The practice of forensic psychology: A look toward the future in light of the past (original) (raw)
Related papers
2003
Although clinical and experimental psychologists have made contributions to the legal system since the early 1900s (eg, see Travis, 1908; Munsterberg, 1908; Wrightsman, 2001) clinical forensic psychology has thrived as a subspecialty only for the past 25 years (Otto & Heilbrun, 2002).
Civil and Criminal Forensic Psychological Assessment: Similarities and Unique Challenges
Psychological Injury and Law, 2015
The current article reflects on the similarities and unique challenges of civil and criminal forensic psychological assessment. We begin with an overall review of the general roles and ethical responsibilities of the forensic psychologist working in any legal arena. Topics such as ethics of the forensic examiner, the role of psychiatric diagnosis, consideration of malingering and response bias, use of psychological testing, and researching relevant laws and psycholegal questions are covered. We then discuss the particular challenges of working in a criminal forensic setting (e.g., conducting assessments in a correctional setting, working with potentially dangerous evaluees), as well as civil forensic setting (e.g., role of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in civil litigation). This paper will highlight that while there are unique challenges and aspects of working in a particular area of the law, more often than not, the same general principles and skill sets of forensic psychological assessment will translate between each area.
Are we there yet? Stasis and progress in forensic psychology
Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 2009
Progress in forensic psychology has been rapid in some areas and nonexistent in others. By contrasting technological and conceptual scientific progress in three areas-the legal disposition of mentally ill offenders, risk appraisal, and theories of individual differences in antisocial behaviour-I attempt to identify some determinants of progress. Conceptual progress appears to depend even more heavily than technological progress on developments in the more advanced sciences, supporting the idea that consilience plays a vital heuristic role in psychology.
Forensic Psychology in Historical Perspective
Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology, 2020
Forensic psychology in the 21st century entails the application of psychology to all aspects of the criminal justice process. Forensic psychologists, therefore, are engaged in the theorization of offending, offender profiling, the psychology of testimony, investigative interviewing, the psychology of juries and judges, and psychological approaches to the punishment and treatment of offenders. Historically, however, forensic psychology, has been narrower in scope. Founded principally in Europe during the late 19th century as a response to the reform of criminal procedure and research on suggestion, which undermined confidence in witness credibility, forensic psychology was initially pursued by jurists and psychiatrists eager to understand the behavior of all those involved in the criminal justice process. While this ambition was pursued piecemeal by jurists throughout the early 20th century in their studies of guilty knowledge, judges, jurors, and investigators, the exigencies of the...
FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY CLINICAL PRACTICE,AND APPLICATIONS by MATTHEW T. HUSS
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of knowledge and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfi ll their aspirations. Our company is built on a foundation of principles that include responsibility to the communities we serve and where we live and work. In 2008, we launched a Corporate Citizenship Initiative, a global eff ort to address the environmental, social, economic, and ethical challenges we face in our business. Among the issues we are addressing are carbon impact, paper specifi cations and procurement, ethical conduct within our business and among our vendors, and community and charitable support. For more information, please visit our website: www.wiley.com/go/citizenship.
Annual Review of Law and Social Science, 2022
We review the state of forensic mental health assessment. The field is in much better shape than in the past; however, significant problems of quality remain, with much room for improvement. We provide an overview of forensic psychology's history and discuss its possible future, with multiple audiences in mind. We distill decades of scholarship from and about fundamental basic science and forensic science, clinical and forensic psychology, and the law of expert evidence into eight best practices for the validity of a forensic psychological assessment. We argue these best practices should apply when a psychological assessment relies on the norms, values, and esteem of science to inform legal processes. The eight key considerations include (a) foundational validity of the assessment; (b) validity of the assessment as applied; (c) management and mitigation of bias; (d) attention to quality assurance; (e) appropriate communication of data, results, and opinions; (f) explicit consideration of limitations and assumptions; (g) weighing of alternative views or disagreements; and (h) adherence with ethical obligations, professional guidelines, codes of conduct, and rules of evidence.