Book Reviews

method of psychological testing developed by the author, to identify the characteristics that are 'determinative of the Ackerman-Schoendorf Scales for Parent Evaluation of fitness for custody'. It is divided into three scales; Custody (ASPECT), and the translation of the evidence observational, social and cognitive-emotional. The parents gathered into report writing. are asked to complete a questionnaire, and the examiner

The book is written by an American practitioner, and refers throughout to law and procedure in the USA, which is therefore not applicable to legal procedures or child and family law in the UK. The book refers to 'joint' versus 'sole custody' which has been replaced in the UK with new concepts created by the Children Act 1989 of Parental Responsibility, Residence which can be shared, and Contact. This means that in the section on report writing, some of the comments are not applicable to cases brought under the Children Act 1989. 'Custody' in the title, is equatable in UK family law with residence and contact issues, and not child protection.

Having said this, the psychology behind the legal disputes remains the same, whatever the legal terminology, and so the book is very useful for psychologists, psychiatrists, and other therapists asked to give opinions in contested residence and contact applications.

There is a guide to interviewing parents and children, with topics for discussion, and suggestions for questions to explore their perception of themselves and other family members. The author speaks from his own extensive experience, offering such practical advice as 'It is not unusual, once the custody dispute has commenced, for a previously inactive parent to become active ... it can be helpful to ask children.. "has your motherlfather started doing anything that helshe has not done before?"

The author also recommends that the issue of child abuse is explored in all interviews by the use of 'good touchlbad touch' questions, and if abuse is discovered, then the matter be referred to the relevant agency. In the UK there are procedures set up for child protection referrals and investigation in their local Area Child Protection

completes a separate questionnaire for each parent containing 56 items reflecting the factors recognised as meaningful in custody evaluations, twelve of which are 'critical', indicating significant parenting deficits. This form utilises information from observation and interviews of the parent, alone and with the children, data from psychological tests administered to the parents and children, and the parents' responses to the parent questionnaire. The test is available from its publishers in handwritten or computerised versions.

The ASPECT test requires that each parent and child should also undergo a number of psychological tests, four for adults: a) MMPI or MMPI-2; b) Rorschach; c) Weschler (WAIS-R); and d) Wide Range Achievement (WRAT-3). Three for children: a) an age appropriate IQ test; b) Draw a Family Test; and c) either the Thematic Perception Tests (TAT) or the Childrens' Apperception test (CAT). The conclusions drawn are evaluated according to scores and form the basis for the examiner's report to the court.

The author presents guidelines for evaluating parents' behaviour, do's and don'ts - a practical and useful list of questions to ask. He also identifies characteristics of many child abusers, and states 'Over the decades, research has demonstrated that the best single predictor of whether an individual will be abusive is if that individual was abused as a child.' The author also recommends a structured approach to contact, beginning with therapeutic supervision, in cases where abuse is found to have occurred, and random drug screens where a parent has a substance abuse problem and is having contact with their child. The book concludes with practical and useful advice about giving evidence and surviving in court. Altogether, a readable, interesting and thought provoking work.

Committee Guidelines, also practice and government B Mitchels

Guidance which should be known to and followed by SNOW, SNOW, QUICK QUICK, SNOW practitioners who may become involved in child protection issues. Snowmobile Accident Reconstruction: A Technical and

The table showing frequency of use of specific Legal Guide R Hermance

psychological tests for adults in custody applications dates (Lawyers & Judges Company Inc., Tucson, AZ from research carried out in 1986, with the reported 87.8% USA. 718pp, no index, $99.00. ISBN 0 913875 02 3 ) use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory by 71% of the evaluators. From 1992 research, deductions are drawn from the scale ratings of those tested, but the author cannot identify from research a specific profile of a 'good parent' or a 'bad parent'. His conclusion is that the results should serve as guidelines and are not intended to be prescriptive. Each case should be decided on its own merits.

The author's own test (ASPECT) is a clinical tool designed

208

It is difficult to determine to which audience this book is directed. Despite the book's title, its numerous chapters appear to cover everything from the sport of snowmobiling to biomechanical considerations, weather patterns, breath testing, and case law as well as touching on accident reconstruction techniques. Any book which attempts to be all things to all readers will inevitably fall short of its goal. This book is no exception.

