AAPL Vision
The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law is the premier forensic psychiatric organization, dedicated to the highest standards of practice at the interface of psychiatry and the law.
Our Mission
The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law is an organization of psychiatrists whose mission is to promote excellence in forensic practice, to provide and support educational activities, and to foster research that enhances knowledge about forensic psychiatry while building a diverse and inclusive body of forensic psychiatrists.
Our Values
Honesty and striving for objectivity when acting as an expert within the legal process
High quality, patient-centered care in forensic settings
Adherence to the highest ethical standards of professional conduct
Sensitivity, compassion, and respect for persons
Promotion of health equity
Respect for diversity and inclusion
Scientific research
Advocacy for just and equitable treatment of individuals in the legal system
Advocacy for the profession
Lifelong professional learning
Collegiality
Respect for and collaboration with all health professionals and legal professionals
* These Values Statements are not presented in any particular order.
Our Goals
Facilitating the exchange of ideas and practical clinical experience through publications and regularly scheduled national and regional meetings
Sponsoring continuing education programs for both forensic and general psychiatrists and for other mental health and legal professionals
Advancing ethics guidelines for forensic psychiatry
Promoting knowledge and understanding of persons diagnosed with mental illness within legal, regulatory, administrative, governmental, public, and clinical settings
Stimulating research in forensic psychiatry and providing venues for presenting the results
Developing guidelines and resources for education and training in forensic psychiatry, both for general psychiatry residents and post-residency fellows
Advocating for the destigmatization and decriminalization of mental illness, for alternatives to incarceration, and for the humane treatment and rehabilitation of incarcerated individuals
Providing competent and respectful care to persons with mental illness in carceral and other clinical settings
Advocating for improvements in social conditions that affect individuals in the criminal legal and mental health systems, such as appropriate housing, employment, education and training, access to transportation, and healthcare
Educating healthcare and legal professionals about how systemic inequities undermine the truth-seeking and fairness goals of the legal system
Narrating from forensic psychiatry’s perspective the unique experiences of individuals we are asked to evaluate