What is Forensic Psychology: An Introduction Chapter 1

What is Forensic Psychology? Forensic science Media portrayals of forensic psychology “Catching the bad guys” Only 10% of forensic psychologists engage in criminal profiling A. The Origin of Forensic Forum Center of public affairs in the Roman City States judicial process

Our definition of forensic psychology Much debate in the field itself about the precise meaning Any application of the practice of clinical psychology, broadly speaking, to the legal system Focuses on assessment and treatment of individuals within a legal context Forensic psychologists and psychiatrists are trained differently

History of Forensic Psychology Lightner Witmer Chicago Juvenile Psychopathic Institute (1909) State v. Driver (1921) Psychologist testified as an expert witness on juvenile delinquency Jenkins v. United States (1962) Psychological testimony could be admitted to determine criminal responsibility

Major Areas of Forensic Psychology Criminal law acts against society mens rea Civil law Wrong against an individual Torts Owe a duty, violation of duty, proximate cause of harm, harm occurs

Structure of the legal system Court systems State Courts trial courts, circuit courts, supreme courts Federal Courts district courts, appeals courts, and United States Supreme Court Statutory law v. case law

Careers in Forensic Psychology Correctional facilities State hospitals Law enforcement agencies Community mental health centers Juvenile detention facilities Private practice Colleges and universities

Relationship of the Law and Psychology Therapeutic Jurisprudence “the use of social science to study the extent to which a legal rule or practice promotes the psychological well-being of the people it effects” (Slobogin, 1996, p. 767) legal rules and actors can produce therapeutic or anti therapeutic consequences

Examples of TJ How does the criminal justice system work to traumatize victims of sexual assault? Do sentencing guidelines offer mentally ill offenders the best chance of treatment? Do our civil commitment laws punish or assist those in need? Does limiting the psychotherapist-patient privilege lead to better therapy?

The Conflict between Law and Psychology Empirical Experimentation Descriptive Probabilistic Law Authoritative Adversarial process Prescriptive Certainty

How do I become a forensic psychologist? Admission to a graduate program Doctorate or masters Both have advantages and disadvantages Most people in forensic psychology obtain a doctorate in psychology

Models of Training Joint-Degree Programs Specialty Programs Earn both a degree in the law and in psychology Specialty Programs Receive specialized training in forensic psychology General Programs Offers broad training with minimal opportunity for specialization in forensic psychology

Levels of Forensic Training Legally informed clinician Proficient clinician Specialist clinician