Academic Press Behavioral Forensics: Using Applied Behavior Analysis in Psychological Court Evaluations

Behavioral Forensics: Using Applied Behavior Analysis in Psychological Court Evaluations presents the first compendia on the application of behavioral principles for the assessment and analysis of criminal behavior in court-ordered psychological evaluations. The book explains criminal motivation, risk behaviors, custody, criminal responsibility, and competence to stand trial. BFA employs principles and techniques of standard behavioral assessment in deducing causal evidence from interview and psychometric data. Sections cover evidence-based concepts and principles of BFA vs. obsolete forensic evaluation models, also including ten case studies that illustrate BFA in pre and post-sentencing evaluations that demonstrate how to determine risk of criminal recidivism or competency. Considering the unprecedented numbers of psychologists turning to forensic work and influx of graduate programs offering degrees in criminal behavior analysis, this book is a timely resource for a variety of readers. Review A single source on the application of behavioral principles for the assessment and analysis of criminal behavior in court-ordered psychological evaluations From the Back Cover Behavioral Forensics: Using applied behavior analysis in psychological court evaluations presents the first compendia on the application of behavioral principles for assessment and analysis of criminal behavior in court-ordered psychological evaluations. Promotion of behavior analysis in criminology previously was abstract and aspirational, and recently re-appeared in books and articles on criminal and digital profiling and prison reform. But this coverage glossed over fundamental behavioral principles and limited discussion exclusively to police investigations. No other books and few articles exist showing advantages of Behavioral Forensic Assessment (BFA) to explain criminal motivation, risk behaviors, custody, criminal responsibility, and competence to stand trial. BFA employs principles and techniques of standard behavioral assessment in deducing causal evidence from interview and psychometric data. Analysis of self-reported data begins with operationalizing complex psychopathology into concrete and measurable units of stimulus-response and integrative-field contingencies. Next, corroborative data (police reports, witness statements, school records, etc.) offer social and predictive validity of the contingencies to prepare evaluations for expert testimony. Behavioral Forensics is divided into two sections. The first section introduces evidence-based concepts and principles of BFA compared to obsolete forensic evaluation models. The second section offers ten case studies illustrating BFA in pre-sentencing and post-sentencing evaluations that determine risk of criminal recidivism or competency for such common offenses as alcoholism, domestic violence, embezzlement, parental responsibility, criminal sexual conduct, and custody. Considering the unprecedented numbers of psychologists turning to forensic work, and influx of graduate programs offering degrees in criminal behavior analysis, Behavioral Forensics: Using applied behavior analysis in psychological court evaluations meets this imperative for a guidebook designed for beginners through advanced levels. About the Author Dr. Douglas Ruben is a forensic and licensed psychologist and national consultant in Applied Behavior Analysis, Personality Theory, Addictions, Rehabilitation, and Parenting. Locally, he conducts forensic evaluations and conducts a family and individual behavior therapy practice. He has conducted over 4000 forensic evaluations. His seminars on forensics, parent empowerment, schools, Personality Disorders, and Adult Children of Alcoholics appear nationwide through different seminar organizations. He has given over 3000 workshops across the United Stated from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine. He is author of over 72 practitioner