Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online recent issues

A Call to Evaluate Our Forensic Treatments

Michaelsen, K., Wasser, T. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Forensic Violations and Therapeutic Shortcomings in the Use of AI Chatbots for Therapy

Chambers, D. M. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Homelessness, Grave Disability, and Mental Health Legislation

Olaolu, O., Kumar, V., Gulrajani, C. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Philip J. Candilis, MD: The Quiet Revolutionary

Weiner, J. J. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Dr. Larry Faulkner: Enduring Effort from Northwest Forests to Chicago Lights

Keepers, G. A. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Recognizing the Existence of Quack Experts in Forensic Psychiatry and Exploring Hard Truths

Wagoner, R. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

The quack expert pretends to have some peculiar knowledge or skill that the expert does not possess or that may not even exist at all. Within forensic psychiatry, the response to quack experts has been varied and largely ineffective in mitigating their effect. Previous efforts to address quack experts have primarily relied on the courts, sanctions from professional organizations, or state board intervention. A shift to more globally addressing the misinformation itself and creating education of what appropriate testimony entails is likely far more helpful than trying to identify and punish each quack expert. At the individual level, new avenues of intervention include forensic psychiatrists taking advantage of educational opportunities and engaging in self-reflection. At the regional and national level, potential interventions include the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law’s educating courts and attorneys, developing resource documents conveying basic principles of appropriate practice, and expanding peer review.

Medicolegal Considerations in the Psychiatric Management of Pregnancy and Postpartum Disorders

Horan, A. R., McNiel, D. E., Binder, R. L. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Psychiatrists who treat mental disorders in pregnancy must navigate the risks associated with prescribing medication to pregnant and breastfeeding people alongside the risks associated with untreated mental illness. This article examines how U.S. courts have engaged with this complex landscape when tasked with evaluating allegations of clinician and pharmaceutical negligence in cases involving pharmacological management of perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDs). We begin first with a review of the legal theories that form the basis of negligence lawsuits related to PMHDs. We then explore cases of both pharmaceutical negligence (which are usually pursued under product liability claims) and professional negligence (i.e., malpractice), distinguishing how the courts’ interpretation of liability has varied for errors of omission and errors of commission. We then provide an analysis of relevant themes in this area of case law with the goal of informing expert witnesses of considerations when called to opine upon questions related to negligence in the treatment of PMHDs.

Threats to Objectivity in Risk Assessment for Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder

Wood, M. E., Evans, S. E., Anderson, J. L. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Borderline personality disorder is unique in many ways from other diagnoses contained in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Most salient, however, are the negative connotations often associated with the label itself and the resulting bias of providers. The ways in which these biases manifest are especially problematic in violence risk assessment, wherein evaluators are tasked with systematic consideration of data, with most data coming from available records. In this article, we describe some of the ways in which bias and objectivity are encountered in risk assessment with this population, describe a relevant case example, and offer practical recommendations for evaluators.

A Systematic Review of the Predictive Validity of the VRAG-R

Au, V., Naeem, A., Benassi, P., Bonato, S., Jones, R. M. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Structured risk assessment tools are essential in forensic psychiatry to evaluate the likelihood of recidivism. The Violence Risk Appraisal Guide-Revised (VRAG-R) was developed as an update to the VRAG, but its predictive validity across offender populations remains underexamined. Our study aimed to examine the predictive validity of the VRAG-R for general, violent (including and excluding sexual offenses), and sexual recidivism. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, searching 10 databases and gray literature sources for studies reporting psychometric outcomes for the VRAG-R published since 2013. Risk of bias was assessed using Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment (PROBAST) and data extraction followed the Checklist for Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Reviews of Prediction Modeling Studies (CHARMS) checklist. Area under the curve (AUC) values were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. In total, 15 studies comprising 3,932 participants were included. The VRAG-R showed acceptable predictive validity for general recidivism (pooled AUC = .71, 95% CI: .67 to .75) and violent recidivism (AUC = .72, 95% CI: .69 to .75). Predictive validity for sexual recidivism was modest (AUC = .65, 95% CI: .61 to .68). In conclusion, the VRAG-R demonstrates acceptable predictive validity for general and violent recidivism, comparable with other tools. Its performance in predicting sexual recidivism, however, is limited and concerns about generalizability remain. Future research should prioritize diverse samples, reporting of calibration, and continued evaluation of performance.

