Using the Internet for collateral information in forensic mental health evaluations

Widening the net: Use of social media data in personal injury and disability evaluations

A central tenet of forensic mental health assessment is the use of multiple sources of data. Traditionally, these sources have included clinical interviews with and observations of the examinee, written records review, psychological test data, and interviews with collateral sources. Data from social media and social networking sites (SNS) is now widely used in civil litigation. However, existing professional practice standards and guidelines do not specifically address the use of SNS data. This leaves forensic mental health evaluators with little guidance as to why, when and how to incorporate SNS data into their evaluations. We review the extant literature on the use of SNS and other social media data in personal injury and disability cases, including legal, ethical, and practical considerations, with the goal of providing forensic mental health practitioners with a framework for making decisions about when and how to incorporate these data into their evaluations and opinions. We advocate caution in conducting independent searches of social media and the Internet, and in making inferences about internal states based on SNS postings. To illustrate these points, we include a case study.

From Reddit to manifestos: Forensic evaluation of incel online activity

Forensic evaluators are increasingly called upon to review online collateral information, including social media posts, web forum posts, chat histories, and other sources such as manifestos. This information is especially vital when assessing members of a virtual community such as that of the involuntary celibate, or incel community. While this new wealth of information can add valuable context to the forensic assessment, it presents unique challenges for the evaluator including challenges with authenticity and interpretation. This article will present an approach to evaluations of such collateral, including a review of the relevant empirical research in this area and touch upon important areas to consider in the forensic evaluation of incel online activity.

The Internet is a scary place: How does evidence source and examinee race or ethnicity influence determinations of threat?

Violent rhetoric online is becoming increasingly relevant to the practice of forensic mental health assessment as examinee's virtual lives may transform into real-world acts of violence. With the rise of a diverse subculture of violent online communities, the aim of the present study was to inform how concerns with online sources of collateral data and racial/ethnic biases may influence determinations of violence potential. Using an experimental design, jury-eligible participants (N = 278) and forensic mental health experts (N = 78) were presented with mock Twitter (now referred to as X) posts that varied by data source (i.e., how information was accessed) and the examinee's race/ethnicity. Results showed no differences in participants' ratings of data credibility, how much weight they would place on the posts in a threat assessment, or how likely the examinee was to act violently against his intended target. Implications regarding the interpretation of social media evidence, relevant limitations, and future research are discussed.

Ethical Practice in Emergency Psychiatry: Common Dilemmas and Virtue-Informed Navigation

Emergency psychiatric practice requires management of both high psychiatric acuity and high ethical complexity. Ethical dilemmas are embedded in the context and practice of agitation management, medical evaluation of uncooperative patients, and involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. Tensions between patient confidentiality and societal interests arise when obtaining collateral information, reporting abuse and neglect, and managing patients who pose a risk of harm toward others. Ultimately, attention to virtue ethics can guide emergency psychiatrists on how to carry out humane and therapeutic care while navigating the ethical principles and legal rules of the emergency psychiatric context.

Acquisition and Interpretation of Digital Information in Forensic Assessments

Despite the now ubiquitous presence of technology in everyday life, there is little written on the subject of personal digital data as it pertains to forensic mental health evaluations. Ethical concerns and limited consensus guidance on this issue have previously made it challenging to use this information in a responsible way. This Perspectives article elaborates on the different types of personal data that exist and the practical aspects of acquiring such information, including data location and legal considerations. Incorporation of personal digital information into the forensic assessment as a form of collateral information is discussed, along with the current state of the literature on technology use and its relationship to psychopathology and risk. Given the important role of technology in the life of the modern individual, deeper research into this topic will be necessary in the immediate future to establish practice standards for the safe and ethical use of digital information in both forensic and non-forensic mental health assessments.