The power of presentation: How attire, cosmetics, and posture impact the source credibility of women expert witnesses.

Gender stereotypes may negatively affect perceptions of women professionals' credibility, including forensic experts. This study investigated the impact of behavior-based and appearance-based factors on women expert witness's credibility. Jury-eligible adults were shown one of 16 conditions depicting a woman expert which varied based on combinations of three primary independent variables: (1) attire, (2) cosmetic use, and (3) posture. Expert attractiveness and participants' sexist attitudes served as covariates. Results revealed that women experts were seen as marginally more credible when wearing a skirt suit with a closed posture stance than when wearing a pant suit with a closed posture. Secondary analyses indicated expert attractiveness and participant sexist attitudes accounted for the most variability in credibility scores. Credibility of women expert witnesses may be impacted by irrelevant peripheral cues. Findings can inform discussions aimed at mitigating extraneous factors that inadvertently undermine the reception of women expert witness testimony.

Treating women incarcerated in or at-risk of restrictive placements: A statement of the problem and considerations for practice.

Although limited, extant research suggests that incarcerated women are more likely than men to be placed in restrictive housing (e.g., administrative or disciplinary segregation) for disruptive behaviors that are linked to psychiatric symptomology and interpersonal deficits. Yet, few scholarly works discuss specific interventions or recommendations for treating incarcerated women in or at-risk of segregation. In this paper, we address the extent to which criminogenic and mental health needs of incarcerated women likely apply to women often placed in segregation, offer considerations for treatment planning when working with this subpopulation, and describe the process of piloting a manualized program specifically developed for segregated clients with women in a state prison. Descriptive data on 18 program participants are reported. Among program completers (n = 10), reductions in emotional stability, wellness, and criminal attitudes were endorsed from pre- to post-treatments and all women were rule-violation free at 3-month follow-up. Although preliminary outcomes are promising, controlled treatment outcome research is needed. We conclude with a call to advocate for the humane treatment and management of women who are in or prone to restrictive housing. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Are videoconferenced mental and behavioral health services just as good as in-person? A meta-analysis of a fast-growing practice.

The use of videoconferencing technologies (VCT) is on the rise given its potential to close the gap between mental health care need and availability. Yet, little is known about the effectiveness of these services compared to those delivered in-person. A series of meta-analyses were conducted using 57 empirical studies (43 examining intervention outcomes; 14 examining assessment reliability) published over the past two decades that included a variety of populations and clinical settings. Using conventional and HLM3 meta-analytical approaches, VCT consistently produced treatment effects that were largely equivalent to in-person delivered interventions across 281 individual outcomes and 4336 clients, with female clients and those treated in medical facilities tending to respond more favorably to VCT than in-person. Results of an HLM3 model suggested assessments conducted using VCT did not appear to lead to differential decisions compared to those conducted in-person across 83 individual outcomes and 332 clients/examinees. Although aggregate findings support the use of VCT as a viable alternative to in-person service delivery of mental healthcare, several limitations in the current literature base were revealed. Most concerning was the relatively limited number of randomized controlled trials and the inconsistent (and often incomplete) reporting of methodological features and results. Recommendations for reporting the findings of telemental health research are provided.

Individual and situational factors predicting employment status among revoked community-released offenders.

Finding and maintaining employment postrelease is an important component in reducing recidivism and promoting successful reintegration for returning citizens. The primary purpose of the current study was to identify and gain a clearer understanding of both internal/individual (i.e., attitudes toward work, criminogenic thinking, antisocial associates, general mental health) and external/situational factors (i.e., reliable transportation, possession of identification, Internet access, type of residence) affecting employment status using a sample of 75 higher-risk community-supervised offenders (employed: n = 33; unemployed: n = 42). Unemployed offenders endorsed higher reactive criminal thinking (indicative of impulsivity) than those who were employed; no other differences in criminogenic thinking or association with antisocial others were found. Perceptions of work volition were significantly different across groups; however, feelings of work alienation were not. Further, significantly more unemployed offenders self-reported having a mental health diagnosis (other than a substance use disorder) and endorsed statistically and clinically significantly higher levels of psychological distress as compared to employed offenders. Regarding situational factors, although no statistically significant differences were found between the unemployed and employed groups, those who were employed were twice as likely to have access to the Internet. Based on these findings, it is recommended that correctional vocational programs incorporate psychological and cognitive interventions, not simply focus on skills training and logistical considerations. Future directions for research are discussed, including the need to monitor job success over time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Initiation of a multidisciplinary telemental health clinic for rural justice-involved populations: Rationale, recommendations, and lessons learned.

Videoconferencing technology (VCT) is rapidly increasing in the mental healthcare industry and is becoming an attractive option to reach justice-involved populations. This paper first highlights the need for alternative service delivery solutions and reviews current literature on the use of VCT for correctional clients. We then outline the specific timeline, procedures, and barriers associated with the initiation of a virtual, multidisciplinary telemental health clinic for jailed and community-released offenders in a rural Mississippi county aimed at reducing criminogenic and psychiatric risks. Finally, we summarize generalizable recommendations for establishing community partnerships, developing structural and logistical processes, and delivering VCT while accounting for unique client factors and integrating evidence-based intervention strategies. We hope other community leaders will feel empowered to initiate similar programs that address needs within in their own jurisdictions.

A Call for Research on Sex Offender Treatment Programs.

The effects of sex offender treatment programs have been addressed in the literature, but there are opportunities to expand research and potentially improve existing sex offender treatment programs. The Federal Bureau of Prison's Sex Offender Treatment Program gives offenders the opportunity to change their behavior by reducing criminality and recidivism, and receive transition services as offenders exit the prison system and reenter society. This program is evidence-based and utilizes landmark research in sex offender treatment, however there are a few details that may present limitations to the effectiveness of the treatment program within the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Entry requirements, such as literacy, cognitive, and remaining sentence requirements, as well as the treatment program environment, present opportunities for research to evaluate the effects of these variables on the convicted sex offender population.