The Witness Stand: A Guide for Clinical Social Workers in the Courtroom

151 Pages·2001·0.57 MB·English

by  Janet Vogelsang

Janet Vogelsang, MSW, BCD
The Witness Stand
A Guide for Clinical Social Workers
in the Courtroom
Pre-publication
REVIEWS,
COMMENTARIES,
EVALUATIONS . . .
arationisessentialandthediscussion
“T he Witness Stand is a gem of of courtroom dynamics is quite en-
useful information for the ex- lightening.”
pertinthecourtroom.IwishIhadearlier
accesstothecommonsenseinformation W. Alexander Morton, PharmD, BCPP
JanetVogelsangpresents.Iwouldhave Professor of Pharmacy Practice,
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
beenmuchbetterpreparedformyinitial
and Behavioral Sciences,
courtroom experiences. I am sure my
Medical University of South Carolina,
preparation and testimony in court
Charleston
wouldhavegonemuchsmoother.Pre-
paringforcourtandtestimonycanbea
dauntingtaskattimes.Thisbookhelps
one develop an organized approach in
courtroom preparation. These useful
ideaswillhelpremindeveryexpertwit- “T heWitnessStandissuchahelp-
ness about crucial points before testi- ful guide to any professional
mony. Vogelsang’s book helps put the whoisinvolvedinthelegalandcourt-
legalprocessinperspectiveandIfindher roomprocess.JanetVogelsang’sdepth
approach very reassuring. She reveals ofexperience and writing style make
her own anxieties and fears about the
for a very readable and essential
courtroom and how she has handled
source for clinicians at any level of
them.
practice.”
The book is arranged in pertinent
sectionswithusefulsummariesatthe Elaine Smith, MSW
endofeachchapter.Vogelsangexpress- Clinical Social Worker,
esherselfclearlywithalightsenseof Private Practice,
humor.Heremphasisonproperprep- Greenville, South Carolina
More pre-publication
REVIEWS, COMMENTARIES, EVALUATIONS . . .
“T heWitnessStandis a rich com- “Onefeaturethatmakesthisbook
pendiumofinsightsandinfor- sousefulisthatitwaswritten
mationforthepracticingclinicalsocial byasocialworkerforsocialworkers.It
worker.Oftenwe,asaprofession,feel is evident that the author speaks from
intimidatedbythecourtexperience,but vastpersonalexperienceinwritingthis
theauthorhelpstoallayanxietybystat- guide for clinical social workers in the
ingthat‘wearesimplytheretoreport courtroom.ThebookreflectsVogelsang’s
what we have learned.’ strongeducationalbackground,herun-
The importance of being thorough derstanding of social work theory, her
andthoughtfulinourassessmentusing years of professional practice, and her
psychosocialmethodsisreinforcedthrough- beliefinandcommitmenttothefieldof
outthebook,withmultipleresourcesof- social work. These qualities have en-
feredtoaidinstructuringourevaluation abledhertoproduceabookthatiswell
oftheclient.TheChecklistforInvestiga- written,highlyinformative,andinterest-
tions,oneofmanyusefulformsincluded ingtoread.
inthebook,isaprimeroftheissuesand Ms. Vogelsang provides numerous
ethicssurroundingdiscovery.” helpful hints throughout the book. For
example,shedescribeshowtodealwith
Gail Nagel, MS, BCD
theanxietyoftestifying,howtorespond
President,
tocross-examination,andhowtoqualify
American Board of Examiners
asanexpertwitnesswithoutbecoming
in Clinical Social Work Inc.
defensive.Shealsodiscussesappropriate
courtroom demeanor, the use of visual
aids,andtipsfortestifyingincourt.The
summarylistsattheendofeachchapter
areespeciallyhelpful.
Thisbookwillbeextremelyusefulto
all social workers who will be called
upon to testify in court. It will also be
“T heWitnessStand,byJanetVogel- helpfultoagencydirectorsandsupervi-
sang, furnishes an invaluable sors, social work educators, and social
beaconforsocialworkerswhoseprofes- work students. It addresses an impor-
sionaleffortsleadtotestimony,oftenin tantareathathasreceivedscantatten-
criminalcases.Vogelsangisexperienced tioninsocialworkliterature,anddoes
andarticulate,agoodguideforthesocial
soinamannerthatiseducationaland,
workerwhoisuncertainandpossiblyin-
at the same time, entertaining.”
timidatedindealingswithlawyersinand
outsideofthecourtroom.Frommyper-
spective as a neurologist, this book is Dr. Frank B. Raymond III, PhD
mosthelpfulinspellingoutwhatasocial Professor/Dean,
workermustdotoprovideacomprehen- College of Social Work,
siveassessmentofthepsychosocialback- University of South Carolina
groundofthesubject.ItidentifieswhatI
mustknowaboutthesocialmatrixfrom
whichthecriminalsprings.”
Jonathan H. Pincus, MD
Professor of Neurology,
Chairman Emeritus of Neurology,
Georgetown University
School of Medicine,
Washington, DC
NOTES FOR PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS
AND LIBRARY USERS
ThisisanoriginalbooktitlepublishedbyTheHaworthSocialWork
Practice Press, an imprint of The Haworth Press, Inc. Unless other-
wisenotedinspecificchapterswithattribution,materialsinthisbook
have not been previously published elsewhere in any format or lan-
guage.
CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION NOTES
AllbookspublishedbyTheHaworthPress,Inc.anditsimprintsare
printedoncertifiedpHneutral,acidfreebookgradepaper.Thispaper
meetstheminimumrequirementsofAmericanNationalStandardfor
Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for Printed Material,
ANSI Z39.48-1984.
The Witness Stand
A Guide for Clinical Social Workers
in the Courtroom

