From the Back Cover
Since their emergence as social sciences, psychology and sociology have found a natural home in the justice system. And while the term forensics often translates into CSI scenarios in the public imagination, the bulk of the work takes place in the courtroom, where lawyers, judges, and jurors rely on psychology and sociology experts for aid in decision making.
The Handbook of Forensic Sociology and Psychology offers comprehensive, straightforward coverage of the impact of social science on the spectrum of civil and criminal legal issues. This unique reference guides readers through the work of professionals in both fields as expert witnesses, as consultants before and during trials, and in critiquing legal and law enforcement procedure. Offering expert insights into the making and breaking of laws, contributors analyze forensic psychology and sociology theories and methods used in areas as diverse as immigration, divorce and family, product liability, and employment and education related litigation. A range of evaluative procedures, from custody to competency, child abuse to the death penalty, is examined as well. Other topics featured in the Handbook include:
- The problem of interrogation-induced false confession.
- The role of the gang expert in court.
- Gender analysis in military court-martials.
- Sociological theory and methods in suicide litigation.
- Psychosocial theories about anger and their relevance in litigation.
- Neuropsychological testing standards and ethics.
The Handbook of Forensic Sociology and Psychology opens out this increasingly important field for criminologists, and gives researchers in forensic psychology and sociology clear insights into challenges and opportunities facing these fields.
Dr. Stephen J. Morewitz is President of the forensic sociology consulting firm, STEPHEN J. MOREWITZ, Ph.D., & ASSOCIATES, Buffalo Grove, IL, San Francisco & Tarzana, CA. Founded in 1988, his firm consults in civil, criminal, and immigration court litigation. He is a Lecturer in the Department of Nursing and Health Sciences at California State University, East Bay, and is a Lecturer in the Sociology Department at San Jose State University. Dr. Morewitz has been on the faculty or staffs of Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine and School of Public Health, DePaul University, Argonne National Laboratory, and the California School of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Morewitz is the author or co-author of eight books and over 100 other publications, including the award-winning book, Domestic Violence and Maternal and Child Health (New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers/Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 2004), the award-winning book, Stalking and Violence. New Patterns of Trauma and Obsession (New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers/Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 2003), Death Threats and Violence. New Research and Clinical Perspectives (New York: Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 2008), and Sexual Harassment and Social Change in American Society (Bethesda, MD: Austin & Winfield, Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group, 1996). He is past Chair of the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) Law and Society Division and the SSSP Crime and Delinquency Division and has served on a variety of SSSP committees. He was elected to Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, and to Pi Gamma Mu, the International Honor Society in Social Sciences. Dr. Morewitz earned his A.B. and M.A. from The College of William & Mary in Virginia and his Ph.D. from The University of Chicago.
Mark L. Goldstein, Ph.D. is a licensed clinicalpsychologist in Illinois. He has conducted over 1100 child custody evaluations and presented at numerous national and international conferences on child custody topics. Dr. Goldstein is the co-author of 3 books, including Chronic Disorders in Children and Adolescents. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Florida and has served on the faculty of the University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Roosevelt University, the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
