The Forensic Psychology Booklet - Research Paper Example

? The Forensic Psychology Booklet The Forensic Psychology Booklet Forensic psychology has expanded dramatically over the past fiveyears. Forensic psychology simply means the application of psychology within a legal context (Roesch et al, 2009). The American Psychology Association has a body that specifically deals with the issues of law and psychology. A number of researches have also been conducted to establish the relationships between psychology and the law, and their significance in a judiciary system. These facts imply that forensic psychology is a vital tool in the criminology industry. Training in forensic psychology is available in pre- doctoral, post- doctoral, and internship settings. However, before interacting with and evaluating patients or clients, a doctoral degree is required. Postgraduate studies, in forensic psychology, require a bachelor’s degree in psychology as a prerequisite (Roesch et al, 2009). Some programs, however, simply require some semester hours in psychology combined with other programs in other sciences. Students who hold masters degree in psychology or are undertaking internship program can only conduct research level .A. This, therefore, implies that an advanced degree is required in order to practice as a forensic psychologist (Roesch et al, 2009). People who are interested in the field of forensic psychology can study to specialize in a number of job functions, which include criminal profiling services, investigating reports of juvenile abuse, evaluation of child custody, expert witness, approving mental competency of suspected criminals, evaluating criminal activities to create plans for rehabilitation, evaluating witnesses, providing training for law enforcement and corrections agencies, and vetting judges (Roesch et al, 2009). Forensic psychologists perform many and diverse duties within the field of the legal system and understanding the processes concerned with criminal behavior. These people can work for the National Health Service, academic institutions, probation services, social services, prison services and prison services. Forensic psychology is usually perceived as relating to criminal profiling and investigation. It is necessary to note that this is one of the aspects of forensic psychology because this field of psychology also concerns the investigation and analysis of criminal behavior (Davies & Beech, 2012). Forensic psychologists do not only work with offenders and prisoners, but also with other professionals, in the penal or judicial system. Forensic psychologists particularly focus on the therapy in correctional centers, which include: carrying out assessments to investigate the risk of re- offending; presenting research findings to a wider staff audience; briefing prison officials on incidents; creating and analyzing the contributions of assessment methods like psychometrics (Davies & Beech, 2012); conducting studies to investigate the contributions of a certain group program development or policy initiatives, and service elements; assess the potential impacts of bullying in the prison environment; investigating the efficiency of anger management group programme (Davies & Beech, 2012); fostering the national implementation of recognized cognitive-behavioral group programme; ensuring quality and standardized treatment of groups; supervising the training of probation or prison service staff; hostage negotiation; developing risk assessment reports; attending area and team meetings, and consulting with, and providing support to prison officers, probation officers, hospital staff, social workers, and representatives of university staff and judicial and legal systems staff (Davies & Beech, 2012). Case law is the available writings describing the verdicts, in a case. Court magistrates and judges usually create case laws when making their ruling on a particular case. In some judicial systems, case law is referred to as judge-made law. This means that, in some countries, the courts are permitted to exercise a moderate amount of quasi-legislative power, via the use of case law or precedent, as opposed to the fact that the legislation is primarily passed by a separate legislative branch, in most countries (Towl & Crighton, 2010). Most people perceive case law as an integral part of a functioning judiciary since it allows the court to make judgments easily, which might have taken much time and energy to decide, in a sort of de facto law (Towl & Crighton, 2010). The knowledge of case law is vital for forensic psychologists since it allows them to alias the jury, and assess whether a particular case should proceed or stop. Some of the amendments to the United States Constitution, a forensic psychologist should note, are the fourth and the eight amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The fourth amendment is about search and seizure (Johnson, 2001). This amendment asserts that people should have the right to be secure in their houses, persons, effects, and papers, against unnecessary searches and seizure. Their privacies shall not be violated, and no warrants shall be issued against any offense they claim that interfered with their privacies (Johnson, 2001). The eight amendment, on the other hand, protects criminals or offenders from excessive fines and bails, and unusual punishments (Johnson, 2001). Forensic psychologists need to acquire advanced knowledge about any amendment made to these clauses to understand the