Forensic Child Psychology: Working in the Courts and Clinic

Work effectively with children in the criminal justice system

Forensic Child Psychology provides a basic examination of psychology and law affecting children in the criminal justice system. This accessible text is uniquely designed to train psychology, criminology, and social work students to work with children in the criminal justice system both in the courtroom and as clinical clients. The authors include the most current research and practice–based knowledge of the judicial and child welfare systems.

Forensic Child Psychology brings the authors′ combined expertise in child psychology, forensic interviewing, and criminal prosecution to bear on the process of obtaining accurate information from children involved in legal proceedings. This text also offers a practical guide for professionals who work with children who are victims of crime, youngsters who are perpetrators of crime, and children who witness crime.

This important resource covers a wide range of related topics including mandated reporting, memory and suggestibility, understanding pedophilia, and the structure of juvenile justice and advocacy systems. As practical as it is informative, the text includes a wealth of sidebars, summaries, glossaries, and study questions to assist with material mastery.

This resource gives students of child psychopathology in psychology, social work, nursing, and criminal justice at the graduate and late undergraduate stage of their educations a clear understanding of forensic child psychology.

Preface vii

Acknowledgments ix

Part I Basic Principles

1 Introduction to Forensic Psychology 3

2 Social and Behavioral Psychology 29

3 Understanding Psychopathology and Disruptive Behavior 57

4 Memory 83

Part II Applied Principles in Child Abuse

5 Child Abuse and Neglect 105

6 Internet Exploitation of Children 125

7 Process of Forensic Interviewing 145

8 Understanding Pedophilia 167

9 The Treatment of the Sexually Abused Child 189

Part III Understanding the Law

10 Understanding What It Is to Be an Expert Witness 221

11 An Overview of the U.S. Legal System 241

12 Mandated Reporters 265

13 Juveniles and the Justice System 289

Author Index 311

MATTHEW FANETTI, PHD., is a Professor of Psychology and Coordinator of Forensic Child Psychology Certification at Missouri State University.

WILLIAM T. O′DONOHUE, PHD., Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, is also a licensed clinical psychologist.

RACHEL N. FONDREN HAPPEL, M.S., is a Child/Adolescent Forensic Interviewer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office for Victim Assistance.

KRESTA N. DALY, J.D., is a partner at Barth Daly LLP.