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A specialty within forensic psychology involves defendant or offender evaluation, i.e., applying psychometric principles to defendants and offenders in the criminal justice system. This specialty involves evaluating defendants and offenders to determine if they have serious problems that could effect adjudication, levels of supervision and treatment decisions. Many of these evaluations are difficult, which emphasizes the need for psychometrically sound assessment instruments or tests.

These tests must be standardized and normed on the offender population they will be used to evaluate. This truism is so obvious it is sometimes overlooked. A test’s results should be compared to other offenders test results. That is why test publishers provide a test’s reliability, validity and accuracy statistics.

We now know that offenders tend to minimize or even deny problems when being interviewed or tested. This is why Truthfulness Scales are so important. Evaluators must determine when offenders are answering questions truthfully. In other words, evaluators need to determine when the offender is minimizing problems, attempting to fake good or lying. This is why most forensic evaluators want to use tests with built-in lie scales or truthfulness measures. Without being able to make this determination, an evaluator’s report would be compromised – if not worthless.

Today, the ubiquitous nature of substance (alcohol and other drugs) abuse is recognized. All too often offenders claim they were under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs when they committed their crime. This is also why many non-violent drug abusers are remanded to treatment programs. Alcohol and Drug Scales identify abusers while concurrently establishing the severity of their abuse. As noted by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), substance (alcohol or other drugs) abuse severity dictates the level of treatment that is warranted.

The distinction between violent and non-violent crimes is very important in the criminal justice system and society. Most offenders attempt to play down or minimize violence when discussing their case. And this is why forensic evaluators want a Truthfulness Scale and a Violence Scale (measure) in their test battery. Violence is defined as "The expression of hostility and rage through physical force directed against persons or property." It is an understatement to say that judges, probation officers and treatment personnel want to know the defendant’s violence potential. This is another example of test users wanting more information than just alcohol and drug-related information.

Similarly, antisocial attitudes (opposed to society and social codes) are of interest to judges, probation officers and treatment staff. A person’s antisocial behavioral tendencies can set important parameters on levels of supervision and practical treatment options. Forensic evaluators know the problems associated with antisocial offenders who are also potentially violent. And their angst reactions are understandable.

Forensic evaluators often have a mental health background, consequently they are aware of the importance of screening for emotional and mental health problems. Today most mental health professionals understand that stress can exacerbate emotional and mental health symptomatology. And this helps explain why forensic assessments typically screen (filter out) for the presence of diagnosable mental health problems.

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