Challenging Bias in Forensic Psychological Assessment and Testing

Glenda C. Liell is a Forensic Psychologist with 24 years’ experience in roles across criminal justice including high security prisons, regional psychology, headquarters, and probation. She is the current Chair of the BPS Committee on Test Standards and has represented the Division of Forensic Psychology on other BPS Committees. She has also guest lectured at various universities.Martin J. Fisher is a Forensic Psychologist and has worked in the criminal justice field for over 33 years in England and Wales. He has honorary appointments within NHS Secure Services and Academia. He is also a past Chair of the BPS Committee on Test Standards, past member of the BPS Ethics Committee, and a member of the BPS Research Board.Lawrence F. Jones, a Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, is the head of the psychology services at Rampton high secure hospital. He is an honorary clinical associate professor at Nottingham University and is a former chair of the Division of Forensic psychology. He has authored work on trauma, case formulation, and pragmatic risk assessment.

Given recent powerful reminders that bias is very much alive and well in many areas of life, it is maybe surprising that this volume is the first to address this matter in forensic psychology. It does so exceptionally well and courageously with broad coverage of issues, in-depth and cutting edge analysis of theory as well as addressing practical considerations. Let’s hope other professions will follow, after all not doing so can have disastrous consequences for those in our care. - Prof. Dr. med. Birgit Völlm PhD MRCPsych DiplForPsych, Medical director, hospital for forensic psychiatry, Chair, University medicine Rostock, GermanyConcern about bias and discrimination in all their guises is a salient feature of public discourse. This timely and much-needed volume examines meticulously and frankly the diverse biases that can permeate forensic services and research. More importantly, it offers thoughtful and innovative suggestions for change making it essential reading for professionals and students seeking an impartial system. - John Livesley, Professor emeritus, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, UK While the influence of forensic psychology in prisons has grown in recent decades, there has been little critical analysis of its assumptions, biases and limitations from practitioners themselves. This volume is therefore a really significant contribution both to professional practice and to the wider discipline, setting out through a hugely impressive range of chapters how things are done and how they might be done better. - Ben Crewe, Professor of Penology and Criminal Justice and Deputy Director of the Prisons Research Centre. University of Cambridge, UKThe editors have brought together a much-needed volume that encourages forensic practitioners to challenge and transform current practice, from reformulating theories that underpin offending behaviour, through to the assessment, diagnosis, and intervention, all within the prism of unconscious bias and cultural diversity. This volume can be seen as an awakening moment in forensic psychology practice and will be essential reading for those working in a wide variety of forensic contexts. - Prof. Leam A Craig, FPP Ltd; University of Birmingham; Birmingham City University; University of Lincoln, UKThis is a timely and an original volume. Risk assessment can be dangerous if it is applied thoughtlessly. This volume not only identifies biases in the assessment of risk, but importantly, it offers solutions. It provides clear and coherent advice about providing the best possible care to users of forensic services. This is fundamental for ethical practice given the diversity of those who use such services. - David J Cooke, David J Cooke, Adjunct Professor of the Australian Catholic University, Australia

• PART 1: PRESENT DAY ISSUES IN FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT1 Introduction: Forensic Context Assessment - Reliability, Validity, & Current Challenges2 Challenging Bias in the Forensic Context: Lived Experiences3 The Role of Dynamic Risk Factors in Forensic Assessment and Treatment planning4 Why dynamic risk factors cannot be applied universally: Their normative nature and the importance of cultural awareness in risk assessment and intervention5 The Validity of Reconviction as a Proxy Measure for Re-offending: Interpreting Risk Measures and Research in the Light of False Convictions and Detection and Conviction Evasion Skills (DACES) and processes.6 Measuring what matters: Standardized risk levels for criminal recidivism risk7 The Cumulative Modelling of Risk8 What Works in the Digital Age? VR and Smartphone Applications for Forensic Psychology 9 Assessment and Intervention Technologies in Juvenile Justice 10 Implications and Considerations for Conducting Remote Forensic Evaluations in Underserved and Marginalized CommunitiesPART 2: FORENSIC PRACTICE & WORKING WITH BIASES11 Supervising Assessment Practice12 The Power Threat Meaning Framework - Implications for the Criminal Justice System 13 Individual Bias in Forensic Practice14 Cultural bias in Forensic Assessment: Considerations and Suggestions 15 Personal Construct Psychology & Repertory Grids in Formulation 16 Using Social Media Data in Forensic Evaluations: Addressing Bias PART 3: DIVERSITY & FORENSIC POPULATIONS: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL APPROACHES17 Gender-sensitive violence risk assessment18 Critical Reflection on Gender Identity Assessments with Trans and Gender Non-Binary individuals: Challenges, implications, and a newly proposed approach in Forensic Psychology19 Neurodiversity Assessment In Forensic Contexts: 20 Risk Assessment in Offenders in Learning Disability Populations21 How forensic practitioners may better understand neurodevelopmental disorders within forensic practice with a specific focus on ADHD22 Deafness in a forensic context23 Criminally Diverse Offenders24 Challenging Bias in the Assessment of Extremist Offending 25 The Assessment of Psychopathy 26 Technological assessment methods: New directions in the assessment of sexual offending and sexualised violence FUTURE DIRECTIONS 27 Challenging bias in cross-cultural forensic psychology assessment and testing: A summary perspective