Abstract
Madeleine will first provide a general population overview relevant to the research samples of interest in the other two symposium presentations. Type I, II, and III traumas will be discussed, which are disproportionately represented within our sample of minors involved in the juvenile justice system having been charged with crimes involving violence. Following two research presentations, Madeleine will focus on one specific case to help further illustrate potential sensitivities, nuances and vulnerabilities worthy of consideration when working with the population. The case selected will focus on a male adolescent charged with a gang murder at the age of 16 with the DA pushing for transfer to adult court. The difficulties of expert testimony will be incorporated into the presentation along with the ultimate decision by the judge.
Nora McNulty: In the present study, violence risk ratings from the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) from a multimethod forensic assessment private practice in San Diego were compared to the parent and subscale measures of aggression from the Personality Assessment Inventory – Adolescent (PAI-A) along with variables of interest from the Rorschach—Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) within a sample of juvenile offenders charged with violent crimes. Results showed a disparity of violence risk between the PAI-A and R-PAS, with R-PAS appearing to more accurately reflect violence risk within the sample. Existing literature discusses the limitations of self-report testing in measuring problems of externalization, which was consistent with our results. The mean of our sample's PAI-A AGG scale (t = 51) and subscales (AGG-Attitudes; t = 51, AGG-Verbal; t = 49, AGG-Physical; t = 52) reflect passivity and control over the expression of anger despite these individuals having been charged with violent crimes. R-PAS results reflected potential psychological and behavioral underpinnings for violence and aggression (e.g., elevated MOR, CFC-FC, MAP). Our results further supported the significant and well documented link between childhood adversity/complex trauma (e.g., increased emotional impulsivity, pessimistic view of self, others and the world in general) and forensic psychological development within an juvenile justice sample.
Kirstyn Perry: This study focuses on the use of the Rorschach in a sample of male minors diagnosed with ADHD who have been charged with committing violent crimes (n = 35). By utilizing the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS), this research aimed to identify response patterns and coding similarities for this specific population demographic. The analyses identified Complexity and SumH as being significantly lower and (CF+C)/SumC, F%, V-COMP, and CT as being significantly higher amongst the sample. The lower Complexity levels are noteworthy, considering the significant influence on the remaining variables. While ADHD symptomology may explain some differences, a comprehensive understanding necessitates consideration of additional relevant factors, notably the influence of traumatic responding and its pervasive impact, especially during sensitive developmental periods. Acknowledging the multitude of factors contributing to differences within the sample is crucial for skilled interpretation of the results, which can assist in accurate case conceptualization and the formulation of targeted treatment recommendations to address specific needs.
Chair
Madeleine Starin | Alliant International University - San Diego
Discussant
Madeleine Starin | Alliant International University - San Diego
Goals & Objectives
- To learn about the impact of adverse childhood experiences and complex trauma for justice involved youth and how externalizing dysfunction can be represented across different types of testing in multimethod assessment practices.
- We will discuss the disproportionate representation of marginalized identities within the population including issues of race, culture, poverty, community disorganization and neurodiversity.
Madeleine Starin, Psy.D., Alliant International University - San Diego
Nora McNulty, Alliant International University, San Diego
Kirstyn Perry, Alliant International University, San Diego
