Distractions in Forensic Evaluations

Although test manuals and professional guidelines universally specify that forensic assessments should take place in quiet, private, and distraction-free environments, such absences of distractions are rare in jail and prison settings. In this article, four aspects of this problem are examined. First, compelling examples of noise and distractions are described to give a sense of the nature of the problem. Second, the portions of guidelines from the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law and the American Psychological Association regarding distractions are presented, along with associated excerpts from test manuals and books. Third, related research findings about the effects of distractions are explored. Finally, overall perspectives of the problem are presented, with special attention given to methods of reporting and managing distractions, examinee habituation, examiner distraction, and ways of conceptualizing evaluation tasks in high-distraction environments.