The Supreme Court of Canada Clarifies the Interpretation of the Insanity Defense in R v. Bharwani

Curry, D., Quinn, J. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

In Canada, the insanity defense is outlined in both legislation and judicial case law and finds original basis in M’Naughten’s case. Federal jurisprudence in Canada has addressed the second and more complicated branch of the not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (NCRMD) test on wrongfulness, yet legal ambiguity persists in provincial courts. A recent Supreme Court of Canada decision, R v. Bharwani, adds clarity. Finding agreement on the primary matter of fitness, the Court’s dissenting opinion, delivered by two of its esteemed jurists and joined by a third, casts aside the obiter dictum of the court of appeal on NCRMD and was unrefuted by the majority. Thus, Bharwani resists easy classification as to its jurisprudential authority. We review the relevant case law and consider application of hybrid authority to the NCRMD portion of the Bharwani dissent.

Recent Political and Research Appraisals of the Psychiatric Security Review Board Model

Michaelsen, K., Shankar, C., Norko, M. A. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Professional, political, and public debates are ongoing regarding the best way to assess risk and monitor individuals who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI). Political and public impressions are often confounded by few, often dramatic and highly publicized cases of NGRI acquittees reoffending, rather than by an accurate understanding of the process and actual rearrest rates. States have implemented their own policies and practices for NGRI pleas (if allowed) and the subsequent evaluations, monitoring, and care for acquitted individuals, resulting in significant variation across jurisdictions. In the last five years, Arizona dissolved its Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) and there were calls for ending the Connecticut PSRB. We review some of the past and current practices and evidence from PSRBs in Oregon, Arizona, Connecticut, and Washington. We discuss the challenges of comparing state practices because of variation in the connections between policy and practice and competing stakeholders’ interests.

Appellate Review of Competence to Stand Trial

Ellis, G., VanDercar, A. H. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Mental Illness, Capital Punishment, and the Limits of Ford and Panetti

Douglas, N. C., Bruce, N. B. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Veterans Court Review Process for Disability Benefits Clarified

Hicks, C., Cerny-Suelzer, C. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Waiver of Statutory Right to Competency Hearing

Gill, G., Bodnar, T. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Qualified Immunity Protections for Mental Health Providers

Fok, A., Brooks, N. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Providing Gender-Affirming Care to Minors

Benjamin, T., Armontrout, J. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Mental Illness and Persecution in Immigration Proceedings

Luu, K.-Y., Keshishian, T. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Evidentiary Standards for Challenging Competency to Stand Trial

Provosty, W., Botello, T. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Surrogate Testimony and the Sixth Amendment

Dodge, M., Bechler, K. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Constitutionality of Compelled Suicide Prevention Speech

Cameron, C., Cipriano, T. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Delusions and Competence to Be Executed

Reed, E. J., Dike, C. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Limits on Expert Testimony in Insanity Defense Trial

Weir, R., Ravven, S. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Temporal Standards in Police Use-of-Force Analysis

Wemakor, S., Burke, C. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Solicitation of Improbable Violent Crimes and Self-Representation at Trial

Howard, T. L., Wasser, T. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Conditional Release Requirements for Sexually Dangerous Persons

Obiozor, C., Baranoski, M. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Definition of Mental Disorder

Chou, L., MacIntyre, M. R. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Diagnostic Uncertainty in Involuntary Commitment

White, N. M., Kambam, P. R. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Warrantless Entry in Mental Health Emergency

Igwe, P., Darby, W. C. — 2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

A Review of Two Netflix Menendez Brothers 2024 Portrayals

2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Our Thanks to Reviewers

2026-03-12T17:50:33-07:00

Reflections on Missing White Women and the Gabby Petito Case

Kruse, K., Tastenhoye, C., Friedman, S. H., Ross, N., Sorrentino, R. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Restorative Justice and the Competency Crisis

