Ethical Practice in Forensic Psychology: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals

Forensic psychologists have consistently relied upon Ethical Practice in Forensic Psychology for expert advice on negotiating ethical dilemmas in forensic contexts, including civil, criminal, and family law cases. This fully updated second edition presents an updated systematic decision-making model based on positive ethics that practitioners can use to address conflicting roles and responsibilities, balance competing ethical and legal requirements, and maintain high standards of ethical practice and professional competence.
 
Authors Shane Bush, Mary Connell, and Robert Denney are renowned experts in forensic psychology and neuropsychology. They answer complex ethical questions related to third-party requests, collecting and reviewing data from multiples sources, conducting forensic evaluations, and reporting results in written reports and courtroom testimony. They also offer suggestions for addressing potential ethical misconduct by colleagues. Detailed case examples illustrate how to apply this book’s ethical decision-making model in realistic scenarios. This second edition examines significant new research and incorporates updated guidance from the APA Ethics Code, APA’s Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology, and other resources that have emerged since the first edition.

Shane S. Bush, PhD, ABPP, is director of Long Island Neuropsychology, PC and an adjunct faculty member in the University of Alabama’s Department of Psychology. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and a past president and fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology. Dr. Bush has published more than 20 books, including Forensic Geropsychology: Practice Essentials (2018) and the APA Handbook of Forensic Neuropsychology (2018). He has served on multiple ethics committees, including the ABPP Ethics Committee. In 2019, he was the recipient of the American Psychological Association’s Award for Distinguished Contributions to Independent Practice.

Mary Connell, EdD, ABPP, is a board-certified forensic and clinical psychologist with an independent practice in Fort Worth, Texas. She works as a consultant and a testifying expert in military courts-martial and civil litigation involving intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse. Dr. Connell has served on boards and committees at several professional organizations, including the APA Ethics Committee. She has published extensively on topics such as child custody/access matters, parenting examinations, treatment considerations for children in pending sexual abuse investigations, ethics in forensic practice, and death penalty mitigation. Mary Connell lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

Robert L. Denney, PsyD, ABPP, is a consultant for prosecuting and defense attorneys, judges, and the insurance industry and is a clinical neuropsychologist at the Missouri Memory Center and Neurology Clinic at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Missouri. He is a fellow and past president of the National Academy of Neuropsychology. Dr. Denney has published and presented extensively on topics including neuropsychological evaluations of criminal defendants, evaluating psychological damages, brain injury, malingering, and admissibility of scientific evidence. Robert Denney lives in Springfield, Missouri.

Shane S. Bush, PhD, ABPP, is director of Long Island Neuropsychology, PC and an adjunct faculty member in the University of Alabama’s Department of Psychology. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and a past president and fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology. Dr. Bush has published more than 20 books, including Forensic Geropsychology: Practice Essentials (2018) and the APA Handbook of Forensic Neuropsychology (2018). He has served on multiple ethics committees, including the ABPP Ethics Committee. In 2019, he was the recipient of the American Psychological Association’s Award for Distinguished Contributions to Independent Practice.

Mary Connell, EdD, ABPP, is a board-certified forensic and clinical psychologist with an independent practice in Fort Worth, Texas. She works as a consultant and a testifying expert in military courts-martial and civil litigation involving intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse. Dr. Connell has served on boards and committees at several professional organizations, including the APA Ethics Committee. She has published extensively on topics such as child custody/access matters, parenting examinations, treatment considerations for children in pending sexual abuse investigations, ethics in forensic practice, and death penalty mitigation. Mary Connell lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

Robert L. Denney, PsyD, ABPP, is a consultant for prosecuting and defense attorneys, judges, and the insurance industry and is a clinical neuropsychologist at the Missouri Memory Center and Neurology Clinic at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Missouri. He is a fellow and past president of the National Academy of Neuropsychology. Dr. Denney has published and presented extensively on topics including neuropsychological evaluations of criminal defendants, evaluating psychological damages, brain injury, malingering, and admissibility of scientific evidence. Robert Denney lives in Springfield, Missouri.