The second edition, published in 1997, was the ultimate reference authority. The field has expanded considerably since then, and this third edition is even bigger and better. It is written for two groups: mental health professionals who perform psychological evaluations for the courts, and the legal professionals who retain them. It is also an invaluable resource book for students pursuing careers in forensic psychology or mental health law.

The collective experiences of the authors are diverse, and the book's coverage is similarly wide-ranging and comprehensive. Overview chapters discuss the nature of the legal system and forensic psychological assessment. Specific topics include criminal (competencies, mental state at the time of the offense, juvenile delinquency, sentencing) and non-criminal applications (civil commitment, tort claims, child abuse, parenting).

Always, the authors focus both on ethics and on practicality. We learn about operating a forensic practice and the how-to's of communicating with the courts, both orally and in writing. One of my favorite sections is the last hundred pages, which contain 17 sample reports complete with discussion. As a teaching tool, there is nothing better than this.

Thorough and well-written, this book is mandatory for the shelf of any forensic practitioner, mental health lawyer, or forensic psychology graduate student.