Graddy, L. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Different Perspectives on Managing Patients on Conditional Release

Means, R. F., Robinson, D. R. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Improving Care for Autistic Youth in Correctional Settings

2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Youth on the autism spectrum who engage in delinquent or violent crimes can be adjudicated to juvenile correctional settings. These settings, which are meant to successfully reintegrate youth back into the community through education, counseling, and skills programs, are often ill-equipped to navigate the unique needs of youth on the autism spectrum. As a result, autistic youth in juvenile correctional settings often do poorly, minimizing the likelihood that successful reintegration occurs. The purpose of this review is to summarize the literature on the prevalence of autistic youth in correctional settings and their needs, as well as the standard of care often afforded to them in these settings. Finally, we will present suggested strategies informed by the literature whereby adjudicated autistic youth are provided services and support that are feasible in a correctional setting and align with autism-informed, evidence-based practices.

Rehabilitating Youth in Juvenile Corrections

Wills, C. D. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Juvenile correctional programs that focus solely on safety, education, and structure yield suboptimal outcomes. Youth in these facilities often have learning disorders, and adaptive challenges, have been exposed to severe trauma, and have mental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder. Consequently, rehabilitation programs must be comprehensive, individualized, developmentally informed, and trauma-informed to achieve better outcomes. It is imperative that staff receive training to identify, intervene in, and report specific behaviors. This approach broadens staff skill sets, addresses the rehabilitation needs of a larger group of youth, generates data that facilitate accurate diagnoses and treatment planning, and enhances the likelihood of equitable rehabilitation for all youth.

A Framework for Mandated Reporting for Substance-Related Parental Abuse and Neglect

Dernbach, M. R., Appel, J. M. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Clinicians face the prospect of mandated reporting when a patient reports, either during the intake appointment or during the course of addiction treatment, their risky substance use-related behavior around a child. Beyond legal considerations, many factors might influence a clinician’s decision whether or not to report the case to child protective services (CPS). Although there is literature regarding mandated reporting in the setting of pre- or perinatal substance use, there is limited literature regarding the mandated reporting obligation in the setting of postnatal substance use around children. We survey the relevant statutes and regulations in the 51 jurisdictions of the United States regarding postnatal mandated reporting for substance-related parental abuse and neglect. Drawing from these results, we identify areas of legal obligation, areas open to interpretation, and areas that remain unaddressed. We further propose a clinical framework for determining whether to make a CPS report in the course of addiction treatment. In the current state of significant variability in mandated reporting regulation, clinicians must consider the safety of the child, the well-being of the family, stigma toward individuals with substance use disorder, maintenance of the conditions necessary for the patient to engage with addiction treatment, and what the law requires.

The Role of Community-Based Supportive Services in Remediating Juvenile Adjudicative Competence

Riggs Romaine, C. L., Williamson-Butler, S., Zaman, A., Kemp, K. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

This mixed methods study examined initial and reevaluation reports of youth opined incompetent to proceed to investigate the impact of community interventions on changes in functional abilities. Using a structured quantitative chart review and an inductive and deductive qualitative coding scheme, we coded court-ordered, juvenile competence reports for 73 youth (85% male; ages 9-19, M_age = 14.07, SD = 2.36) opined incompetent. Upon reevaluation, 51 youth were opined to remain incompetent, and 22 were opined competent by the evaluator. No age differences were observed between youth who remained incompetent and those who were remediated. Higher IQ scores were associated with successful remediation of understanding, appreciation, decision-making, and assisting counsel. Thematic analysis suggested that stabilization in place of residence and family functioning were often noted for remediated youth. School functioning and mental status at the time of the evaluation may be indicative of competence abilities and highlight existing skill deficits. Results highlight the complexity of factors influencing juvenile adjudicative competence and how stabilization of placement, school, and family functioning may be useful points of intervention, particularly when focused remediation efforts are not available.

