Introduction to Forensic Psychology 2nd Edition Bartol

1
Introduction toForensic Psychology2nd
EditionBartol Bartol (2008)

• Chapter 1
• Introduction and Overview

2
Forensics versus Forensic Science

• Forensic
• An argumentative exercise - the art or study of
  argumentative discourse
• Belonging to, used in, or suitable to courts of
  judicature or to public discussion and debate
• Forensic Science
• The study and practice of the application of
  science to the purposes of the law
• - American Academy of Forensic Sciences

3
The Role of the Forensic Scientist

• Forensic scientists work in the intersection
  between science and law applying science to legal
  issues in pursuit of justice/resolution.
• Forensic Scientists introduce scientific
  explanations into law/the courts to
• Help discover truth
• Protect the innocent
• Ensure public safety
• Forensic scientists come from many scientific
  disciplines

4

The Scope of Forensic Science
- Examples

• Forensic Pathology
• Forensic Anthropology
• Forensic Archeology
• Forensic Taphonomy
• Forensic Entomology
• Forensic Odontology
• Forensic Engineering
• Forensic Toxicology
• Forensic Psychology
• Forensic Psychiatry
• Forensic Criminology
• Forensic Social Work
• Forensic Nursing
• Forensic Computer Science
• Forensic Photography

• Criminalistics
• Crime Scene Investigation
• Criminal Profiling
• Medico-legal Death Investigation
• DNA Analysis
• Fingerprint Identification
• Chemical Analysis
• Serology
• Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation
• Analysis of Trace Evidence
• Ballistics
• Questioned Documents
• Accident Reconstruction
• Digital Evidence Analysis

5
Activities of the 50 Largest Forensic Crime
Labs

• The 50 largest publicly funded forensic crime
  laboratories in the United Stateswhich are
  geographically all across the country but not
  located in every stateemploy more than 4,300
  full-time employees. Many of the labs claim to be
  significantly underfunded and understaffed. A
  majority of the employees (56) are employed as
  analyst/examiners, followed by technical support
  personnel (15), managerial personnel (12), and
  clerical support (8). Most of the
  analysts/examiners are engaged in the analysis of
  controlled substances (39), toxicology (22),
  and latent prints (11). Listed below are the
  activities engaged in by most large forensic
  laboratories.

• Analysis of controlled substances
• Firearms/toolmark analysis
• Biology screening
• DNA analysis
• Latent prints analysis
• Trace analysis
• Crime scene analysis
• Toxicology
• Examination of questioned documents
• Investigation of computer crimes

Source Hickman, 2004.
6
Defining Forensic Psychology

• Broad Definition Research and application of
  psychological knowledge to the legal system.
• Narrow Definition Application and practice of
  psychology as it pertains to the legal system

7
Legal Questions Answered by Social Science
Examples

• How will the jury decide?
• How accurate is eyewitness testimony?
• Will the person who committed offense A escalate
  to commit offense B?
• Did the perpetrator of offense A commit offense
  B?
• Is this offender competent to stand trial?
• Is this offender dangerous?
• Would this offender have re-offended had he/she
  been supervised more intensively?
• What type of person would have committed this
  crime?
• What sorts of situational factors increase the
  likelihood of offense?
• Whats the best way to interrogate this suspect?
• Whats the best way to cross-examine this
  witness?
• Will the testimony of this victim impact the
  decision of the jury?

8
Forensic Application of the Social Sciences

• Forensic Psychology Forensic Psychiatry
• Forensic Psychology is application of
  psychological findings to legal processes.
• Forensic Psychiatry is the application of
  psychiatric findings to legal processes.
• Criminology Criminal Justice
• Criminal Justice is an interdisciplinary social
  science involving the study of crime and societal
  responses to it.
• Criminology is the study of criminal behavior.
• Criminal Profiling
• Criminal Profiling is the inference of offender
  characteristics and traits from crime scene
  evidence.

9
The Practice of Forensic Psychology(From the
American Academy of Forensic Psychology and the
American Board of Forensic Psychology)

• Psychological Evaluation And Expert Testimony
• Testimony And Evaluation Regarding Civil Issues
• Assessment, Treatment, And Consultation Regarding
  Individuals With A High Risk For Aggressive
  Behavior
• Research, testimony and consultation on
  psychological issues impacting on the legal
  process
• Specialized treatment service to individuals
  involved with the legal system
• Consultation to lawmakers about public policy
  issues with psychological implications and
  training to law enforcement, criminal justice,
  correctional and mental health systems on
  forensic issues
• Analysis of issues related to human performance,
  product liability and safety
• Court-appointed monitoring of compliance with
  settlements in class-action suits affecting
  mental health or criminal justice settings.

10
Forensic Psychology - Subspecialities

• Police Psychology
• Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling
• Criminal Psychology Criminal Behavior
• Correctional Psychology
• Victimology and Victims Services
• Psychology and the Courts

11
History of Forensic Psychology

• 1893 First experiment on the psychology of
  testimony
• 1903 - First journal on psychology of testimony
• 1908 Publication of On the Witness Stand by
  Hugo Munsterberg.
• 1911 Earliest psychologist testimony ( J
  Varendonck in Belgium)
• 1913 First time psychological services were
  offered in a correctional facility
• 1917 Polygraph developed by William Marston
• 1918 First inmate classification system
  developed by psychologists
• 1921 First time an American psychologist
  testified as an expert witness in court
• 1922 First faculty appointment in Forensic
  Psychology
• 1931 First textbook on Forensic Psychology
  (Howard Burtts Legal Psychology)

12
History of Forensic Psychology (Cont.)

• 1964 Hans Eysencks Crime and Personality
  (first testable theory on criminal behavior by a
  psychologist)
• 1968 First police psychologist (Martin Reiser,
  LAPD) and establishment of police psychology as a
  profession
• 1972 Correctional psychology recognized as a
  career by the American Association for
  Correctional Psychology
• 1974 First interdisciplinary psych-law program
  (U Nebraska)
• 1978 American Board Forensic Psychology (ABFP)
  professional certification began
• 1991- ABFP and American Psychology-Law Society
  published Speciality Guidelines for Forensic
  Psychologists.
• 2001 Forensic Psychology recognized as an
  official specialty with the American Psych
  Association.

13
Careers in Forensic Psychology

• If you ask a group of psychologists who interact
  with the legal system in some capacity, Are you
  a forensic psychologist? many will say yes, some
  will say no, and a majority will probably admit
  they really do not know (BB/text p. 8)
• Forensic Psychology is an applied branch of
  psychology that involves practicing and
  conducting research in the legal realm.
• To be a forensic psychologist you need a PhD or
  a PsyD in psychology (or MD to be a
  psychiatrist), but there is debate regarding the
  forensic psychologist title.