The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL) is dedicated to the highest standards of practice in forensic psychiatry. Recognizing the unique aspects of this practice, which is at the interface of the professions of psychiatry and the law, AAPL presents these guidelines for the practice of forensic psychiatry.

Forensic Psychiatry is a subspecialty of psychiatry in which scientific and clinical expertise is applied in legal contexts involving civil, criminal, correctional, regulatory or legislative matters, and in specialized clinical consultations in areas such as risk assessment or employment. These guidelines apply to psychiatrists practicing in a forensic role.

• Ethics Guidelines (1995)
• Insanity Defense (2002)
• Competence to Stand Trial (2007)
• Evaluation of Psychiatric Disability (2008)
• Video Recording of Forensic Psychiatric Evaluations (2013)
• Forensic Assessment (2015)
• Prescribing In Corrections (2018)
• Reproductive Psychiatry/ Women’s Mental Health (2024)
• Managing Violence in State Hospitals with Forensic Patients (2025)

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