ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book addresses a perspective on basic principles of forensic psychological assessment as they apply to Immigration Court (IC). It elaborates especially critical concerns of cross-cultural, gender, and language issues. The book explores principles of diagnostic interviewing in the specialized setting, the use of trauma-specific instruments and incremental validity to interview findings, as well as the use of comprehensive self report instruments, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2, MMPI-2-RF). It examines use of performance-based methods, such as the Rorschach and TAT, in forensic psychological assessment in IC, emphasizing their special contributions in multi-method assessment in complex matters as well as the broad international and cross-cultural utility. The book also focuses on presentation of assessment findings in reports and expert testimony and provides recommendations on how to integrate the multiple sources of information necessary for a comprehensive forensic assessment.
