Seattle University Collaborative Projects - International Academy of ...

quality of court experts. In this way it contributes to the due course of justice, effectiveimplementation of custodial psychiatric care and treatment as part of the quality circle of forensicscience. In this presentation the quality stimulating initiatives taken by the NIFP for practitionersin the field will be discussed, as well as the role of the NIFP in the assurance of court expertquality for forensic psychiatry and psychology.Round Table Discussions on the International Perspective of ForensicPsychiatry and PsychologyMichel M.A. Smithuis, Netherlands Register of Court Experts, Utrecht, Netherlands(m.m.a.smithuis@nrgd.nl)Over the last years, awareness of the importance of establishing quality standards for forensicexpertise has increased significantly. Interest has come not only from forensic institutions andthe science community, but also from the judiciary and politicians. With increased globalisationcomes the call for international standards for court expertise, for instance through the EUCouncil initiative towards a European Forensic Science Area by 2020 (will be distributed at thesession). But are there common grounds for international forensic psychiatry and psychologystandards? Is the work done by forensic psychiatrists and psychologists defined in the same wayin different countries? Are educational paths to forensic expertise comparable? Can there be aninternational register for forensic psychiatrists and psychologists? What is needed if aninternational system for quality assurance and improvement should be established? In roundtable discussions, the previous presentations will be put in an international light by the discussionleaders, each table focussing on one or two statements derived from the quality circle of forensicscience, for instance, training and education, quality assurance through certification andaccreditation and common grounds for standardization. In these discussions, participants canactively give their views on the need for and possible ways to come to an international systemfor quality assurance and improvement for the field of expertise of forensic psychiatry andpsychology.Plenary Discussion on the Possibilities and Limitations for International QualityStandards and Quality Assurance for Forensic Psychiatry and PsychologyMichel M.A. Smithuis, Netherlands Register of Court Experts, Utrecht, Netherlands(m.m.a.smithuis@nrgd.nl)In this plenary discussion, the possibilities and limitations for international qualitystandardization and quality assurance for forensic psychiatry and psychology will be discussed.Round table discussion leaders will voice the views of the participants on the statements given,making clear what views are shared internationally and where differences of opinion or working332