How Mental Illness Influences Pretrial Release Decisions for People Charged with Misdemeanors

2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Many jurisdictions are focused on pretrial reform aimed at reducing pretrial detention for nonviolent misdemeanors. How this reform affects people with mental illness, who have historically experienced lengthier and higher rates of pretrial detention, remains unknown. This qualitative study explores state laws and practices related to pretrial detention of people with mental illness across the United States, with a focus on perceptions about if and how, mental illness influences likelihood of appearance in court, dangerousness, and likelihood of jail detention. Statutes of all 50 states and the District of Columbia related to pretrial detention were reviewed, followed by semistructured interviews with 25 state forensic mental health directors and 15 judges who preside over first appearances or arraignments. The results highlight how state laws afford wide discretion to judges to determine the impact of mental illness on pretrial release. Judges and forensic mental health directors perceive this discretion as leading to a higher likelihood of detaining people with mental illness charged with misdemeanors, often for perceived concerns related to likelihood of appearance, unmet social service needs, and public perceptions of dangerousness. These findings have important implications for ongoing pretrial reform, improvement in community supports, and diversionary behavioral health services.

Exploring Secure Recovery Knowledge, Skills, and Education Needs of Forensic Staff

2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Recovery-oriented models are rarely taught to care providers, and knowledge is insufficient on the practical challenges of implementing recovery-oriented care in secure settings with consistency and fidelity. This study identifies the knowledge, skills, and education needs of forensic care staff related to the practice and implementation of secure recovery. Our mixed-methods approach using a needs assessment survey and focus groups found that most (73.2–77.8%) staff surveyed (n = 108) reported "excellent" or "good" knowledge and understanding of recovery-oriented care. Fewer (43.5%) staff felt confident in their ability to administer risk and recovery-oriented assessment tools in forensic settings. The conceptual domains of knowledge, skills, and education needs were clear in focus group data. Data reflected a varied understanding among staff regarding secure recovery principles and variation as to what recovery "looks like" in practice. Participants perceived a lack of available training and support when commencing employment in forensic mental health, and specific gaps in knowledge and training were noted in relation to the structured risk and recovery tools used in our program. Results from this study will be used to improve forensic patient care through implementation of a tailored educational curriculum in secure recovery for forensic staff.

A Framework for Developing Mental Health Educational Interventions for Correctional Officers

Quinn, J., Patel, K., Darani, S. A. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

The overrepresentation of persons with mental illness in carceral settings has led to justifiable concerns about their wellbeing and the appropriateness of their care. Correctional officers may be the first point of recognition and management for incarcerated persons experiencing mental illness. Correctional officers thus unknowingly participate in mental health care without a formally recognized mental health care role or knowledge of mental health educational best practice standards. This article reviews the small literature linking specific factors in mental health educational interventions for correctional officers to improvement in knowledge, skills, attitudes, and potentially to incarcerated persons’ mental health outcomes. Synthesizing that literature with the authors’ experience in creating a mental health educational program for correctional officers at a large provincial detention center in Ontario, Canada, we propose a five-principle framework to guide such programs. We propose such programs be intentionally designed and evaluated with educational and quality improvement best practices in mind, an inclusive attitude toward participants and the intersectional factors in mental health in carceral settings, the use of interactive teaching methods, consideration of instructor relatability, and integration of educational programs into broader philosophical changes in carceral institutions.

Experimental MRIs and Lifetime Sentencing for a Juvenile

Cooper, R., McClure, A., Marett, C. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Competency Standards in Immigration Proceedings

Hiller, C., Pola, A. S., Kruse, K. L. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Balancing Rights and Risks in Commitment and Forced Medication Proceedings

Witt, J., Robbins, B., Getzen, H. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Securing Expert Assistance for Insanity Defense and Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Svete, L., Werner, K., Povlinski, J. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Expert Immunity and Protections from Tort Claims Following Sexually Dangerous Persons Evaluations

Webster, K. D., Shkokani, L., Grover, M. W. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Balancing the Weight of Expert Opinions in Sell Hearings

Bala, J., Martinez, R. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Habeas Corpus and the Jurisdictional Boundaries of Federal Civil Commitment