The Witness Stand
A Guide for Clinical Social Workers
in the Courtroom
Janet Vogelsang, MSW, BCD
The Haworth Social Work Practice Press
An Imprint ofTheHaworth Press, Inc.
New York • London • Oxford
Published by
TheHaworthSocialWorkPracticePress,animprintofTheHaworthPress,Inc.,10AliceStreet,
Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
©2001byTheHaworthPress,Inc.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisworkmaybereproducedor
utilizedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopying,microfilm,
andrecording,orbyanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwriting
from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America.
Cover design by Jennifer M. Gaska.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Vogelsang, Janet.
The witness stand : a guide for clinical social workers in the courtroom / Janet Vogelsang.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7890-1144-1 (hard : alk. paper)—ISBN 0-7890-1145-X (soft : alk. paper)
1.Evidence,Expert—UnitedStates. 2.Psychology,Forensic—UnitedStates. 3.Psychiatric
social work—United States. 4. Social workers—United States. I. Title.
KF8965 .V64 2001
347.73´67—dc21 00-050549
CONTENTS
Foreword ix
Stanley L. Brodsky
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction 1
Conclusions About the Witness Stand 1
How to Use This Book 4
Chapter 1. How the Court System Works 7
TypesofCourtsandRulesofEvidence 7
Types of Witnesses 9
American Jurisprudence Proof of Facts 10
Depositions 11
The Affidavit 12
Discovery 17
Legal Definitions 18
The Court System and Definitions: Summary 26
Chapter 2. The Biopsychosocial AssessmentAs Expertise 27
Relearning the Biopsychosocial Assessment 29
Case Example and Testimony Using
the Biopsychosocial Assessment 33
Biopsychosocial Assessment Questionnaires 37
The Biopsychosocial Assessment: Summary 39
Chapter 3. Working with the Lawyer on Your Case 41
Example of Testimony Without Reference
to the Client 42
Working with the Lawyer on Your Case: Summary 47
Chapter 4. Investigators and Investigations 49
Checklist for Investigations 51
Asking for an Investigator 55
Investigators and Investigations: Summary 56
Chapter 5. Interviews 57
Sample Interview with a Mother 60
Sample Interview with Military Personnel 61
Interviews: Summary 62
Chapter 6. Records 63
Sample of Direct Testimony from Records 65
Sample of Cross-Examination on the Records 67
Sample of Direct Testimony in a Sexual Abuse Case 68
Records: Summary 69
Chapter 7. Interviewing Other Experts 71
Example of Testimony Regarding Other Experts 73
Interviewing Other Experts: Summary 74
Chapter 8. Research and Other Publications 75
Case Example 1 77
Sample of Testimony Regarding Publication
of Civil Suit 77
Case Example 2 78
Sample of Testimony Using Literature
on Sexual Trauma 79
Research and Other Publications: Summary 80
Chapter 9. Visual Aids 83
Examples of Visual Aids 84
Example of Testimony Using Visual Aids 85
Visual Aids: Summary 87
Chapter 10. Preparation of Testimony 89
Themes, Conclusions, and Sources 89
Tell the Attorney About Your Opinions 90
Preparing Direct and Cross-Examination 91
Preparation of Testimony: Summary 92
Chapter 11. Qualifying As an Expert 93
Sample of Qualifying Questions
for the Clinical Social Work Expert 95
Qualifying As an Expert: Summary 103