Trials of a Forensic Psychologist: A Casebook [Paperback]

Charles Patrick Ewing (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470170727 | ISBN-13: 978-0470170724 | Publication Date: September 16, 2008 | Edition: 1

A fascinating collection of ten high-profile cases illustrating the controversial, often contentious-yet essential-role of forensic psychology in the American justice system

Written by psychologist and lawyer Charles Patrick Ewing, one of the country's leading experts on forensic psychology, Trials of a Forensic Psychologist: A Casebook is a scholarly, thought-provoking collection of cases from the author's three decades of professional experience. Bringing to life the psychological and legal details of each case as well as the personal stories involved, this volume insightfully covers those issues facing forensic psychologists, including:

• Ability to Waive Miranda Rights
• Coerced Confessions
• The Insanity Defense
• Malingering
• Battered Woman Syndrome
• Evaluating Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse
• The Implications of Extreme Emotional Disturbance

Informative, compelling, and educational, each of the ten cases presented in Trials of a Forensic Psychologist: A Casebook offers a rare glimpse at the work of forensic psychologists, how forensic psychologists are examined in court, the ways in which their expertise is used by the legal system, and the contributions they make to the system's ultimate goal of doing justice.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Packed with case details as well as lengthy segments of trial transcripts from riveting, high-profile cases, Trials is well written and ideal as a teaching tool for students of mental health law or the social sciences." (California Lawyer, March 2009)

"…Charles Patrick Ewing, a law school professor...is one of the most renowned forensic psychologists in the United States, the author of a number of books, countless articles, and editor of a respected forensic psychology journal. As is evident from Trials, his expertise is widely sought around the country in high-profile criminal trials. And the man can write! The accounts of the 10 trials in this book are compelling. I can think of few if any forensic psychology books that I have read for pleasure or that I cannot put down, but Trials is indeed one. I found this to be an excellent book - well written, engaging, informative." (PsycCRITIQUES; 1/28/09)

Review

"I found this to be an excellent book—well written, engaging, informative.  Trials gives the reader a sense of how forensic psychology fits in context in legal proceedings.  Ewing creates engaging, engrossing stories to convey the course of a forensic psychology case, and these narratives, I suspect, will stay with the reader far longer than the dry, technical materials on the subject one usually reads.  I can think of no better book to recommend to neophyte forensic psychologists, to give them a concrete sense of how their evaluation and testimony skills will actually be applied in the future.  But even the experienced forensic practitioner will enjoy the book, although for a different reason—to recognize a fellow practitioner of one’s craft practicing at a high level."
—Philip H Witt, Somerville, NJ

"Cases in forensic psychology can be fascinating. When a highly skilled and experienced forensic psychologist like Charles Patrick Ewing describes real cases in plain English, the result is that rare combination of educational and enjoyable--equally suitable for the classroom in snowy January or the beach in June.  Jonathan Kellerman, move over.  Don't miss this one."
—Kirk Heilbrun, Ph.D., Professor and Head of Department of Psychology, Drexel University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470170727
• ISBN-13: 978-0470170724
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charles Patrick Ewing, a forensic psychologist, attorney and law professor, is SUNY Distinguished Service Professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he has taught criminal law, evidence, juvenile law, forensic science, torts, and psychology, psychiatry and law. Dr. Ewing received his Ph.D. from Cornell University, earned a law degree from Harvard Law School, and was a post-doctoral fellow at Yale University. He is the author or co-author of ten books: Justice Perverted; Trials of a Forensic Psychologist; Insanity: Murder, Madness and the Law; Minds on Trial and Psychology; Fatal Families; Kids Who Kill; When Children Kill; Battered Women Who Kill; Psychology, Psychiatry and the Law: A Clinical and Forensic Handbook; and Crisis Intervention as Psychotherapy. He is Editor of the journal, Behavioral Sciences and the Law, a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, and a Diplomate in Forensic Psychology of the American Board of Forensic Psychology and American Board of Professional Psychology.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Experts are Overrated, November 23, 2008

By 

Martin P. McCarthy (North Chili, New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trials of a Forensic Psychologist: A Casebook (Paperback)

Charles Patrick Ewing's new book, "Tales of a Forensic Scientist" is another treat. Ewing's prose is engaging and witty - written in plain English but in no way is it dummy-downed.

Ewing uses 10 cases in which he was called as an expert witness to illustrate both the benefits and the limits of expert testimony. Indeed, in every case in which he testified as an expert for the defense, the defense was unsuccessful at trial. His purpose in using some of these "losing cases," was not to show that he is unsuccessful as an expert witness. To the contrary, though his testimony had not achieved results at trial, it had collateral benefits in the sentences in the cases of Charlene Brundidge, Judith Neeley and (possibly) Felicia Morgan.

As a lawyer and a forensic psychologist, Ewing aptly describes the differing purposes between the two. A lawyer is an advocate while a forensic psychologist is (supposed to be) a neutral and detached professional. Ewing's bias is decidedly against the expert witness" who acts as advocate (the hired gun). Ewing minces no words in expressing his disdain for the "hired gun." For Ewing, the "hired gun" does a disservice to whatever field he may be testifying. This is not Ewing's first foray into the criticism of the "hired gun (Insanity: Murder, Madness, and the Law). The words of W.B. Yeats come to mind, "But was there ever dog that praised his fleas?"

According to Ewing, too much significance is attached to the testimony of the expert witness. Even when the expert (such as Ewing) renders a dispassionate reasoned opinion, he can still lose the "battle of the experts" to a hack hired gun.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting, November 26, 2008

By 

Karen Franklin "Forensic Psychologist" (El Cerrito, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trials of a Forensic Psychologist: A Casebook (Paperback)

Ewing, a Distinguished Service Professor at the State University of New York's law school in Buffalo, employs the same case study format from Minds on Trial: Great Cases in Law and Psychology, this time using only cases in which he has been involved over his 30-year career as an expert witness. The book is well written and packed with details and lengthy segments of trial transcripts from ten riveting, high-profile cases, making it ideal for use as a teaching tool for students of mental health law or the social sciences.

My lengthier review, in California Lawyer magazine, is online at tiny.cc/Ewing.

4.0 out of 5 stars Not the most encouraging read, September 25, 2010

By 

Roger - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trials of a Forensic Psychologist: A Casebook (Paperback)

I've dabbled with the thought of changing careers into forensic psychology. This book was very entertaining an easy to read and understand. Ultimately it opened my eyes to how much or little influence psychological expert testimony has on the jury. Food for thought, but still a good read.