Victory for psychometrics in Hall v Florida SEM bright-line Atkins MR/ID SCOTUS decision

This morning SCOTUS rectified the long standing "bright line" (ignoring SEM) problem with Atkins ID/MR cases in Florida.  Click here for background information.  Click here for today's decision.

Complexity of Atkins cases: APA DIV 33 adhoc committee list of issues (2006)

I've learned rapidly learned that Atkins cases involve a variety of complex psychological and measurement issues.  Last night I read a 2006 report by the APA DIV 33 ad hoc committee on mental retardation and the death penalty that provided an extensive list of issues.  I only hope the IDCP blog can assist with some of these issues.

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APA Division 33: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Atkins related newsletter articles

In the past I mentioned the importance of APA Divisions 33 (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) and 41 (American Psychology-Law Society) for psychologists and other professionals interested in Atkins cases. 

I recently joined both (although I've yet not received confirmation of my secret decoder ring and handshake for Div 33).

Today I was rummaging around the Div 33 website and was looking at past editions of the newsletter.  I found  that a large number of recent newsletters contained articles related to intellectual disability and Atkins cases.  I downloaded them for some late-night reading.  Others may find them of interest.  Below is a list of articles in recent newsletters.  You can access them by clicking here, and then using the "Current Issue" menu to locate specific issues.  Enjoy

• Vol 31 (2), 2006 - Division 33 Ad Hoc Committee on Mental Retardation and the Death Penalty by J. Gregory Olley, Stephen Greenspan and Harvey Switzky
• Vol 32 (1), 2006 - The Assessment of Adaptive Behavior in Adult Forensic Cases: Part 1 by J. Gregory Olley
• Vol 32 (3), 2006 - The Assessment of Adaptive Behavior in Adult Forensic Cases: Part 2. The Importance of Adaptive Behavior by J. Gregory Olley
• Vol 32 (3), 2007 - Capital Offenders and the Death Sentence: A Scandal That Must Be Addressed by James R. Flynn
• Vol 32 (3), 2007 - Flynn-Adjustment is a Matter of Basic Fairness by Stephen Greenspan
• Vol 33 (1), 2007 - The Assessment of Adaptive Behavior in Adult Forensic Cases: Part 3. The Importance of Adaptive Behavior by J. Gregory Olley
• Vol 33 (2), 2007 - 2007 Edgar A. Doll Address: “Why Mental Retardation and Intellectual Disabilities Are Important and Why Nobody Cares by Douglas K. Detterman
• Vol 33 (3), 2006 - Issues in the Use of the “Flynn Effect” to Adjust IQ Scores When Diagnosing MR by Stephen Greenspan
• Vol 34 (1), 2008 - Linguistic Sensitivity Does Not Require One to Use Grossly Deficient Norms: Why US Norms Should Be Used With the Mexican WAIS-III in Capital Cases by Hoi K. Suen and Stephen Greenspan
• Vol 35 (1), 2009 - Update on the Committee on Mental Retardation and the Death Penalty by J. Gregory Olley

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APA Div. 41, 33 and Law and Human Behavior journal

This weekend I joined Division 41 (American Psychology-Law Society) of the American Psychological Association.   I will be monitoring publications and activities related to the Intellectual Competence and Death Penalty blog.  As a result I've add the divisions journal, Law and Human Behavior, to the list of professional journals monitored by this blog (see listings on right-side of blog).

I've also mailed my application and dues to Division 33 (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) and will make a similar post once I receive my membership notification.

Technorati Tags: psychology, APA, Division 44, Divison 33, American Psychology-Law Society, developmental disabilities, MR, mental retardation, forensic psychology, law and psychology, Atkins cases, capital punishment, death penalty