Criminal Defense Attorneys and Client Suicide: Survey and Recommendations From Washington State

The connection between suicide and incarceration is well documented, in particular after recent arrest. Criminal defense attorneys may be one of the few people in meaningful contact with this population, and lawyers have a unique window into their clients' well-being. In this Viewpoint, we explore the experiences of attorneys who work with clients with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. We developed and administered a survey to criminal defense attorneys in the State of Washington, ascertaining their experiences with client suicide. A total of 44 responses were collected, with over 95% of respondents having been concerned about a client's risk for suicide. We conclude that client suicide widely impacts criminal defense attorneys, and lawyers' role with justice-involved clients uniquely positions them to be a potential asset in suicide prevention efforts.

Covid-19: Exploring medico-legal perceptions amongst orthopaedic surgeons and lawyers

INTRODUCTION

British national guidelines and laws published by the British Orthopaedic Association and the new Coronovirus Act 2020 favoured treatment of trauma and orthopaedic conditions with non-operative alternatives.A survey was developed for both lawyers and trauma and orthopaedic clinicians to gauge their perceptions on guidelines related to protection of trauma and orthopaedic staff, and on prosecution with respect to future claims.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixteen questions were designed for surgeons and 11 questions for lawyers. The level of experience and career stages were explored in other questions. A Likert scale (0-5) was used to capture these perceptions.

RESULTS

Clinicians envisaged themselves being less protected (mean = 2.6), forecasted a rise in negligence claims (mean = 3.4) and perceived little additional beneficial indemnity influence from the NHS (mean = 1.8). Lawyers felt that public perception would have more influence in negligence claim rates (mean = 2.6) and disapproved of complete immunity for clinicians (mean = 0.5). Disparities between different trauma and orthopaedic grades demonstrated sentiments of comfort with redeployment, preparedness in non-orthopaedic training and protection from litigation.

DISCUSSION

The results reflected the overall anxiety over litigation reprisal shared amongst trauma and orthopaedic staff. Issues with providing sub-optimal care can worsen this overall fear. Feeling unprotected from litigation reprisal can leave clinicians with an additional sense of emotional and professional burden. Redeployment into unfamiliar environments can leave senior clinicians in limbo in contrast to their juniors.

CONCLUSION

Non-surgical options to treat orthopaedic conditions affect both patients and trauma and orthopaedic staff. Feedback from lawyers reassures trauma and orthopaedic clinicians that negligence claims should not rise due to the updated national guidelines.

Suicide among lawyers: Role of job problems

INTRODUCTION

Suicide research has neglected the legal profession. The present investigation determines what risk factors distinguish lawyers' suicides from those of the general population. Given the substantial investment in their careers, client dependency, and ongoing stress of work, job problems are seen as key potential drivers of lawyers' suicides.

METHODOLOGY

Data are from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). They refer to 30,570 suicides. Fifteen predictors, including social strains, psychiatric morbidity, and demographics, are assessed as possible drivers of lawyers' suicides. The dependent variable is a dichotomy where lawyers' suicides = 1 and other suicides = 0.

RESULTS

The results of a multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for the other 14 risk factors, lawyers' suicides were 91% more apt (Odds ratio = 1.91, CI: 1.17, 3.14) than other suicides to have job problems that contributed to their suicide. Other constructs differentiating lawyers' suicides from other suicides included presence of a known mental health problem, age, presence of a known substance abuse problem, and marital status. The full model correctly classified 99.57% of the suicides.

CONCLUSION

Job problems can serve as a key warning sign for lawyers' suicides. This is the first investigation of the drivers of lawyers' suicides.

Detainees' Perceptions of Procedural Justice: An Examination Throughout the Criminal Justice System

Procedural justice literature proposes that when individuals perceive their treatment by criminal justice authorities as more procedurally just, they will be more likely to view those authorities as legitimate and, in turn, show more compliant behavior. Knowledge on potential determinants of procedural justice is, therefore, crucial. Research suggests that prior perceptions of procedural justice may influence later judgements of procedural justice. The current study used data from the Prison Project, including information on detainees' perceptions of their treatment by the police, the judge, the prison staff, the probation officer, and the lawyer. The findings show that detainees perceive the treatment by the lawyer as most procedurally just, while they evaluate the treatment by the police as least procedurally just. Further, how detainees experience the procedurally just treatment by the police is associated with how they feel treated by other authorities at a later stage in the criminal justice system.

Lawyers' beliefs about mental illnesses and their tendency to stigmatize people with mental illnesses

PURPOSE

This descriptive study determined lawyers' beliefs about mental illnesses and their tendency to stigmatize people with mental illnesses.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The sample consisted of 181 lawyers. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics form, the Beliefs toward Mental Illness Scale (BMI), and the Stigma Scale (SS).

FINDINGS

Participants felt compassion, uneasiness, curiosity, and pity for people with mental illnesses. Participants had a mean BMI and SS score of 1.99 ± 0.70 and 2.19 ± 0.61, respectively. Their BMI and SS scores were moderately and positively correlated (r = 0.554) PRACTICE İMPLICATIONS: Lawyers should be informed about mental illness by courses within the context of health education in law schools' curricula. Future studies should focus on other community leaders' beliefs about mental illness and their tendency to stigmatize people with mental illnesses.

