ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides guidance to forensic psychologists who are tasked with writing assessment reports, in order to enhance their professional knowledge and skills in this area. It considers the requirements of writing reports in different contexts (secure and community), based on different populations (juveniles, women, individuals with learning difficulties, relationships) and with different aims (risk assessment, reporting on change, reporting on assessments of personality functioning, reporting results of psychometric tests). The book also considers the main overarching principles of effective assessment and report writing, drawing upon international codes of ethics and the limited scientific literature that has addressed issues of report quality. It explores the diversity of the questions asked of forensic psychologists conducting assessments and writing reports; issues specific to sub-populations for which reports may be requested; and issues specific to different settings in which reports may be requested.
