s Draft Bill, which the government declined to introduce. A criterion of ‘sufficient reliability’ must therefore be found within the common law. This article argues that ‘sufficient reliability’ is an aspect of ‘helpfulness’ and reflects the principle that experts should provide the jury with criteria with which to assess the weight of their evidence. Reliable evidence, in short, is evidence that provides the jury with sound reasons for relying on it. This criterion could be as rigorous as that proposed by the Law Commission, and possibly more so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a court case wherein the Supreme Court of Ireland held that s.23 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2010 allows the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to make a with prejudice appeal against an acquittal wherein a ruling was made during the course of a trial that erroneously excluded compelling evidence. It notes that the exclusionary rule in Ireland is unusually rigid as compared to other common law jurisdictions.

The issue of dual roles within forensic and correctional fields has typically been conceptualized as dissonance—experienced by practitioners—when attempting to adhere to the conflicting ethical requirements associated with client well-being and community protection. In this article, we argue that the dual role problem should be conceptualized more broadly to incorporate the relationship between the offender and their victim. We also propose that restorative justice (RJ) is able to provide a preliminary ethical framework to deal with this common ethical oversight. Furthermore, we unite the RJ framework with that of Ward’s moral acquaintance model to provide a more powerful approach (RJ-informed moral acquaintance) aimed at addressing the ethical challenges faced by practitioners within forensic and correctional roles. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the British court case R v. H [2014] wherein the court convicted the applicant (H) on multiple counts of cruelty by neglect, rape, and sexual assaults committed against his daughter, who is the complainant (C). In ruling, the judge dismissed H's appeal for psychiatric evidence prepared by Doctor Boakes to be admitted in court to determine the credibility of C, and rejected H's contention that evidence from Doctors Atkin and McEwen was prejudiced against him.

The article discusses the British court case R. v. Rehman, Rasheed and Ali wherein the appellants challenged the trial judge's rulings concerning the playing of the complainant's achieving best evidence (ABE) interviews to the jury and the exclusion of evidence of the complainant's bad character. Topics covered include the appellant's conviction of rape and child trafficking, bad character and sexual history evidence, and the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act of 1999.

This study investigated the effects of perceived maternal and paternal acceptance, and parental power and prestige on university students' psychological adjustment. The sample consisted of 315 students ( 17% males) ages 18 through 49 years (M = 23.35) from the United Kingdom. Measures used were the adult versions of Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire for mothers and fathers, the adult version of the Parental Power-Prestige Questionnaire, and the adult version of the Personality Assessment Questionnaire. Results showed significant positive correlations between perceived parental acceptance and students' psychological adjustment, and between perceived maternal acceptance and power and prestige. Significant negative correlations were found between perceived paternal acceptance and power and prestige, and between perceived parental prestige and psychological adjustment as well as between a composite measure of power-prestige and students' psychological adjustment. Results of hierarchical regression analyses showed that both perceived maternal and paternal acceptance made significant and unique contributions to students' (both men's and women's) psychological adjustment. In addition, a composite measure of power-prestige significantly moderated the relationship between perceived maternal (but not paternal) acceptance and students' psychological adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The good lives model (GLM) has become an increasingly popular theoretical framework underpinning sex offender treatment programs, and preliminary research suggests that the GLM may enhance the efficacy of programs that adhere to the Risk, Need, and Responsivity (RNR) principles. However, this potential rests on the appropriate operationalization of the GLM in practice. Operationalized appropriately, the GLM aims to facilitate risk reduction alongside equipping clients with the tools to live personally meaningful and fulfilling lives. However, misguided operationalization of the GLM could result in ineffective treatment and ultimately higher rates of reoffending. This article presents findings from a multisite study exploring how the GLM has been operationalized and the degree to which the GLM has been integrated in a sample of 13 North American treatment programs. A comprehensive coding protocol was developed that included items related to program aims and client induction/orientation, assessment, intervention planning, intervention content, and intervention delivery. Each site was visited and items were rated through a review of program documentation, interviews with program directors/managers, and observations of treatment groups. Findings from inductive (how the GLM was operationalized) and deductive (the extent to which the GLM was integrated) analyses are presented and GLM consistent and inconsistent practices are highlighted. The article concludes with suggestions for ways in which program responsiveness to the GLM could be enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I examine Bruce Arrigo’s target article and the implications of his thesis that the mental health and criminal justice systems marginalize vulnerable individuals through a variety of symbolic and discursive practices. In particular, I direct my attention to the problem of value pluralism and how it can create problems communicating across different moral communities. I apply the insights of relational ethics and the concept of moral acquaintanceship in an attempt to bridge this gap. I then discuss the implications of this framework for Arrigo’s thesis and a story written by Amy Johnson describing the devastating effects of abuse, racism, and illness on a person of color. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The good lives model (GLM) represents a new theoretical framework informing sex offender treatment programs; however, substantial variation has been observed in terms of how GLM-related ideas and practices have been applied. Integrated appropriately, the GLM offers potential for improving outcomes of programs following a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) approach and operating according to a narrow operationalization of risk, need, responsivity (RNR) principles. Conversely, misguided or otherwise poor integration could increase the very risk practitioners work to prevent and manage. The purpose of this article is to provide an introduction and overview on how to integrate the GLM into treatment using CBT and RNR. The authors describe clinical implications of the GLM as they relate to program aims and orientation, assessment and intervention planning, content, and delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive distortions in sex offenders are specific or general beliefs/attitudes that violate commonly accepted norms of rationality that have been shown to be associated with the onset and maintenance of sexual offending. In this article, we describe the major theories that have been formulated to explain the role of distorted cognition in initiating and maintaining sexual offending. We evaluate each theory in light of a set of theory appraisal criteria and the available empirical research. Finally, we conclude by drawing together the results of this theory evaluation process and highlight the major implications for treatment and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article focuses on the good lives model (GLM) which represents a strength-based rehabilitation theory that aims to provide additional value using the risk need responsibility (RNR). It states that GLM was advanced and developed by Tony Ward and colleagues to supply the community with external and internal resources to live a better and good life. Moreover, the nature of offender and psychological rehabilitation were also been evaluated.

Research into the heterogeneity of female violent offending is sparse, even though females constitute a growing part of the prisoner population. There is evidence that the majority of female violent offenders display over-controlled traits related to uncharacteristic offending. This hypothesis was explored through a multivariate model, the Pathways Model of Assault, with interview data from 17 female assault offenders. Five different offence types were displayed, reflecting the same offence styles as male offenders. However, only two participants displayed an over-controlled offence type. Qualitative differences within the data suggested that offender rehabilitation should be tailored specifically for different gender needs in addition to the needs suggested by the different offence types. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The ethics of care acknowledges the importance of establishing and maintaining practices that help people to meet their needs, develop and protect basic capabilities for problem solving, emotional functioning, and social interaction, and avoid pain and suffering. In this article, we explore the contribution an ethics of care perspective can make to work with sex offenders. First, we briefly describe five classes of ethical problems evident in work with sex offenders. Second, the concept of care is defined and a justification for a version of care theory provided. Third, we apply the care ethical theory to ethical issues with sex offenders and demonstrate its value in responding to the five classes of problems outlined earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article investigates some of the primary assumptions and values that underpin correctional practice in the area of offender rehabilitation. It is suggested that values are reflected in offenders' and clinicians' fundamental beliefs about the rehabilitative process and as such underlie their various actions. This article identifies three areas in which values may be important (organisational values about crime and punishment, professional values, and personal values) and discusses each in relation to its relevance for rehabilitative practice. It is concluded that despite the apparent role of values in the correctional domain, very little is known about the values of those who deliver rehabilitative programs and how these might influence rehabilitative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on offending behavior rehabilitation suggests that offenders would gain the maximum benefit from programs that reflect the individual needs of different types of offender. Multivariate theories of offending behavior are thus required to inform individualized rehabilitation. The aim of the current study was to construct a multivariate model for the prolific offense of assault. Qualitative methodology was used to construct a descriptive model of assault for 25 adult assault offenders. The model incorporated the development of violent behavior, types of anger, violence motivation, and the assault offense. The model consisted of 14 categories, 10 of which allowed for individual differences in behavior. A total of 35 participant transcripts were then coded through the model where the individual differences occurred. Five main offense types were found. The characteristics of the types of assault offense gave indications for how rehabilitation may be targeted for each group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reluctance of English and other common-law criminal courts to admit expert evidence of witness credibility is rooted in two main objections: that such evidence needlessly complicates the jury's task and that it threatens to ‘usurp’ the jury's role. The ‘usurpation’ objection can be understood as referring to a risk that the expert will be accorded unwarranted epistemic authority on matters which it is important for the jury to decide for itself. These objections have substance, and although they apply to expert evidence in general they have particular force when applied to evidence of credibility. But the jury, as