Arias, B. A., Adi, A., Martinez, R. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Balancing Mental Illness Mitigation and Upward Sentencing Variance

Nouri, P. K., Lish, D. L., Martinez, R. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Mental Illness and Mandatory Minimum Sentencing

Wickline, Z., Lish, D. L., Martinez, R. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Medication Noncompliance and Insanity

Lee, M., Strackman, L., Piel, J. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Drug Testing as a Community Custody Condition in Crimes Unrelated to Substance Use

Minnig, M., Smelt, A., Piel, J. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Terrorism, Violent Radicalization, and Mental Health

2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Postpartum Maternal Filicide with a Double Twist

2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Letter

Lennon, J. C. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Reply

Guina, J. — 2025-12-03T17:15:26-08:00

Cold Cases of Neonaticide, Genetic Genealogy, and Forensic Psychiatry

Hatters Friedman, S., Friedman, E. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

A Scoping Literature Review of Mental Illness in Decisions Regarding Pretrial Release

Nash, E., Dragich, S., Pope, L., Ford, E., Appelbaum, P. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Judges generally make pretrial release decisions based on the risk that a defendant will miss court appearances or pose a danger to the community; for criminal cases initiated in state courts, this decision-making is guided by state bail statutes, with judicial discretion within statutory limits. Individuals with mental illnesses may be disproportionately exposed to pretrial detention, exposing them to the psychiatric, medical, and legal consequences of incarceration. The purpose of this literature review was to find out if and how mental illness is related to missed court appearances or rearrest while individuals are awaiting trial. This review identified a limited number of empirical studies examining the association between mental illness and these outcomes. The results of the studies were variable. Although some studies found that mental illness variables predicted failure to appear, the relationship was more prominent for women than men. Substance use and criminal history appear to be more consistent predictors than mental illness. The data on the relationship between mental illness-related variables and rearrest are also mixed. Further research is needed to understand if or how mental illness affects decisions on pretrial detention.

Understanding the Preference for Incarceration Among Some Forensic Psychiatric Inpatients in Ontario

Campbell, A., Robertson, J. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Some international jurisdictions route individuals for whom criminal responsibility is foreclosed because of mental disorder from the penal system into a forensic psychiatry regime. Such rerouting might be presumed preferable for such individuals, because it is intended to offer a humane alternative to incarceration and is often viewed by the public as an avenue for accused individuals to avoid accountability. Our clinical experience corroborates European findings that at least some individuals who have been placed into forensic psychiatric care would have preferred to remain in the penal system. We report on our preliminary qualitative investigation into the reasons why some forensic psychiatric inpatients in the Canadian province of Ontario would prefer to be incarcerated. Using a grounded theory methodology, we identify six thematic categories of reasons for this preference. Drawing on these themes, we propose that participants perceive inpatient forensic psychiatric detention as posing a greater threat to personal identity than incarceration as well as feel despair associated with the perceived futility of resisting identity-shaping pressures in this environment. Participants’ concerns re-emphasize the clinical challenge, but also the importance, of providers’ supporting patients to associate hope rather than harm with the aim of personal transformation through inpatient forensic psychiatric care.

Toward Equity in Prescribing Buprenorphine in the New Jersey Department of Corrections

Tamburello, A., Anwunah-Okoye, I., Reeves, R., Gerardo Arroyo, P. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including buprenorphine, are effective for the treatment of incarcerated persons (IPs) with opioid use disorder (OUD). Racial disparities in such prescribing have been researched in both community and correctional settings. We describe a performance improvement (PI) project to reduce the disparities in prescribing buprenorphine in the New Jersey Department of Corrections that involved public-facing educational efforts directed toward both prescribers and potential patients. Using reports designed to collect baseline and follow-up summary data from the electronic medical record and institutional database, we showed that, from 2021 to 2024, for the entire NJDOC census, the rate of prescribing for Black IPs increased from 3.9 to 6.3 percent (p < .00001) and for Hispanic IPs from 6.6 to 9.6 percent (p = .0009), whereas prescribing for White IPs was unchanged (19.0–18.0%, p = .362). When considering interest in buprenorphine by persons with OUD (either expressing interest or receiving a prescription for it), we noted increases in Black (41.1–56.5%, p < .0001) and Hispanic (54.9–69.7%, p = 0) IPs, but not White (71.6–73.4%, p = .360) IPs. Compared with a study on MOUD prescribing in this setting in 2019, the proportion of IPs prescribed buprenorphine identifying as Black increased (17.0-41.1%, p < .00001). These results support educational efforts for improving access to treatment with MOUD in carceral settings.

