Assignment 2: Forensic Assessments

Assignment 2: Forensic Assessments

Offenders held at detention centers and awaiting trial  are sometimes referred by the courts for evaluation of competency to  stand trial (CST). Forensic mental health professionals conducting such  evaluations can benefit from knowledge of accepted psychological tests  and instruments used for CST evaluations along with awareness of the  ethical responsibilities inherent in such evaluations.

Tasks:

Using at least three scholarly resources from the  professional literature, research the essential psychological tests and  screening instruments utilized for conducting a CST evaluation. The  literature may include the Argosy University online library resources,  relevant textbooks, peer-reviewed journal articles, and websites created  by professional organizations, agencies, or institutions (.edu, .org,  and .gov).

Based on your research, select a case for study for this assignment.

Write a 3- to 5-page report in a Microsoft Word document. Your report should include:

• A cover sheet and a reference page
• Formatting in the current APA style, including the font of Times New Roman and a size of 12 points

Address the following in your report:

• List and explain the essential psychological tests and screening  instruments that would assist the forensic mental health professional in  conducting a CST evaluation. Be sure that you provide enough  information to thoroughly explain the theory behind each test or  screening. Describe the relative strengths and weaknesses of these  assessment instruments.
• Conduct a CST evaluation for the selected  case. Based on your evaluation, assess the ethical responsibilities of  the forensic mental health professional.

All written assignments and responses should follow APA rules for attributing sources.