ABSTRACT
A psychological report in death penalty work not only provides assessment results and their interpretation, but also may reference the connection of the individual’s characteristics and history to the act committed-unless there is ongoing protestation of innocence. Th e report then can only describe general factors to be considered by the jury as mitigating while creating the opportunity for discussion of scientifi c fi ndings relevant to understanding the defendant. Th e report and testimony, if given, then become one of the bases for the defense attorney’s summation and argument for a life sentence. In the following example, the defendant continued to maintain innocence despite a fi nding of guilty.
