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Introduction to Forensic Psychology

Learning Objectives

1-1. Define forensic psychology and trace its historical development.

1-2. Review career areas in the forensic sciences.

1-3. Distinguish forensic psychology from other forensic sciences.

1-4. Identify and describe major subareas of forensic psychology.

1-5. Review the educational, training, and certification requirements to become a forensic psychologist.

1-6. Provide illustrations of roles and tasks performed by forensic psychologists.

Summary

As recently as 30 years ago, the term forensic psychology had barely been introduced into psychological or legal literature. Today, it is a commonly encountered term, but it still defies definition. It is often used interchangeably with legal psychology and psychology and law. Although some favor a narrow definition limiting it to clinical practice offered to the legal system, the contributions of research psychologists may be undermined by such an

approach. We advocate for a broad definition of forensic psychology, one that might divide it into the five subareas covered in this chapter, although other organizational divisions are possible: police and public safety psychology; legal psychology; psychology of crime and delinquency; victimology and victim services; and correctional psychology. In each of the areas discussed, numerous career opportunities exist. Both undergraduate and graduate programs have rapidly seen the need for preparation for careers in forensic psychology, whether by offering degree programs in the field or by offering concentrations within a broader program, such as a doctorate in clinical, counseling, or developmental psychology. The field of forensic psychology, as we define it broadly, provides ample opportunities for psychologists interested in interacting with some aspect of the law. It is an area of specialization that has developed rapidly and

shows no signs of stagnation.

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Lecture Outline

1. The Forensic Sciences
   1. Definition
   1. Media portrayal
   1. Examples
      1. Forensic entomology
      1. Forensic anthropology
      1. Questioned document examination or analysis
      1. Forensic ink analysis
      1. Computer evidence recovery
      1. Forensic data recovery

• Forensic Psychology: An Overview
  • Difficult to precisely define
  • Two prominent definitions
    • Broad – The research and application of psychological knowledge to the legal system
    • Narrow  – The application and practice of psychology as it pertains to the legal system
    • Lack of consensus continues
    • This text adopts a broad definition
      • Application of psychological knowledge, concepts, and principles to civil and criminal justice systems
      • Contributions of research psychologists recognized
  • Five subspecialties of forensic psychology
    • Police psychology
    • Psychology of crime and delinquency
    • Victimology and victim services
    • Legal psychology
    • Correctional psychology

• Brief History of Forensic Psychology
  • The end of the 19th century, Cattell’s experiment on eyewitness testimony
  • Early to middle 20^th century, psychological knowledge introduced into legal proceedings
    • Juvenile courts
    • Correctional facilities
    • Intelligence and aptitude testing to military
    • Consultation with law enforcement agencies
  • 1960s and 1970s
    • Psychologists testify in courts
    • Amicus curiae briefs
    • Trial preparation and jury selection
    • Predictions of dangerousness
  • 1978, The American Board of Forensic Psychology provides board certification in forensic psychology
  • 2001, The American Psychological Association recognizes forensic psychology as a specialty

• Forensic Psychology, Forensic Psychiatry, and Forensic Social Work
  • Psychiatrists
    • Medical doctors
    • Licensed to prescribe drugs
  • Social workers
    • The application of social work principles to questions and issues relating to law and legal systems

• Ethical Issues
  • Prescription authority, relationships between the psychologist and the client, conflicts of interest, participation in research, issues of confidentiality, military interrogations, child custody cases, violence risk assessments in death penalty cases, labeling juveniles as psychopathic
    • Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct
    • Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology

• Careers in Psychology
  • Wide spectrum
    • American Psychological Association (APA)
    • Association for Psychological Science (APS)
  • Education and training
    • Specialization
    • Graduate training: Master’s level
    • Graduate training: Doctoral level
    • Licensure
      • Model Act for State Licensure of Psychologists
      • Ethical Principles of  Psychologists and Code of Conduct—2002 (rev 2010)
      • Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists
  • Employment
    • Higher education, human services, business, government, private practice
    •  Strong foundation in research methodology opens way to many occupations

• The Applied Specialties
  • Six specialties, multicultural issues and diversity training important
    • Counseling
    • Clinical
    • School
    • Industrial/organizational (I/O)
    • Forensic
    • Police and public safety

• Educational and Training Requirements in Forensic Psychology
  • Growth in graduate programs – Canada, United States, United Kingdom, and Australia
  • Forensic concentrations
  • Clinical or counseling psychology as it relates to corrections
  • Social psychology as it relates to legal psychology or psychology and law.
  • Combined JD and PhD
  • Investigative psychology
  • Diplomate
  • Board Certification
    • American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
    • American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP)
    • American Board of Psychological Specialties (ABPS)/American College and Board of Forensic Examiners

• Research and Practice Careers in Forensic Psychology
  • Police and public safety  psychology
    • Research and application of psychological principles and clinical skills to law enforcement and public safety
    • Generally not included in the umbrella category forensic psychologist
    • Police and law enforcement
    • Increase in the need for services provided by police psychologists.
    • There are no formal graduate programs in the U.S. specifically focused on police psychology
    • Socialization into the police culture is crucial
  • Legal psychology
    • Scientific study of a wide assortment of topics reflecting the close relationship between psychology and the courts
    • Considerable overlap between legal psychology and the other subareas
  • Family forensic psychology
  • Psychology of Crime and Delinquency
    • Science of the behavioral and mental processes of the adult and juvenile offender
    • How criminal behavior is acquired, evoked, maintained, and modified
    • Prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies directed at reducing criminal behavior
    • Fast Track Prevention Program
  • Forensic school psychology
    • Educational programs are required in correctional and psychiatric facilities for young people throughout the country
    • Psychologists increasingly involved in threat assessments in public school settings
    • Rehabilitation
    • Assessment and counseling services
    • Mentally disordered offenders and youth in correctional facilities public and private schools
    • School violence in the late 1990s
    • Risk assessments
    • Availability heuristic
  • Victimology and victim services
    • Study of persons who have experienced either actual or threatened physical, psychological, social, and/or financial harm as the result of the commission or attempted commission of crime against them
    • Direct or primary
    • Indirect or secondary
  • Correctional psychology
    • Fastest growing branch of forensic psychology
    • Inmate classification systems, psychological assessments, program/ treatment evaluation, crisis intervention strategies, and sex offender and substance abuse treatment

• Recap
  • Forensic practice was occurring at a variety of levels and for different reasons.
  • Expansion of the field over the past decade
• Summary and conclusions