by Joseph Vanburen

Created on: January 19, 2009   Last Updated: January 27, 2009

What exactly is forensic psychology? First, lets agree on what it is not: the glamorous action portrayed by Hollywood. Studying this field does not train you to become a special agent hero like Clarice Starling from Silence of the Lambs. Many students are attracted to forensic psychology because they want to be criminal profilers, when, in fact, most agencies employing profilers prefer to use law enforcement personnel over psychologists.

So what does fall under the category of forensic psychology? It is known as the intersection between psychology and law; application of psychological evaluation to the criminal justice system. Forensic psychologists are regarded as experts to consult in a legal setting. They are responsible for collecting and examining evidence about a case or person on trial, and then presenting their reports to judges, attorneys, and other legal professionals. They are asked to determine things about people in question such as their competency to stand trial or their mental state at the time of an alleged crime.

A student wishing to become a forensic psychologist must expect to take courses in criminal justice as well as general and clinical psychology. A complete understanding of local and federal laws is crucial. When the judge asks a forensic psychologist about the defendant, he is not interested in the psychological evaluation itself. The information must be provided to the judge in a legal context, in the same language spoken by the court. Therefore, knowledge of the criminal justice system and court procedures are mandatory.

In contrast to other branches of psychology, the view of forensic psychology is not therapeutic. It is not the goal of a forensic psychologist to empathize with the client or seek to improve the client's mental health. The task of forensic psychologists is to objectively make a psychological assessment based on facts that have a credible source. They must also be able to detect malingering and purposeful deception, especially when determining the sanity or insanity of a client.

At a judge's request, forensic psychologists may be able to lend their expertise in consideration of client sentencing, treatment, and future risk assessment. Their opinions may also be called upon regarding the credibility of witnesses or even law enforcement personnel. They may work with the prosecution or defense attorneys, both public and private, and sometimes assist with jury selection. In certain cases, a forensic psychologist may also be expected to take on a client for long-term evaluation well after the trial is over.

Maybe it won't turn you into a hero, but the study and application of forensic psychology can be interesting and exciting. At the intersection of psychology and law are hard-working experts who play an important role within the judicial system.

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