Paper Title
Rape trauma experts in the courtroom.
Keywords
- rape trauma
- rape trauma experts
- expert testimony
- courtroom psychology
- psychological sequelae
- rape victimization
- forensic psychology
- ptsd diagnosis
- rape trauma syndrome
- forensic testimony
- scientific legitimacy
- legal implications
- psychological evidence
- victim testimony
- trauma diagnosis
- forensic settings
- validity and reliability
- sexual assault cases
- expert witness
- legal boundaries
- psychological assessment
- mental health law
- trauma evaluation
- criminal justice
- judicial testimony
- evidence-based testimony
- rape
- mental health
- ptsd
- courtroom
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Publication Info
Volume: 4 | Issue: 1–2 | Pages: 414–432
Published On
April, 1998
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Abstract
This article analyzes the scientific legitimacy of using expert testimony relating to psychological sequelae of rape victimization in the courtroom and attempts to determine boundaries within which such testimony should remain to respect the limitations of current knowledge. Descriptions of the rape-related diagnoses currently used in expert testimony are followed by a discussion of the problematic issues associated with using rape trauma syndrome in the courtroom and a review of the validity and reliability issues associated with diagnosing posttraumatic stress disorder in forensic settings. The authors consider the scientific appropriateness of admitting different levels of rape expert testimony on the basis of the limitations of the scientific knowledge discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
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