ABSTRACT
Box 21.1 Writing psychiatric reports for sentencing It is helpful if the written reports before the sentencing judge are in tune with each other and refer to each other: • Always make sure that you see the probation pre-sentence report (PSR) and talk to the probation officer
preparing it. • Make explicit reference to the PSR. Consider whether there are any psychiatric issues that would hinder
compliance with a proposed requirement. • Consider the risk assessment in the PSR. If you think that all the major risk issues have been properly
identified and addressed, then say so. If, on the other hand, you think that because of psychiatric issues the group-based actuarial data is not applicable to this individual, then you should explain this.
