NCJ Number
7538
Journal
Juvenile Justice Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1972) Pages: 26-31
Date Published
1972
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE JUVENILE COURT, WITH FOCUS ON HIS FUNCTION AS A DIAGNOSTICIAN IN THE COURT SETTING.
Abstract
THE VALUE OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST'S DIAGNOSIS DEPENDS UPON WHETHER THE COURT IS INTERESTED IN OBTAINING DESCRIPTIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, OR SPECIFIC PREDICTIONS REGARDING THE CHILD IN QUESTION. IF SPECIFIC PREDICTIONS ARE WANTED, DIAGNOSIS BECOMES OF VERY LIMITED VALUE. PSYCHOLOGY, THE AUTHOR FEELS, HAS NOT YET REACHED THE POINT WHERE SPECIFIC PREDICTIONS ABOUT FUTURE ISOLATED BEHAVIOR CAN BE MADE WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF ACCURACY. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE COURT STRIVE TO OBTAIN SERVICES FROM AN INDIVIDUAL OR AGENCY WHICH IS FAMILIAR WITH AND SYMPATHETIC TO THE PHILOSOPHY AND OPERATION OF THE JUVENILE COURT, AND HAS A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE TROUBLED CHILD WHO COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE COURT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)