Forensic Psychology
Forensic Psychologists can play a number of key roles in a criminal investigation. Immediately following a crime a forensic psychologist may be asked to act as a criminal profiler. It has over the years become the love child of numerous television programs, movies, and crime novels. Criminal profiling involves the psychologist using his understanding of human behavior, motivation, and pathology so that he/she can create a psychological profile of the offender. The profiles can be surprisingly accurate. From observations of the crime scene one can infer the behavioral characteristics of the individual who created it. To a profiler everyone is a slave to his or her psychological makeup. In turn, profilers use their knowledge of which the typical offender is that bears these characteristics and then predicts not only how the investigators can expect the offender to behave in the future, but also what their physical appearance will likely be. While profiling may seem very exciting, few psychologists are ever involved in this field. Psychological knowledge has been applied to many more areas of investigative police work, from the police interrogation to the police line-up. Both of these areas have prospered greatly from
http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/425/4251ect18.htm For these reasons, psychologists who complete forensic evaluations should have a broad clinical background, excellent assessment skills, superior communication skills, and experience in completing psychological evaluations in a legal setting. Psychologists should evaluate the facts of the case, and render an opinion regarding the psychological issues present. Psychologists should not offer opinions outside their area of professional competence. Psychologists are expected to function as experts within the limitations of their profession, and must recognize and identify those limitations as part of their work as experts. Most Forensic Psychologists work either in a correctional institution or in a psychiatric hospital. In this environment they will perform a number of important roles. One of the most essential roles is therapeutic intervention. 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 offender's criminal acts. Before, and after, treatment the Forensic Psychologist may perform diagnosis and psychometric testing) in order to evaluate the clients risk of violence and/or recidivism. These evaluations are very important to future parole and competency hearings. A person who is found not guilty by reason of insanity for a crime that would typically hold a ten-year sentence could potentially spend their entire life in prison or a psychiatric hospital if these evaluations raise concerns.
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Approximate Word count = 2021
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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