Animal Maltreatment

Forensic Mental Health Issues and Evaluations

Thomas Grisso editor Lacey Levitt editor Gary Patronek editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Oxford University Press Inc

Published:5th Nov '15

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Animal Maltreatment cover

Animal maltreatment includes physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or hoarding of animals, and all states have laws prohibiting various forms of animal maltreatment. About one-half have statutory provisions mandating or allowing courts to order forensic mental health assessments of individuals convicted of animal maltreatment offenses. Yet there are few resources on this topic for mental health and legal professionals and none that offer guidance for evaluations in animal maltreatment cases. Animal Maltreatment is the first book to provide an overview of animal maltreatment as a legal, clinical, and forensic issue. It offers guidance for mental health and legal professionals involved in the adjudication of animal maltreatment offenses, with a special focus on forensic mental health assessments in such cases. The book reviews the legal and social contexts of animal maltreatment and then describes research-based and clinical knowledge within the area. It offers perspectives on social and clinical responses in animal maltreatment cases and describes prospects for an area of forensic mental health assessment focused specifically on the forensic evaluation in cases of animal maltreatment. This is the first book that brings together descriptions of the characteristics of those who maltreat animals, factors associated with animal maltreatment behaviors, information about the impact on the animals themselves, and evaluations of offenders to assist courts in decisions about their rehabilitation. Animal Maltreatment will be of great benefit and interest to general and forensic psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers, as well as lawyers, legal scholars and students, veterinarians, humane law enforcement professionals, and others involved in animal welfare advocacy.

"Levitt, Patronek, and Grisso have co-edited a groundbreaking, creative, multidisciplinary volume. Chapters address the many facets of animal cruelty and maltreatment. The authors rely on prior research, making this book an outstanding reference for forensic mental health professionals, animal control officers, schools of veterinary medicine, practicing veterinarians, and attorneys. This is a major contribution in an area that has received little prior attention." --Alan M. Goldstein, PhD, ABPP-Forensic, Professor Emeritus, John Jay College of Criminal Justice "Combatting animal cruelty--a serious offense officially recognized by the FBI as a danger to our communities--requires a multi-disciplinary approach. Many states mandate that veterinarians and other agencies report animal crimes, and some now require mental health evaluations and/or counseling for convicted offenders. The editors of this important book, experts in the fields of psychology and veterinary medicine, have compiled an impressive roster of contributors who live and breathe these issues in their daily work--making this a must-read for psychologists, veterinarians, social workers, and prosecutors navigating the unique hurdles that arise in animal cruelty cases." --Lora Dunn, JD, Staff Attorney, Criminal Justice Program, Animal Legal Defense Fund "Levitt, Patronek, and Grisso have created an essential and indispensable resource for anyone who confronts animal maltreatment in their professional work. It's especially timely given the FBI's recent (2015) recognition of the importance of officially tracking different forms of animal maltreatment. The editors and chapter authors are to be commended for addressing critical issues in the fields of animal welfare and human mental health: How do we evaluate incidents of animal maltreatment, and how does forensic science shape our response to perpetrators of animal maltreatment?" --Frank R. Ascione, PhD, Scholar-in-Residence, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver "This book comes at a critical time in legal and animal history when there is growing legal action in cases of animal maltreatment. Written by world-renowned experts, this resource provides key information that has been profoundly lacking in the legal arena. This ground-breaking publication will facilitate the proper and appropriate action in animal cases for all parties involved." --Melinda Merck, DVM, Veterinary Forensics Consulting, LLC

ISBN: 9780199360901

Dimensions: 152mm x 236mm x 38mm

Weight: 658g

400 pages