Table of Contents
Preface
About the Authors
Chapter I: Introduction
Legal Background
Pathways to Immigration Court: Removal
Proceedings
Legal Rights
Competency to Participate in Removal
Proceedings
Matter of M-A-M-
EOIR Nationwide
Policy
Franco v. Holder
Research on Competence
Assessment Procedures
Mental Disorder
Psycholegal Abilities
Rationale for the Development of the FIT-IC
Chapter II: The Fitness Interview Test – Immigration Court
Purpose
Scope
User Qualifications
Development
Information Required Prior to Administration
Organization, Administration, and Notetaking
Provision of Feedback/Education to Respondents
The Rating Scale
Item Ratings
Section Ratings
Judgment of
Competence
Note About Ultimate Opinion
Testimony
Recommendations for
Accommodations during the Proceedings
Chapter III: Research with the FIT-IC
FIT-IC Psychometric Properties and Correlates
Summary
References
The FIT-IC English Version
Assessment Summary
The FIT-IC Spanish Version
Resumen de la Evaluación
About the Authors
Maria Aparcero-Suero, Ph.D., is an
Assistant Professor of Psychology and the Director of Forensic Mental Health
Services at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She is a bilingual
(English & Spanish) licensed psychologist with specialized training in
forensic assessment and treatment. Dr. Aparcero is originally from Spain and
received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology with concentration in Forensic
Psychology from Fordham University, NY. She completed a Forensic Psychology
Postdoctoral Fellowship at Patton State Hospital, CA. Dr. Aparcero’s research
examines the validity of psychological and forensic assessments, emphasizes
their application with culturally and linguistically diverse adults, and
provides practical solutions to support practitioners’ needs. She has published
in the areas of violence and sex offender risk, feigning, cross-cultural
assessment, immigration evaluations, and intellectual disability screening in
correctional settings. Dr. Aparcero is a member of the editorial board of the International
Journal of Forensic Mental Health and conducts ad hoc reviews for several
prominent journals.
Barry Rosenfeld, Ph.D., ABPP, is a
Professor of Psychology and Adjunct Professor of Law at Fordham University,
where he co-directs the concentration in Forensic Psychology. He is a Past
President of the American Psychology-Law Society, the International Association
of Forensic Mental Health Services, and a member of the editorial boards of
several prominent journals. In addition to his academic responsibilities,
Professor Rosenfeld routinely provides workshops on forensic psychological
issues including cross-cultural forensic assessment, violence risk assessment,
and malingering. Dr. Rosenfeld has published more than 200 peer reviewed
journal articles and book chapters addressing a wide range of topics in
psychology and law including cross-cultural assessment, violence risk, and
refugee mental health. He is board certified in forensic psychology and
conducts evaluations on a wide range of civil and criminal forensic issues,
both in the U.S. and abroad.
