Clinicians ’ perceptions of virtual reality for firesetting
This study aims to develop an understanding of clinicians’ views of VR for deliberate firesetting, to identify areas where VR could potentially add value to current practice and any particular barriers to using VR in this context.
Through an online survey, 73 clinicians rated their agreement with nine potential benefits of using VR for firesetting and 11 potential barriers to using it. They also provided free text responses detailing the greatest perceived potential benefit and the greatest perceived barrier. Factors related to intent to use VR for firesetting in the future were explored.
Clinicians perceived t...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - August 4, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Katie Sambrooks
Lona Lockerbie
Shahid Majid
Theresa Gannon Source Type: research
Managing interviews in high-stake crime cases: practice guidance for developing suspect interview strategies using a LOST WEBSITES framework
Martin Vaughan, Rebecca Milne, Gary Dalton, Steven Retford
The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-
High-stake crime investigations include cases such as murder and rape. The purpose of this paper is to outline the components of an interview strategy for suspects. In the UK, these interviews are often managed by Interview Managers who are tasked with developing effective interview strategies with the aim of ensuring all parties involved in the interview process are dealt with ethically and legally using research-based methods.
This practitioner paper ...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - August 3, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Martin Vaughan
Rebecca Milne
Gary Dalton
Steven Retford Source Type: research
Staff experiences of working alongside peer support workers in forensic mental health community teams: a qualitative study
This study provides insight into the attitudes held by members of an MDT of working with PSWs. Although seemingly positive, the lack of clarity around the role of the PSW is problematic.
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the employment of PSWs in the context of UK forensic settings, highlighting the benefits and challenges of such from the perspective of staff. (Source: Journal of Forensic Practice)
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - July 28, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Elizabeth Nash
Samantha Taplin
Lauren Jade Rust
Robert Percival Source Type: research
Investigating the criminal thinking styles of mentally disordered offenders within the UK
This study aims to evaluate the utility and reliability of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) to investigate the criminal cognitions of mentally disordered offenders (MDOs) from the UK.
The reliability and validity of the PICTS scales were investigated within an MDO sample from the UK (N = 45) and compared to PICTS data from the USA and general offenders in the UK.
The findings showed that the PICTS functioned in a similar way when used in MDO and non-MDO populations, indicating that from a psychometric perspective, the PICTS scales produce consistent results across both populations. ...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - July 27, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Elizabeth Spruin
Tara Dunleavy
Chloe Mitchell
Belinda Siesmaa Source Type: research
Mental health and criminal justice: bridging two worlds
This study described programs that aim at diverting persons with mental health conditions out of criminal justice systems to community mental health services, with the intention to inform research and practice.
A scoping review was used to map and synthesise diversion programs. Ten online data bases were searched. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews was used to direct the selection of sources. Research and evaluation publications and grey literature published from 2010 to 2021 in English language were included.
Eight distinct diversion programs were ide...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - July 26, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Chrispen Madondo
Marc Van der Putten Source Type: research
“The moment he realized he needed our joint assistance made the difference”: a multiple case study into working elements in the supervision of probation clients with debt
This study included five best practice cases based on both interviews with involved professionals and clients and client file information. One case was described in detail to illustrate what probation officers and clients encounter when working on debt. All five cases were analyzed thematically using pattern matching techniques and crosscase syntheses on debt background, current supervision, barriers and working elements.
Organization processes and lack of aftercare hinder effective supervision. Close collaboration with other professionals (e.g. debt counselors) is important in supervising clients with debt. The clien...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - July 26, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: G. van Beek
Vivienne de Vogel
Dike van de Mheen Source Type: research
Resettle intensive intervention and risk management service (IIRMS): a pathway to desistance?
This study aims to explore the demographic and reconviction data of individuals who had engaged in an established Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Service, a community service within the offender personality disorder pathway (OPD).
Demographic information and reconviction data from the Police National Computer was accessed for all participants (n = 69) released to the service over a 10-year period (2008– 2018), 45 of who met criteria to be included in the study. Their intervention period spans custody to community, with an expected period of 2 years engagement upon release.
Participants in the servi...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - July 23, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Sue Ryan
Alaw Eldridge
Cormac Duffy
Ellen Crawley
Caroline O'Brien Source Type: research
Forensic psychiatry in times of COVID-19: a qualitative study into the concerns and needs of patients
Annabel Simjouw, Nienke Verstegen, Wineke Smid, Agnita Langeveld
The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-
The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of the concerns and needs of forensic psychiatric patients regarding the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on their mental health and treatment.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine patients from various wards of the hospital. Using the consensual qualitative research method, these interviews were coded by a team of three researchers.
