Synopses & Reviews
The role of behavioral and social sciences in the courtroom setting has expanded exponentially in the past few decades. It is now widely recognized that scientists in these areas provide critical contextual information for legal decision making, and that there is a reliable knowledge base for doing so. While there are many handbooks of forensic psychology, this is the first such volume to incorporate sociological findings, broadening the conceptual basis for examining cases in both the civil and criminal realms, including immigration issues, personal injury, child custody, and sexual harassment. This volume will examine the responsibilities of expert witnesses and consultants, and how they may utilize principles, theories and methods from both sociology and psychology. It will show these disciplines together can improve the identification and apprehension of criminals, as well as enhance the administration of justice by clarifying profiles of criminal behavior, particularly in cases of serial killers, death threat makers, stalkers, and kidnappers. The volume is quite comprehensive, covering a range of medical, school, environmental and business settings. Throughout it links basic ideas to real applications and their impact on the justice system.
Synopsis
Evolving Practice Parameters of Forensic Criminology.- The Work of the Sociologist as Mitigation Expert in Cases of Violent Crime.- "Oh, Stop That Cursed Jury" The Role of the Forensic Psychologist in the Mitigation Phase of the Death Penalty Trial.- The Problem of Interrogation-Induced False Confession: Sources of Failure in Prevention and Detention.- 'Brainwashing' as Forensic Evidence.- Target Selection by Criminal Groups and Gangs.- Gangs in the Workplace.- The Role of a Gang Expert in Court.-Competence to Proceed and Juvenile Courts.- Competency Evaluations for Adult Defendants.- Neuropsychological Evaluations of Hispanics.- Sociological Testimony in Employment- and Education-Related Litigation.- Preventing Workplace Violence and Litigation through Pre-Employment Screening and Enforcement of Workplace Conduct Expectations.- Critical Issues in the Evolving Diagnosis of PTSD.- Sociological Evidence in Suicide Litigation.- Sociological Data in Malpractice Lawsuits.- Sociological Testimony in Long-Term Care Litigation.- Sociological Testimony and Evidence in Product Liability Litigation.- Sociological Evidence in Human Factors-Related Litigation.- Sociological Testimony in Alcohol- and Other Drug-Associated Litigation.- Sociological Theory and Methods in Toxic Tort Lawsuits.- Child Custody Evaluations.- Parental Alienation.- Anger.- Forensic Evaluation of Child Abuse.- Sociological Evidence in Abuse Litigation.- Using Expert Witnesses in Immigration Hearings/ Court.- Forensic Sociology: The Case of Honor Killing in the Muslim World.- Courting Media: Mass Media Studies of Immigration Courts.- Sociological Evidence in Military Courts- Martial Pertaining to War Crimes.- Gender Matters Socio-Legal Studies, Courts-Martial, and the U.S. Military.- Appendix A - History of Radiation Processing, Contamination, and Environmental Clean-up Efforts.
Synopsis
This volume examines the responsibilities of expert witnesses and consultants and explores how they can utilize both sociology and psychology to help improve the identification and apprehension of criminals as well as enhance the administration of justice.
About the Author
Stephen J. Morewitz has over 18 years experience as a behavioral/public health scientist, university faculty member, and consultant. He runs a research institution in San Francisco supervising faculty research on the epidemiology and psychosocial aspects of the lower extremity disease/injury, disability, diabetes, and arthritis, and more. He has been on the staff or faculty of Michael Reese Hospital & Medical Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine & School of Public Health, DePaul University, Argonne National Laboratory, & the California College of Podiatric Medicine. Mark L. Goldstein, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in Illinois. Dr. Goldstein has a private practice specializing in forensic psychology and counseling. He is also an adjunct professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and consultant to a suburban school system. Dr. Goldstein received his Ph.D. from the University of Florida and was previously a core faculty member at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and Roosevelt University. He is the editor of a book, Behavioral Science Education, and the author of numerous professional articles.
Table of Contents
I. Forensic Sociology, Psychology, and Criminal Justice.- Use of Sociological Theory and Methods in Crime Scene Investigations.-Criminal Offender Mapping.-Criminal Offender Profiling: Death Threat Makers, Stalkers, and Kidnappers.-Expert Testimony in Cases involving Serial Killers.-Substance Abuse-related Litigation: Forensic Sociology and Psychology Issues.-The Roles of Sociologists and Psychologists in Adult Abuse Litigation.-Wrongful Convictions due to Coerced Confessions and Testimony: Forensic Sociology and Psychology Issues.-II. Gang Behavior, the Justice System, and Security Issues.-An Analysis of Gang Organization, Gangster Roles, and Gang Laws in the Judicial Process.-Gangs and the Death Penalty.-Gangs and Habeas Corpus.-Gangs and Security Management.-Target Selection by Criminal Groups and Gangs.-III. Medical- and Personal Injury-Related Litigation.-Use of Forensic Sociology and Psychology in Wrongful Death Trials.-Sociological and Psychological Theory in Facial Disfigurement Litigation.-The Role of Sociologists and Psychologists in Medical Malpractice Trials.-Sociological and Psychological Theory and Methods in Hospital Liability Litigation.-IV. Toxic Tort Litigation.-Evaluating Social Stress and Social Disruption from Ecologically Destructive Oil Spills: Forensic Sociology and Psychology Implications.-A Case of Compelled Disclosure Research in a Toxic Tort Case.-V. Divorce and Family Litigation.-Child Sexual Abuse in the Family.-Divorce Litigation: Forensic Sociology and Psychology Implications.-Use of Forensic Sociology and Psychology in Parental Child Kidnapping Trials.-VI. School Litigation.-School Violence and School Liability: Forensic Sociology and Psychology Issues.-School Disciplinary Litigation.-Sexual Harassment in the Schools.-VII. Employment and Labor Litigation.-Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Forensic Sociology and Psychology Issues.-Racial Discrimination Lawsuits and Forensic Sociology and Psychology.-Age Discrimination Lawsuits.-The Role of Sociologists and Psychologists in Labor Litigation and Disputes.-VIII. Immigration Litigation.-Seeking Asylum Based on Political, Racial, and Ethnic Persecution: Application of Forensic Sociology and Psychology.-Immigration Issues and the Violence Against Women Act