Forensic mental health assessment (FMHA) has grown into a specialization informed by research and professional guidelines. This series presents up-to-date information on the most important and frequently conducted forms of FMHA. The 19 topical volumes address best approaches to practice for particular types of evaluation in the criminal, civil, and juvenile\/family areas. Each volume contains a thorough discussion of the relevant legal and psychological concepts,
followed by a step-by-step description of the assessment process from preparing for the evaluation to writing the report and testifying in court. Volumes include the following helpful features: \u00a7 Boxes that zero in on important information for use in evaluations \u00a7 Tips for best practice and cautions
against common pitfalls \u00a7 Highlighting of relevant case law and statutes \u00a7 Separate list of assessment tools for easy reference In making recommendations for best practice, authors consider empirical support, legal relevance, and consistency Helpful glossary of key terms for the particular topics offer invaluable guidance for anyone involved in conducting or using forensic evaluations. The present book focuses on evaluations for civil commitment of sexually violent predators (SVPs).
Although this book focuses on evaluating SVP cases, the considerations discussed in this book, such as determining a sex offenders risk to reoffend, apply to evaluations of sex offenders in other contexts (e.g., community notification, sentence enhancement, and probationary management) as well.<\/P>"