Firearm Disqualification and Rights Restoration Among Adults with Mental Illness in Virginia

2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

This study evaluated legal prohibitions on firearm possession in a population of 128,090 adults in Virginia with a serious mental illness and record of at least one psychiatric hospitalization between 1998 and 2015. Approximately half the study population acquired a gun-disqualifying record of a mental health adjudication or felony criminal conviction. Among persons with a mental health disqualification, the annualized arrest rate for gun-involved violent crime subsequently declined by 35.9 percent during the prohibition period; no such decline was seen in the arrest rate for crimes not involving guns. The likelihood of arrest for a gun-involved violent crime was further reduced among people whose disqualifying record was reported to the background check database (odds ratio (OR) = .7; 95% confidence interval (CI) .6 – .8; p ≤ .0010). In a subgroup analysis of individuals (n = 261) who lost and regained firearm eligibility, 14.6 percent had a subsequent arrest for a violent crime, 1.5 percent for a gun-involved crime. Regarding suicide, 1.5 percent of the restored group died of intentional self-inflicted injuries, half of those involving a firearm. The study provides evidence that firearm prohibitions were partially effective, especially when disqualifying records were reported to the background check database. Study findings give cause for modest concern for the safety consequences of gun rights restoration as practiced in one state.

Forensic Assessment of Transgender Persons

Huselid, A. N., Dupre, J., Damji, N., Sorrentino, R. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

The forensic assessment of transgender individuals is challenging because of evolving legal landscapes, sociopolitical tensions, gaps in the clinical literature, and lack of standardized assessments studied in this population. This article explores the complexities forensic psychiatrists encounter when evaluating transgender persons, with an emphasis on assessments of general and sexual violence risk, mitigating factors, sex discrimination, disability, emotional distress, and parenting. The article also addresses the importance of remaining vigilant in striving for objectivity in assessments of transgender individuals while acknowledging both the dearth of population-specific research and the vulnerabilities and risks faced by transgender individuals. Recommendations are made for ongoing research in this field.

Forensic Assessments of Hindus with Workplace Discrimination Claims

Aggarwal, N. K. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Hinduism is a global religion with over 1.2 billion adherents. Only about one percent of U.S. adults are Hindu, so forensic evaluators may have little experience with this population. Within the United States over the past decade, there has been a trend of Hindus filing workplace discrimination claims with emotional distress but without forensic psychiatric evaluations. Immigration challenges, unique patterns of discrimination, and intersectional identities in diverse Hindu communities may challenge evaluators who do not regularly work with Hindus. Even when Hindu evaluees see Hindu evaluators, they may not share caste, ethnic, racial, or regional affiliations, so evaluators benefit from investigating the evaluee’s intersectional identity, the connection between identity and perceived discrimination, patterns of help seeking, and levels of functioning. This article introduces evaluators to diverse U.S. Hindu populations; psychiatric, forensic, and cultural problems in discrimination-based claims; and evaluation strategies based on analyzing recent cases.

