Forensic Assessment of Harassment and Stalking
Great strides have been made in the forensic assessment of stalking and harassment over the last three decades. Today, forensic psychologists and psychiatrists can play a significant role in assisting law enforcement, protection officers and the justice system with assessing risk, predicting violence, evaluating victims and describing the personality characteristics of stalkers.
To help attorneys and judges better understand the role forensic psychiatry and psychology can play in addressing this serious issue, this Forensic Assessment of Harassment and Stalking chapter, authored by Alice Berkowitz, Ph.D., provides detailed guidance from the foremost authorities, including the following particular topics:
Qualifications of a proper forensic stalking/harassment expert witnesses;
Discussion of the conduct required to be actionable harassment;
Forensic assessment of stalking and harassment, including discussion of a variety of assessment instruments;
Discussion of the state of cyberstalking/cyber harassment laws;
Forensic assessment and evaluation of alleged stalking/harassment victims;
Discussion of the conduct required to fit within various stalking statutes;
Personality variables of known, unknown and intimate partner stalkers;
The relationship of MeToo to harassment law; and
Guidance on how to assess stalking and harassment law in any jurisdiction;
In addition to comprehensive guidance on the requirements of a forensic assessment of stalking and harassment, this chapter also provides a number of case vignettes that illustrate: (1) properly performed assessments; and (2) improperly performed forensic evaluations by poorly trained and/or unprepared experts and those who have failed to remain current.
Offering a thorough review of the literature in this field, the Forensic Assessment of Harassment and Stalking chapter is an invaluable resource for lawyers, judges and experts navigating cases involving these types of accusations, allegations and charges.