a responsible fact-finder, also has a duty to attend to expert evidence that will help it avoid ‘epistemic injustice’. Particularly in rape and sexual abuse cases, there are good reasons for admitting some forms of expert evidence of credibility, and concerns about ‘usurpation’ do not justify the British government's apparent abandonment of proposals to make such evidence more widely admissible in rape trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human rights create a protective zone around persons and allow them the opportunity to further their valued personal projects without interference from others. This article considers the relationship between human rights and the general ethical principles and standards contained in the American Psychological Association's (APA's) code of ethics as applied to the forensic domain. First, it analyzes the concept of human rights, their structure, and their justification. Second, it briefly describes the APA's most recent code of ethics and the principles and standards that compose it. Third, it concludes by explicitly examining the relationship between the present human rights model and the APA's code, demonstrating how it is able to provide an additional ethical resource for forensic practitioners in their clinical work and so deepen their ethical sensibilities and decision making. Finally, the article presents a case study and discusses the human rights issues confronting practitioners inherent in such situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although violent offenders are widely considered to be difficult to engage in therapeutic change, few methods of assessing treatment readiness currently exist. In this article the validation of a brief self-report measure designed to assess treatment readiness in offenders who have been referred to violent offender treatment programs is described. The measure, which is an adaptation of a general measure of treatment readiness developed in a previous work, displayed acceptable levels of convergent and discriminant validity and was able to successfully predict treatment engagement in violent offender treatment. These results suggest that the measure has utility in the assessment of treatment readiness in violent offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although considerable efforts have been made to develop and validate etiological models of male sexual offending, no theory is available to guide research or practice with female sexual offenders (FSOs). In this study, the authors developed a descriptive, offense process model of female sexual offending. Systematic qualitative analyses (i.e., grounded theory) of 22 FSOs' offense interviews were used to develop a temporal model documenting the contributory roles of cognitive, behavioral, affective, and contextual factors in female sexual abuse. The model highlights notable similarities and divergences between male and female sexual offenders' vulnerability factors and offense styles. In particular, the model incorporates male co-offender and group co-offender influences and describes how these interact with vulnerability factors to generate female sexual offending. The gender-specific research and clinical implications of the model are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the authors examine the relevance of the concept of moral repair for sex offenders who have been victims of sexual or physical abuse. First, they briefly review the literature on victimization rates and effects in sexual offenders. Second, the notion of moral repair and its constituent tasks is examined with particular emphasis given to Margaret Walker's recent analysis of the concept. Third, the concept of moral repair is applied to offenders and its implications and possible constraints discussed. Fourth, the authors outline a normative framework for addressing victimization issues with sexual offenders, drawing on the resources of human rights theory and strength-based treatment approaches. Finally, they conclude with a brief consideration of the ethical and clinical implications of their normative model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite some dissenting views, most recent comprehensive reviews of what works in the correctional domain agree that some types of rehabilitation programmes are particularly effective in reducing the reoffending rate. In this paper, we review rehabilitation and treatment approaches utilized historically and presently, with a specific focus on 'what works'. We examine the most widespread and successfully used rehabilitation principles (e.g., the Risk/Need/Responsibity Model), and then we turn our focus to specific treatment methods that are effective in reducing recidivism with sex offenders, paying particular attention to the relapse prevention model, and recent adaptations to this model (e.g., the self-regulation model). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the need to assess appropriate candidates for offender rehabilitation programs is widely acknowledged, few assessment tools are available that have been validated for use with offender populations. This article reports on the development and validation of a brief self-report measure designed to assess treatment readiness in offenders who have been referred to a cognitive skills program. The measure, the Corrections Victoria Treatment Readiness Questionnaire, displayed acceptable levels of convergent and discriminant validity, and was able to predict treatment engagement and treatment performance at the midpoint of the program. Suggested cutoff points are reported for use in assessing offenders for this type of program. It is concluded that the measure can play a valuable role in the assessment of offenders who are being considered for rehabilitative treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this article we operationalise the theoretical concepts of the Good Lives Model (GLM) of offender rehabilitation by providing a step-by-step framework for assessment, formulation, treatment planning, and monitoring with a high-risk violent offender residing in the community. The case study illustrates how the GLM can be applied to complement and enhance traditional Risk-Management interventions and shows how the GLM's clinical relevance extends from sex offending to broader offending typologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]