Burnout and Engagement's Relationship to Drug Abuse in Lawyers and Law Professionals

OBJECTIVE

Investigate the associations between drug abuse and the prevalence of the engagement and burnout dichotomy in law professionals.

METHODS

Eligible participants completed a questionnaire where odds ratios of drug abuse and other confounding variables and their association to engagement or burnout were calculated using multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

When looking at all law professionals, burnout is a statistically significant predictor for drug abuse ( P = 0.04, not shown). Law professionals whose burnout scores fell in the highest bin have 4.71 (95% CI [1.38-16.08]) times higher odds of having a problem with drug abuse than those whose burnout scores fell in the second bin.

CONCLUSION

Study findings showed a possible way to affect the prevalence of drug abuse in law professionals by affecting the engagement and burnout dichotomy.

Prevalence and predictors of secondary trauma in the legal profession: a systematic review

There has been increased scrutiny of occupations that less obviously experience adverse impacts from indirect exposure to trauma. In legal professions, repeated exposure to clients who have experienced trauma comprises a significant part in the role of lawyers, attorneys, solicitors and judges. The current review aimed to explore the prevalence and risk factors of secondary trauma reported by such legal professionals. A systematic search using seven psychological and legal databases elicited 10 articles for review. Quality appraisal revealed several methodological frailties in the reviewed articles. Thus, the findings should be interpreted with caution. Results indicated comparatively high prevalence of secondary trauma in legal professionals, and highlighted predictors and correlates of secondary trauma (gender, work experience, personal trauma and level of exposure). The review emphasised significant variability between the studies making systematic comparisons challenging, as well as the need for further conceptually consistent and scientifically robust studies.

Bullying and Cyberbullying: Their Legal Status and Use in Psychological Assessment

Bullying and cyberbullying have severe psychological and legal consequences for those involved. However, it is unclear how or even if previous experience of bullying and cyberbullying is considered in mental health assessments. Furthermore, the relevance and effectiveness of current legal solutions has been debated extensively, resulting in a desire for a specific legislation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the psychological and legal components of bullying and cyberbullying. This is a qualitative research that includes interviews with five practitioner psychologists and four lawyers in the United Kingdom (UK). Thematic analysis revealed three main themes. One theme is related to the definition, characteristics, and impact of bullying and cyberbullying and the need for more discussion among the psychological and legal professions. Another theme is related to current professional procedures and the inclusion of questions about bullying and cyberbullying in psychological risk assessments. The third theme emphasised the importance of intervention through education. Two key messages were highlighted by the lawyers: ample yet problematic legislation exists, and knowledge will ensure legal success. The study recommends the necessity of performing revisions in the clinical psychological practices and assessments, and the legal policies regarding bullying and cyberbullying. In addition to improving legal success, this will reduce bullying prevalence rates, psychological distress, and psychopathology that can be comorbid or emerge as a result of this behaviour.

The stalking of lawyers: a survey amongst professionals in milan

This is the first study focused on the stalking of lawyers. The authors hypothesized that these professionals are at risk of being stalked by their clients and that this stalking is ascribable to RECON type I.B. A random sample of lawyers was survived. 37.3% of 166 respondents revealed to have been stalked: not only by clients, but also by adversaries and colleagues. Data seem to confirm that the stalking of lawyers mainly belongs to RECON type I.B. Female lawyers were at greater risk than male lawyers. In family law cases, the professionals tended to be stalked by the former husbands of the lawyers' clients (p < 0.01). Several female lawyers-but no male lawyers-were threatened with harm to their family members (p < 0.05). Most of the stalking victims described psychological effects of being stalked. Who suffered physical aggression or repercussions on work was more likely to lodge a complaint (p < 0.01).

Contracts: making the transition from residency to work, work for you

Residents completing colon and rectal surgery training should take seriously the terms of contracts offered to them. Contracts should specify how and how much salary will be paid, what benefits the surgeon will receive, and what services are to be provided. However, contracts frequently fail to disclose what costs the surgeon will have to cover that will lower that salary, what hours the surgeon must keep, and what time off the surgeon may expect. Signing a contract is easily done, but getting out of a contract to take a better job or move to another community may be difficult because of the wording in the contact. Surgeons need to have professional help to determine whether to sign a contract and what that contract should provide. An attorney experienced in representing physicians can be recommended by the physician's medical association.

Contracts

Residents completing colon and rectal surgery training should take seriously the terms of contracts offered to them. Contracts should specify how and how much salary will be paid, what benefits the surgeon will receive, and what services are to be provided. However, contracts frequently fail to disclose what costs the surgeon will have to cover, what will lower that salary, what hours the surgeon must keep, and what time off the surgeon may expect. Signing a contract is easily done, but getting out of a contract to take a better job or move to another community may be difficult because of the wording in the contract. Surgeons need to have professional help to determine whether to sign a contract and what that contract should provide. An attorney experienced in representing physicians can be recommended by the medical association.