Forensic Psychology 101: A Quick Guide That Teaches You the Top Key Lessons About Forensic Psychology from A to Z

By HowExpert

“Forensic Psychology 101: A Quick Guide That Teaches You the Top Key Lessons About Forensic Psychology from A to Z”” is aimed towards persons interested in a brief but comprehensive guide about the application of psychology in the legal system. Whether you belong to a field within the legal arena, behavior, law enforcement or are just an intrigued reader, this book offers an academic discussion of introductory key concepts of forensic psychology. These topics include:

• Overview of Civil, Criminal, Juvenile, Police, Correctional, and Investigative Psychology Sub-Fields.
• Roles and Responsibilities of the Forensic Psychology Professional.
• Consultation Roles.
• Relevant Psychology Research in the Legal Setting.
• Case Studies and Case Examples.
• Ethical Dilemmas, Challenges, and Controversial Points.
• Venues to Address Issues based on Subspecialty Professional Guidelines.

HowExpert publishes quick 'how to' guides on unique topics by everyday experts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HowExpert
• Release date: Oct 31, 2018
• ISBN: 9781949531350

HowExpert

HowExpert publishes quick 'how to' guides on all topics from A to Z by everyday experts.

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Forensic Psychology 101

A Quick Guide That Teaches You the Top Key Lessons About Forensic Psychology from A to Z

HowExpert with Sharlaine Ortiz

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Table of Contents

Recommended Resources

Chapter 1: Foundations

Psychology and the Legal Field

Court System Elements

Element Relationship

Psychology and Legal System

Forensic Psychology Benchmarks

Overview

Evolving of the Field

Contribution Impact

Consultation

Overview

Consultation Challenges

Consultation Breakdown

Jury Selection

Consultation Preparation

Expertise Process

Issues with Consultation

Importance of Concerns

Needs for the Subspecialties

Chapter 2: Civil Forensic Psychology

Overview

Major Roles and Responsibilities

Civil Case

Forensic Psychology Professional Duties

Civil Case Reports

Reports and Documentation Importance

Similarities and Differences of the Evaluations

Evaluation and Insights

Custody

Custody Cases

Guideline Application

Custody Assessment

Chapter 3: Criminal Forensic Psychology

Overview

Major Roles and Responsibilities

Case Law Description

Forensic Psychology Influence

Insanity and Forensic Psychology

Importance of Legal Definitions

Impacts towards Forensic Practitioners

Legal Differences of Insanity

Legal Conclusions

Standing Trial

Hypothetical Examples

Incompetency Rationale

Ethical Dilemmas and Challenges

Chapter 4: Juvenile Forensic Psychology

Overview

Major Roles and Responsibilities

Contemporary Juvenile Forensic Issues

Importance and Addressing Areas of Concern

Controversial Issues

Relevant Research

Case Study and State's Juvenile Justice

Codes-Case Study Relationship

Sentences

Prison vs. Community Supervision

Juvenile vs. Criminal Court

Forensic Psychology Professional’s Roles

Chapter 5: Law Enforcement, Investigative, and Correctional Psychology

Police Psychology

Major Roles and Responsibilities

Employment in Law Enforcement

ERT Forensic Contributions

Findings for ERT

Military Psychology

Forensic Psychologists and Military Settings

Military vs. Civilian Practice

Controversial Issues and Challenges

Investigative Forensic Psychology

Major Roles and Responsibilities

The Validity of Criminal Profiling

Profiling Limitations

Strengths and Investigative Tools

Supporting Evidence

Empirically Based Evidence

Admissibility of Expert Testimony

Historical Case Descriptions

Impacts of the Cases

Correctional Psychology

Major Roles

Major Responsibilities

Psychologists in a Correctional Setting

Correctional Psychology Challenges

Rights and Ethical Treatment of Inmates

Justification

Ethical Dilemmas

Chapter 6: Criminal Forensic Psychology Writing

Criminal Case Reports

Evaluation and Insights

Impact of Forensic Assessments

Assessment Characteristics and Implications

Psychopathy Assessment

Psychopathy Checklist, Revised (PCL-R)

Potential Risk Factors

Death Penalty

Guidelines and Death Penalty

Instrument Appropriateness

Case Summary

Tool Appropriateness

Instrument Evaluation

Understanding for Future Practice

Substandard Reporting

Risks

Ethical Guideline Violations

Juvenile Crime and Adult Trials

Developmental Criteria

Chapter 7: Courtroom Testimony

Testifying

Offering Expert Testimony

Courtroom Presence

Impacts towards Forensic Practitioners

Problems as an Expert Witness

Case Study

Daubert Challenge

Cross-Examination Anticipation

Testimony Elements

Effective Testimony

Effectiveness Elements

Communication

Effective vs. Ineffective Communication

Professionalism

Courtroom Etiquette

Consequences of Breaches

Ethical Dilemmas and Challenges

Communication and Challenges

Forensic Assessment Communication

Ethical Dilemmas and Challenges

Controversial Issues

Chapter 8: Ethics in Forensic Psychology

General Ethical Issues

Impacts in the Courts

Technology

Impacts towards psychologists

Multiculturalism

Diversity and Forensic Psychology

Important Guideless to Forensic Roles

Relevancy of the Guideless

Differences and Biases

National Origin

Gender

Religious Background

Assessment and Multicultural Differences

Culture-Bound Syndrome Biases

Ethical Conflict Scenario

Conflict Resolution

Summary

References

About the Expert

Recommended Resources

Chapter 1: Foundations

Psychology and the Legal Field

The need for the intersect between legal matters and the field of psychology was perhaps evidenced through the birth of forensic psychology. This cross-disciplinary approach could be considered to be the use of psychological research, theories, practice, and treatment over a legal setting (González-Sala et al., 2017). Additionally, the application of the scientific foundations of psychology in civil and criminal settings also provided the development of new techniques and procedures to particularly cater to the forensic field (González-Sala et al., 2017). Some observations and studies that seeded the relevance of psychology in this legal arena stem from contributions regarding the use of witnesses and testimonies. Over a century ago, Wilhelm Stern provided insights as to the implications of memory relating to a witness’ account, as well as practitioners becoming expert witnesses (Shaw, Öhman, & van Koppen, 2013).

Court System Elements

The court system includes a wide range of professionals that are instrumental in both specific stages and throughout the proceedings. Several elements could be explored as means to provide a focus to its pertinent structures in the United States. The first aspect to consider is the federal nature of judicial processes. In this case, the central government of the nation carries the powers that the incorporated states cannot execute as inherent sovereignty (Melton, Petrila, Poythress & Slobogin, 2007). Therefore, the federal government receives its governance from the Senate and the House of Representatives; and it is modulated by the Supreme Court Justices (Melton et al., 2007). Consequently, this element impacts district court cases at the federal level, thus consisting of a superseding hierarchy when accounting for local and state law. The second element to consider is criminal adjudicative processes. As it relates to the federal district courts, an individual could be prosecuted given an alleged violation of the law that could result in criminal punishment (Melton et al., 2007). In this regard, the prosecuting attorneys could be entrusted, by the federal government, to address which criminal offenses might be presented against a defendant (Melton et al., 2007).

Element Relationship

The relationship between forensic psychology and each of the previous elements of the court system could be conceptualized under a practitioner’s roles. For instance, cases presented in district courts at the federal level could make use of forensic practitioners as evaluators. Here, the defense could request forensic practitioners to determine which, if any, mental health issues could have directly impacted the offense at hand (Melton et al., 2007). This process could be part of a possible plea such as