The Role of Canadian Psychologists in Conducting Fitness and Criminal Responsibility Evaluations.

Historically, only physicians, typically psychiatrists, were permitted to conduct forensic mental health evaluations for the courts. In the United States, the courts have affirmed increasing acceptance of involvement of psychologists since the 1940s. In Canada, the legal system continues to adhere to the assumption of medical dominance to a large extent. For instance, Canadian legislation requires that a physician conduct court-ordered assessments of fitness to stand trial and criminal responsibility. In this article, relevant Canadian law is compared to American law, and empirical research on the ability of psychologists to assess fitness and criminal responsibility is discussed. These legal and empirical reviews are used to generate policy recommendations regarding the qualifications of forensic examiners. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)