Science & Justice 1996; 36(3): 207-210

Book Reviews

Within the book's 718 pages only a sub-section of five chapters even purports to address the subject of snowmobile accident reconstruction, and in fact only about 23 pages directly do so. Most of this is reduced to a paragraph or two per topic. The rest of this sub-section doesn't advance much beyond basic definitions of the laws of physics and how to use a calculator. Needless to say this will not assist a reconstructionist. Elsewhere in the volume the chapter on spinal injuries provides a good overview of the terminology and injury patterns but details of how this knowledge can be related to snowmobile accidents and the conclusions that might be drawn are missing. The same can be said regarding the chapter on weather systems. Incidentally, both of these chapters have been provided by contributing authors.

The four chapters on snowmobile safety may be of use to someone partaking of the sport, but are of limited relevance to the book's stated purpose. Again, three chapters covering trail design and maintenance may find an interested audience in some circles but not likely in the area of forensic accident reconstruction.

A reconstructionist faced with a snowmobile accident may find one of the appendices useful. This is entitled 'Canadian Snowmobile Acceleration Tests' and provides test data on sliding and accelerating snowmobiles in various conditions. The 88 pages of US case law may provide some information to attorneys on the status of snowmobile related litigation.

The poor quality photographs throughout the book are unhelpful and occasionally duplicates. Three show the author teaching a class. The figures are also of limited value and are unnumbered except in the chapters written by contributing authors. Numerous typographical errors also detract from the presentation.

Overall, this book covers almost every conceivable topic related to snowmobile use. Unfortunately it does so only superficially in most cases. A reconstructionist would find the book a good checklist of areas potentially requiring investigation and little more.

JD Mustard

SPIN DOCTOR'S HANDBOOK

NMR Spectroscopy in Forensic Science CJ Groombridge (Academic Press, London, UK. Review Article. In: Annual Reports on NMR Spectroscopy, Volume 32, March 1996, f 75.00. ISBN 0 12 505332-0) Further information from Dr Christopher Groombridge, Forensic Science Service, Metropolitan Laboratory, 109 Lambeth Rd, London SEI 7LP

This article is a review of the recent literature concerning the analysis of drugs of abuse, toxicological materials, hydrocarbons and arson accelerants, explosives

lachrymators and fingerprint reagents. It also discusses the value of magnetic resonance imaging, the latter in reference to presentation in court.

With respect to the drugs of abuse, the drug class is introduced, current techniques of analysis briefly outlined and then the value of the NMR studies is presented, along with the limitation of NMR with reference to that particular drug class. The references are readably presented, without the author falling into the trap of providing huge lists of NMR data, which can themselves be obtained from the original papers cited.

The hydrocarbon analysis and arson accelerants section highlights how NMR might be employed to discriminate between batches of fuels through spectroscopy of octane improvers. However, this is not discussed in great detail.

The author presents a balanced argument for the use of NMR in the analysis of explosives, and rightly points out that the technique is not adequately sensitive enough for trace analysis, but can be used for bulk sample comparison.

Lachrymators and fingerprint reagents are very briefly discussed, and then magnetic resonance imaging is introduced, and again the disadvantages of the cost and limitation of access for forensic work is highlighted. However, the images obtained from MRI do provide a somewhat less distressing means of conveying information to a lay audience, who might otherwise be distressed by some PM photographs.

Solid state NMR spectroscopy of, for example, paints, polymers and fibres was noticeably absent. Perhaps this is because of the very small samples obtained in forensic science casework which do not provide enough material for NMR spectroscopy, but with modern technology developing (SFC-NMR), and with the use of micro probes, there might be room for research and development.

This is a useful, readable article, especially for those interested in forensic chemistry. There are a large number of cited references, and this article should be considered essential for a complete library on analytical methods in forensic science.

M Cole

NOT THE RAIL TRACK PROSPECTUS

Train Accident Reconstruction and FELA & Railroad Litigation JR Loumiet & WG Jungbauer (eds) (Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company Inc., Tucson, AZ USA, 672pp, index, $99.00. ISBN 0 913875 18 X )

This is in effect two books in one. The first part covers the investigation and reconstruction of railway accidents and the second the subsequent litigation. The material in both parts is firmly rooted in practice in the United States.

Science & Justice 1996; 36(3): 207-210