The Tao of Forensic Psychiatry

Graddy, L. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Capacity to Consent to Sexual Activity Among Individuals with Intellectual Disability

Lambros, A. M., Murray, A. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

The Restoration of Firearm Rights Following Involuntary Hospitalization

Craven, C., Dinsmore, A. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Sexual Assault and Mental Capacity

Charles, D., Anumba, N. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Juvenile Transfer to Adult Court

Wamuo, C., Noroian, P. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Facial Plausibility in Civil Commitment Fourteenth Amendment Suit

Ma, J., Bell, A. K., Heller, J. M. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Due Process Protections in Involuntary Commitments

Williams, R. T., Heller, J. M. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Self-Representation in Civil Commitment Proceedings

Masolak, D. D., Chien, J. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Delineation of Hearsay in Civil Commitment

Adham, Z. O., Mobbs, K. E. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Consideration of Public Policy Factors in Negligence Claims

Buckley, S. M., Buckley, J. C. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Involuntary Commitment of Juveniles with Substance Use Disorders

Lek, S. J., Buckley, J. C. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Prejudicial Sentencing Outcome from Failure to Pursue Sources of Mitigating Evidence

Miller, M. S., Buckley, J. C. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Judicial Discretion in Ordering Competency Hearings

Mohayed, M., Obikoya, K. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Consideration for Victim Restitution with Guilty Except Insane Conviction

Baig-Ward, K. M., Lee, W. G. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Government Interest in Sell Proceedings

Puckett, A., Ulisse, K. — 2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Handbook of Mental Health Assessment and Treatment in Jails

2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Confirmation Bias in Criminal Cases

2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Misogyny in Social Media: A Review of Netflixs Adolescence

2025-09-03T13:45:27-07:00

Artificial Intelligence Use in Forensic Academic Writing Does Not Necessarily Compromise Integrity

Abi Zeid Daou, M. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Research Literacy Is Crucial in Training Forensic Psychiatrists

Friedman, S. H. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

A Pilot Analysis Investigating the Use of AI in Malingering

Gershan, S. A., Schoenfeld, E., Grabb, D. J. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Generative artificial intelligence (AI), with its increasing ubiquity and power, will likely transform forensic psychiatry, sparking both advances and new challenges for the field. A possible consequence of the technology is that it will be used to assist malingerers in learning about and feigning psychiatric symptoms. In this study, the AI chatbot ChatGPT was asked to provide information about the insanity defense and psychosis and to use this information to assist the user in simulating a psychotic illness to avoid legal consequences. We found that ChatGPT 3.5 demonstrated a relatively nuanced understanding of typical symptoms of psychosis and that it could translate that knowledge into practical guidance on how to exploit the mental health system for secondary gain. Our findings suggest that, although significant limitations exist with the technology in its current form, forensic psychiatrists should be prepared for its increasing sophistication and the potential consequences in malingering assessments.

AI-Assisted Deception and the Emerging Challenge of LLMs in Forensic Psychiatry

Roof, J. G. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Generative artificial intelligence (AI), including the large language model ChatGPT, has introduced potential new opportunities and challenges to the practice of forensic psychiatry. These powerful AI-based tools may offer substantial benefits in administrative tasks, report generation, and record summarization yet simultaneously present areas for further consideration, such as aiding evaluees in feigning psychiatric symptoms. Additional ethics and legal considerations exist regarding privacy, bias within AI models, and the introduction of fabricated or misleading AI-generated content into forensic assessments. Legislative efforts, privacy safeguards, and professional guidelines essential for responsible AI use are being developed. Forensic psychiatrists are uniquely positioned to influence responsible AI integration through education, advocacy, and development of best practices within psychiatry.

Predictors of Child and Parent Offender Removal in Incidents of Child Neglect in U.S. Army Families

Ogle, C. M., Nemcek, S. P., Zhou, J., Cozza, S. J. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

This study examined predictors of child and parent offender removal from the home following substantiated incidents of child neglect in U.S. Army families. Case records (n = 390) were coded to identify neglect types and incident characteristics associated with removal in prior studies. Results indicate that the removal of a child and the removal of a parent from the home following an incident of neglect are associated with distinct neglect types and incident characteristics. In bivariate analyses, failure to provide physical needs (FTP), family mental health problems, and co-occurring abuse were each associated with higher odds of child removal. In multivariate analyses, offender substance use, co-occurring abuse, and early parenting, but not FTP, were associated with child removal. Interaction models indicated that high-severity FTP incidents in families with mental health problems were more likely to result in child removal compared with other neglect incidents. In contrast, incidents involving emotional neglect and service member offenders were associated with higher odds of parent removal. Findings advance understanding of the characteristics of neglect incidents associated with family separations, which can improve the judiciousness of legal decisions regarding removal actions and inform prevention efforts that effectively protect children from harm while minimizing disruptions to family integrity.

