Introduction to forensic psychology

Forensic Psychology

Psychology - Intro to Forensics Psych WK 2 Writing Assign

Forensic psychology: Subspecialties and roles

The roles that forensic psychologists play within the justice system are extremely diverse, as diverse as the field itself. One subspecialty is criminal psychology: "criminal psychology is the study of wills, thoughts, intentions, reactions, behaviour patterns and drives of criminals" (Swart, 2010, Criminal psychology). Criminal psychologists' roles are primarily in the field of investigating and prosecuting crimes -- they can profile suspects, for example, or provide advice as expert witnesses. They work either within the field of law enforcement or closely with law enforcement officials themselves as a specific case moves through the different phases of the justice system.

As well as investigating crime, forensic psychologists also have an important role to play in preventing crime and rehabilitating offenders. For example, the "juvenile field of specialty evaluates juveniles accused of criminal acts and in the performance of this duty conducts juvenile pre-sentencing evaluations, juvenile probation and diversion evaluations, juvenile waiver evaluations, assessing the credibility of child witnesses and competency and diminished capacity evaluations" (Swart, 2010, Juvenile psychology). There is a social work dimension to the specialization of juvenile forensic psychology. The psychologist must treat the 'whole' person, providing support and guidance as the system seeks to determine the best ways to create a productive environment for the child and to encourage positive behaviours and coping mechanisms and discourage negative ones. Specialists in the field must understand developmental as well as forensic components of the juvenile's crime.

As can be seen in these examples, forensic psychology is "the application of psychological knowledge to the criminal justice system" (Decaire n.d). Because the justice system ultimately deals with human beings and therefore human psychology, there is a need for forensic psychologists at virtually every juncture of the processes of the justice system and a wide base of knowledge is needed amongst different professionals. While "immediately following a crime a forensic psychologist may be asked to act as a criminal profiler" in the court system, the psychologist may be asked to evaluate the competency of a specific defendant in a criminal trial or to assess the level of mental harm done to the plaintiff in a civil trial (Decaire n.d). "Often a forensic psychologist is asked to make evaluations of defendants or plaintiffs' disability or level of trauma" (Decaire n.d.). In the juvenile court system, particularly in the case of a juvenile accused of a serious crime, a juvenile forensic psychologist would be asked to both evaluate the juvenile's state of maturity and/or provide suggestions about his or her needs. Finally, in a corrections or psychiatric facility, "the forensic psychologist in these institutions will often provide a range of therapies in order to control or eliminate the psychiatric disorder that has led to the offenders criminal acts" (Decaire n.d.).