Special Section: An Introduction to Forensic Psychology

Special Section: Forensic Psychology

Introduction by David Brandwein, PsyD

It is my genuine privilege to be able to write the introduction to this special section on forensic psychology. The practice of forensic psychology has been a passion of mine for many years, and is the focus of my private practice, my teaching at Kean University, and my research agenda. My practice is focused on the family court system, involving matters of child custody/parenting time and child abuse and neglect, and the nuances and complexities of this work require ongoing education and dialogue with peers.

It is with those insights in mind that I read the three articles in this special section. While they were focused on subspecialties within forensic psychology outside my scope of practice, I resonated with the contents of these articles. I specifically noted that the authors of all three articles focused on client welfare, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and offered guidance and best practice recommendations for service providers. Although some forensic evaluations involve work that can be considered adversarial, client welfare must always be paramount. The guidance and best practice suggestions were also helpful, and I found that the guidance and suggestions had applications to my own forensic practice. I am grateful for the work of the authors of these articles and want to thank them for their important contributions to the practice of forensic psychology.

I certainly hope that the articles contained within this special section provide opportunities for enrichment for my colleagues in forensic psychology and also provide some helpful insights to NJPA members unfamiliar with the practice of forensic psychology. I also want to wish everyone safety and good health in these challenging times.

About the Author

David Brandwein, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist in NY and NJ. His private practice is located in Freehold, New Jersey. Dr. Brandwein is also an associate professor at Kean University and is the Associate Director of Clinical Training in the University’s Doctoral Program (PsyD) in Combined School-Clinical Psychology. Dr. Brandwein also enjoys reading books about history and practicing the mixed marital arts.