A Forensic Science-Based Model for Identifying and Mitigating Forensic Mental Health Expert Biases

DiCiro, M., Sreenivasan, S. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

In 2020, cognitive neuroscientist Itiel Dror developed a cognitive framework to address biases influenced by cognitive processes and external pressures in decisions made by forensic experts. Dror’s model highlights how ostensibly objective data, such as toxicology or fingerprints, can be affected by bias driven by contextual, motivational, and organizational factors. Forensic mental health evaluations, often more subjective than physical forensic evidence analysis, are particularly vulnerable to these cognitive biases. Dror identified six expert fallacies, such as the belief that bias only affects unethical or incompetent practitioners, and proposed a pyramidal model showing how biases infiltrate expert decisions. This article adapts Dror’s model to forensic mental health, exploring how biases influence data collection and interpretation and proposing mitigation strategies like Linear Sequential Unmasking-Expanded (LSU-E). We emphasize that mitigating cognitive biases requires structured, external strategies, as self-awareness alone is insufficient. By applying Dror’s concepts and framework, we offer a practical approach to reduce biases and improve the fairness and accuracy of forensic mental health assessments.

Toward Aspirational Forensic Mental Health Practice

Goldenson, J., Brodsky, S. L., Kukor, T. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Forensic mental health professionals are often provided with aspirational guidelines to inform their practice; however, disparities exist between what such professionals should strive to do and what they actually do. This article considers pathways to improving practice not only in terms of knowledge base but also in terms of ethics, skills, and intellectual, dispositional, and interpersonal qualities. Obstacles are identified that could prevent forensic mental health professionals from practicing at higher levels of excellence.

Determining the Goals Toward Which Forensic Mental Health Practice Should Aspire

Appel, J. M. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Forensic mental health professionals (FMHPs) play a crucial role in shaping legal outcomes, necessitating a clear understanding of excellence in the field. Establishing criteria for excellence depends upon first addressing key controversies, including those related to the role for advocacy inside the legal process, the extent to which FHMPs should strive for social justice outside the courtroom, and the allocation of scarce forensics resources. Resolution of these debates will, in turn, determine whether excellence stems primarily from selection or treatment. Only once a clear consensus regarding the meaning of excellence develops can aspirational goals for the professional be established.

Prolonged Solitary Confinement and Mental Illness on Death Row

Watson, J., Ramey, K., Frierson, R. L. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Firearm Regulations and Substance Use

Conde, S. L., Ghering, J., Joshi, K. G. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Procedural Protections in Civil Commitment Proceedings

Sherman, D., Landess, J. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Equal Protection in Healthcare

Phukan, R., Joy, M. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Restriction of Firearm Possession in the Post-Bruen Era

Apple, L., Northrop, J. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Solitary Confinement and the Eighth Amendment

Cintron Pastrana, M. A., Harjai, N., Weisman, R. L., Ciccone, J. R. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Court Authority Regarding Competency Remediation

Engelson, B., Ayasta, M. d. G. J., Kruse, M. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Permission to Testify Remotely

Kofos, M., Gulrajani, C. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Police Officers Use of Force on Person in Mental Health Crisis

Richards, A., McKenna, M., Pileggi, B. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

First Amendment and Conversations between Counselors and Clients

Madden, M., Egbert, E., Chavez, J. X. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Independent Expert Witness Testimony in Sexually Violent Predator Trials

Horan, A. R., Chamberlain, J. R. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment and Immigrant Protection from Removal

Klein, E. J., Chamberlain, J. R. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress

Capannolo, L., Arabski, J. — 2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Inside (2023 Film)

2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

Brain Science for Lawyers, Judges, and Policymakers

2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00

A Forensic Analysis of the Netflix Film Hit Man

2025-06-10T10:45:28-07:00