Dr Jon Nuth

About

BSc(Hons) · MSc · ClinPsyD · AFBPsS · MNZPsS

Expertise

Dr Jon Nuth is a Registered Clinical Psychologist and Registered Neuropsychologist with expertise in Acquired Brain Injury, Adult Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Deteriorating conditions, and Clinical Neuropsychology (across the adult lifespan 18+ years).

Jon completed his training at the University of Southampton (UK; Master of Rehabilitation & Research, 1999) and at the University of Birmingham (UK, Doctor of Clinical Psychology, 2004). Over the last 20 years, Jon has provided expert witness evidence across the UK and New Zealand courts (District Court, the High Court, the Court of Appeal), the Office of the Coroner, and the Court Martial of New Zealand.

He holds the designation of Specialist Assessor for the Ministry of Health in matters relating to the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care & Rehabilitation) Act 2003 and is an Honorary Lecturer in Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland. He also lectures at the University of Otago (Wellington; Diploma in Neuropsychology).

Professional Registrations & Affiliations

Registered Clinical Psychologist — NZ Psychologists Board (No. 90-03346) · Current APC

Registered Neuropsychologist — NZ Psychologists Board (No. 90-03346) · Current APC

Honorary Lecturer in Psychological Medicine — University of Auckland

Full Member — NZ Psychological Society (MNZPsS)

Full Member — Institute of Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology

Chartered Clinical Psychologist — BPS · Practitioner Psychologist — HCPC (PYL18657) (2004–2020)

Associate Fellow (2006 – current) — British Psychological Society (AFBPsS)

Full Member — National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN, USA)

Full Member — Australian & New Zealand Association of Psychiatry Psychology & Law (NZAPPL)

Services

Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychological & Expert Witness Services

Evidence-based psychological services across a range of criminal justice contexts.

Expert Witness & Forensic Services

Assessment, report writing and expert witness testimony across the District Courts and the High Court. All work is conducted in accordance with the NZ Psychologists Board Code of Ethics and the High Court Code of Conduct for Expert Witnesses (Schedule 4).

I am an independent clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist in forensic (criminal justice) matters.

I personally accept work* from Legal Counsel (Defence Counsel), the Office of the Crown Solicitor, Crown Law (Court of Appeal), Government Departments – e.g., Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice (directly from the courts), NZ Police and the New Zealand Parole Board.

· Pre-trial matters – Fitness to stand trial evaluations, Admissibility issues – Understanding of police caution, Waiving counsel, reliability of confessions.

· Insanity defence, mens rea & automatism/intentionality.

· Crimes Act 1961 (Sexual exploitation of person with significant impairment).

· Trial matters – Mode of evidence application, recommendations for Communication Assistance.

· Sentencing and dispositional matters.

· Risk assessment of recidivism, Extended Supervision Orders (ESO), Public Protection Orders (PPO), Child Sex Offender Register Options Re: Child Protection [Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration] Act 2016.

· Briefs of evidence & report critiques.

· Civil matters – limited work within the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 (PPR Act).

*Note: I do not conduct work relating to children and the Family Court. I do not offer therapy or treatment/intervention at the present time.

Neuropsychological Assessment

Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment of cognitive functioning including attention, processing speed, memory, perception, and executive functioning. Provided in forensic contexts.

· Acquired brain injury & TBI

· Neurodevelopmental disabilities

· Deteriorating conditions such as dementia

· Forensic neuropsychological opinion

Consultation & Supervision

Confidential consultation to individuals, legal professionals, and services on neuropsychological and forensic psychological matters. Professional supervision available face-to-face or via teleconference.

· Forensic mental health supervision

· Clinical neuropsychology supervision

· Legal professional consultation

Publications

Selected Papers & Presentations

Nuth, J., Marshall-Edwards, S. & Webb, J. (2016). What are the chances? – Validity assessment and the cumulative binomial distribution in the evaluation of fitness to stand trial. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 23:2, 203–217. DOI: 10.1080/13218719.2016.1177595

Link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2016.1177595

Nuth, J., & Thomson, D. (2022). Assessment and Care of Offenders with Intellectual Disabilities. In F. Seymour, S. Blackwell & A. Tamatea (Eds.) Psychology and the Law in Aotearoa New Zealand, 4th Edition Ch.10. pp.245–274. New Zealand Psychological Society, Wellington.

Nuth, J., & Thomson, D. (2022). Assessment and Care of Offenders with Mental Impairments: Pre-Trial Evaluations – Fitness to Stand Trial and Legal Insanity. In F. Seymour, S. Blackwell & A. Tamatea (Eds.) Psychology and the Law in Aotearoa New Zealand, 4th Edition Ch.11. pp.275–290. New Zealand Psychological Society, Wellington.