processes concerned with criminal behavior concerning these amendments. As a forensic psychologist, it is necessary to understand every clause of the law so as to understand how psychological knowledge should be applied in solving criminal cases (Johnson, 2001). J. McKeen Cattell performed some of the earliest studies on the psychology of testimony. This research was conducted on students, and the results indicated unusual degree of inaccuracy. This is what attracted more researchers to perform further experiments on eyewitness testimony. Another psychologist, William Stern, conducted a study on students asking them to confess about what they witnessed during a dispute between two classmates. He established that emotions reduce the accuracy of eye witness (Towl & Crighton, 2010). This marked the beginning of psychologists’ interests in the application of psychology within a legal context. After the World War II, most psychologists were considered as potential eyewitnesses, in the courts. Past studies on forensic psychology is crucial because they help forensic psychologists to identify key areas to address while applying psychological knowledge in the judicial context (Towl & Crighton, 2010). The nature of families is one some of the greatest challenges posed on forensic psychologists. This may include single parents, cohabiting parents, gay and lesbian families, and interracial families. While the typical families have shared psychological experiences, the emerging families create a unique array of challenges and issues to family and individual treatment (Johnson, 2001). It is, therefore, difficult for forensic psychologists to determine, which legal and family issues can influence treatment. This is because the legal precedence and current laws have not acknowledged the newer varieties of families. Forensic psychologists need to learn all the legal and ethical factors that affect the treatment of diverse families. This will improve their practice in the judicial system. Forensic psychology is a significant part of the judicial system; therefore, it should meet a high ethical standard. This requires forensic psychologists to pay much of their attention to various issues such as classification of roles, confidentiality, and the intended use of opinions and assessments (Davies & Beech, 2012). They also need to familiarize themselves with legal adherence and standards to forensic specialty guidelines and ethics codes as evidence of professional commitment to a standard of care, when an individual’s opinion is challenged (Davies & Beech, 2012). Additionally, forensic psychologists need to ensure that their roles and practices meet the requirements of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 1987 (Davies & Beech, 2012). This committee provides ethical guidelines for forensic psychologists. Finally, they should acquire the knowledge of current legal standards and professional, regulations upon which forensic testimony is based. The objective of eye witness testimony is to determine the efficiency of eyewitness identification (Johnson, 2001). Researchers have indicated that mistaken eyewitness identification is usually worsened by the techniques crime investigators employ when conducting photo spread and lineups. Forensic psychologist identified that in order to reduce mistaken eyewitness identification crime investigators should improve the methods for structuring photo spreads and lineups; provide clear instructions to eyewitnesses; and conditions for insuring the integrity of the administration of photo spreads and lineups (Johnson, 2001). Eyewitness memory is usually discussed in the context of cognitive process. Earlier researchers established that most of the witnesses were unable to differentiate between what they actually saw and what was reported in the media. The cognitive process judges how we perceive the things we see around us. This is usually done by employing mental skills such as memory, reasoning, awareness, judgment, perception, and thinking (Towl & Crighton, 2010). Forensic psychologist identified three stages for achieving effective eyewitness memory, and they include witnessing the event, relaxing for a while before giving the evidence, and giving the evidence (Towl & Crighton, 2010). The American judicial system normally employs the voir dire process when it comes to jury selection (Davies & Beech, 2012). During this process, the trial judges ask the jurors to determine whether they will be fair minded and objective jurors. If an attorney feels that a juror’s opinions and views are biased against his or her client, then he or she can challenge their inclusion, in that judicial process (Davies & Beech, 2012). Psychological researches have established that the art of jury selection can be enhanced by including experimental questions, which investigate the level to which the prospective jurors may be declared unfit to solve vital trial issues (Davies & Beech, 2012). These questions focus on what social scientists describe as “attitudinal” and “affiliative”. References Davies G. M, Beech A. R. (2012). Forensic Psychology: Crime, Justice, Law, Interventions. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Johnson F. M. (2001). Defending Constitutional Rights. Georgia: University of Georgia Press. Roesch et al. (2009). Forensic Psychology and Law. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Towl G. J, Crighton D. A. (2010). Forensic Psychology. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Read More