Four domains emerged from the analysis, na...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - July 13, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Annabel Simjouw
Nienke Verstegen
Wineke Smid
Agnita Langeveld Source Type: research
A qualitative study exploring the experiences of multi-disciplinary staffs in a medium secure service when working from home and virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic
This study aims to overcome this issue.
The current study used a qualitative design to specifically explore the following areas with nine multi-disciplinary staff using a semi-structured group discussion: how their everyday working practice had changed during the pandemic, the perceived impact of these changes on themselves as professionals, as well as identifying strengths and limitations associated with any new ways of working.
A thematic analysis was conducted producing four main themes: emotional overload and confusion; technological problems; accessibility and emotional connectivity; adapting and making good...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - June 10, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kim Liddiard Source Type: research
Digital displacement of youth offending: addressing the issue
This study aims to explore pathways from harmful to illegal online activity perpetrated by young people, legislation and police perspectives, current detection methods and interventions.
This perspective paper examines issues observed within a larger systematic literature review on digital youth offending.
A trajectory from acceptable to harmful and subsequently illegal behaviour was identified, with a particular pathway from unethical video game activity to digitally dependent offending. Legislation and police perspectives vary by jurisdiction, with a common theme that increased officer education is key to the l...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - June 2, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Alex McCord
Philip Birch
Lewis A. Bizo Source Type: research
Developing immersive videos to train social cognition in individuals with schizophrenia in forensic psychiatry
This study aims to develop immersive scenarios (immersive videos) to foster generalization of learning while addressing social cognition, a factor associated to violence in schizophrenia. The authors sought to develop immersive videos that generate a sense of presence; are socially realistic; and can be misinterpreted and, if so, lead to anger.
A multiphase mixed method was used to develop and validate the immersive scenarios. The development phase consisted of preliminary interviews and co-design workshops with patients (n = 7) and mental health practitioners (n = 7). The validation phase was conducted with patients ...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - June 1, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Mathieu Dumont
Catherine Briand
Ginette Aubin
Alexandre Dumais
St éphane Potvin Source Type: research
The experience of inequality and its impact on mental illness – thematic analysis of patients’ lived experiences admitted to secure mental health hospital
Kristina Brenisin, Aile Trumm, Elizabeth Akinwande, Kieran Breen
The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-
The concept of inequality refers to being treated unfairly in society and its impact on mental illness has been explored primarily using a quantitative research approach. Patients’ lived experiences of inequalities prior to their admission to a secure care setting need to be addressed with a higher priority as they can serve to improve our understanding of the factors underlying the development of mental illness at a personal level. The aim of this s...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - May 12, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kristina Brenisin
Aile Trumm
Elizabeth Akinwande
Kieran Breen Source Type: research
Service user experiences of a psychologically enhanced resettlement service [PERS] in an English open prison
Dannii Jarvis, Jake Shaw, Tamsin Lovell
The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-
The purpose of this study is to investigate the experiences of adult male prisoners presenting with personality difficulties in an open (Category D) prison in the UK and their experience of a pilot offender personality disorder (OPD) pathway Psychologically Enhanced Resettlement Service (PERS) in the prison.
Thirteen participants who had engaged with PERS were interviewed about their experiences of open conditions and the service. The interviews were transcribed verbatim ...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - May 9, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Dannii Jarvis
Jake Shaw
Tamsin Lovell Source Type: research
The dark figure of violence committed by discharged psychiatric inpatients
This study highlights an important limitation of relying exclusively on official criminal justice statistics when studying violence or recidivism in the community. (Source: Journal of Forensic Practice)
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - April 28, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kaitlin Hardin
Nicholas Scurich Source Type: research
Narratives of life after political imprisonment: Republican and Loyalist ex-prisoners in Northern Ireland
This study highlighted the challenges faced by political ex-prisoners regarding the changing conflicting master narratives in Northern Ireland and identified how they deal with these challenges. The participants adapted to post-conflict society by attempting to understand and make sense of their experiences, including justifying their actions as appropriate for the era and identifying positive changes in society resulting from the conflict.
A narrative approach can be beneficial for understanding the experiences of political ex-prisoners. It enables a theoretical perspective to look not only at the personal but also a...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - April 27, 2022 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Nigel Hunt
Stacey Willis Source Type: research