Blackwell, S., Nuth, J., & Seymour, F. (2022). Fundamental Knowledge and Methodology in Assessments for Legal Proceedings. In F. Seymour, S. Blackwell & A. Tamatea (Eds.) Psychology and the Law in Aotearoa New Zealand, 4th Edition Ch.5. pp.77–107. New Zealand Psychological Society, Wellington.

Three Chapters in each of Seymour et al, 4th Ed (2022) / 3rd Ed (2021) & 2nd Ed (2018) – Seymour, F., Blackwell, S. & Tamatea A. (Eds.) Psychology and the Law in Aotearoa New Zealand, New Zealand Psychological Society, Wellington.

Nuth, J. (2018). The Assessment and Care of Offenders with Mental Impairment and with Intellectual Disability. 50th Annual NZ Psychological Society Jubilee Conference, University of Auckland.

Nuth, J. (2017). Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care & Rehabilitation) Act 2003. Focus on Mental Health in the Courts. NZ Law Society — Continuing Legal Education, Auckland & Wellington.

Nuth, J. & Bloom, O. (2017). Better wine in newish bottles. Therapeutic Jurisprudence applications to the IDCCR Act 2003. Symposium on Non-Adversarial Justice, AUT.

Nuth, J. (2016). What are the chances? Assessing Fitness to Stand Trial and Response Bias using the Cumulative Binomial Probability. ANZAPPL Annual Conference, Auckland.

Jackson, L. & Nuth, J. (2015). Falling Between the Cracks – Brain-Injured Offenders and Therapeutic Dispositions in New Zealand Penal Law. 4th International Conference on Therapeutic Jurisprudence, Auckland.

Nuth, J. (2014). Honest Lying – Confabulation, Cerebral Impairment & the Criminal Justice System. ANZAPPL Annual Conference, Sydney.

Nuth, J. (2014). Briefing Psychologists & Understanding Their Reports. Webinar co-presented with Kate Leys (Barrister) for Auckland District Law Society.

Nuth, J., Harvey, P., O'Connell, J. & Wyatt, G. (2013). Out of the Frying Pan into the Mire – Transfer from Prison under s29 of the IDCCR Act 2003. ANZAPPL Annual Conference, Adelaide.

Nuth, J. (2013). Symptom Validity Assessment: Where have we come from; Where are we now and Where are we going? CPD Workshops — Auckland & Christchurch. NZ Psychological Society.

Nuth, J. & Cope, N. (2009). 'First Do No Harm' – Why we must consider routinely using Symptom Validity Tests in Clinical Neuropsychology Practice. NZ Psychological Society Annual Conference, Palmerston North.

Other Resources

We do not offer clinical psychology or mental health support.

If you know of someone in crisis, or if you need to talk to someone urgently — if you are feeling very distressed or feel like you are in crisis and need to talk to someone urgently, please contact one of these services below:

· Text 1737 to talk to someone
· Lifeline 0800 543 354 or (09) 522 2999
· Youthline 0800 376 633
· National Depression Helpline 0800 111 757
· The Lowdown website, text 5626
· Gambling Problem Helpline 0800 654 655
· Alcoholics Anonymous 0800 229 6757
· Alcohol Drug Helpline 0800 787 797
· OUTLine (Formerly Gay/Lesbian Line) 0800 688 5463

Frequently Asked Questions

Information for legal professionals and others considering a referral or enquiry.

Contact Dr Nuth directly by email at jon@nuth.co.nz. A response will normally be provided within one to two working days. Please include a brief outline of the matter, the nature of the assessment or opinion required, and any relevant timeframes.

For forensic and expert witness work, instructions are accepted from Defence Counsel, the Office of the Crown Solicitor, and in some cases directly from the Court. For ethical reasons, instructions are seldom accepted directly from parties personally involved in the matter.

Neuropsychologists are psychologists with specific postgraduate training in neuropsychology — the relationship between the brain and behaviour. They are called upon by neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, general practitioners, and lawyers to assess and report on cognitive functioning. In New Zealand, neuropsychologists are registered with the NZ Psychologists Board under the specialist scope of practice of Neuropsychology.

Neuropsychology is the scientific study of the relationship between the brain and behaviour. Neuropsychological assessment involves the structured measurement of cognitive functions including attention, processing speed, memory, language, perception, and executive functioning. These assessments can assist in identifying the presence and nature of cognitive impairment, its likely cause, and its implications for daily functioning or legal proceedings.