NCJ Number
137551
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 17 Issue: 3/4 Dated: (1992) Pages: 189-195
Date Published
1992
Length
7 pages
Annotation
An 18-item questionnaire completed by 55 licensed psychologists in Connecticut dealt with their attitudes regarding their competency to provide courtroom testimony. Specifically, the questions covered degree of comfort, amount and types of training, degree of understanding, and amount and types of forensic knowledge.
Abstract
The findings showed a direct correlation between the psychologists' attitude toward their competence as expert witnesses and the amount of experience they had working in this setting. A minority of those with courtroom experience reported that they were still uncomfortable about testifying and participating in forensic procedures. Those without courtroom experience were even more uncomfortable. Most psychologists did not feel that their professional training gave enough emphasis to forensic work. The respondents indicated they were uncertain of their ability to defend a psychological evaluation in court. More forensic training would familiarize psychologists with courtroom procedures and give them more confidence in their own performance. 1 table and 8 references