What is a Forensic Psychologist?

A forensic psychologist is one who applies psychology to law and criminal investigations. They practice psychology as a science in their evaluations of offenders, custody disputes, lawsuits, psychotherapy and more. Forensic psychologists typically hold a PhD in their field.

The role of the forensic psychologist is one that bridges the fields of law and psychology. When working in the criminal justice system the forensic psychologist faces many obstacles, the most difficult of these would be the ethical implications of the position. A major ethical implication one would face would be dealing with defendants who must be evaluated yet may be reluctant to do so. This would be difficult for the forensic psychologist because essentially the defendant has all the power because they possess the information needed for evaluation with no incentive to give it up. This is because the defendant has no control over information once it has been revealed; this information could later come back to haunt them at trial.

The forensic psychologist is a neutral entity as they can be acting as an expert witness for the defense or prosecution. When asked to whom does the forensic psychologist owe allegiance the answer should be all and none. These experts are there to serve the court, police, defendant, victims and the community all with equal allegiance. At the same time the forensic psychologist does not owe moral allegiance to any of these groups as they should save their sole allegiance for the science itself. It is the science within which a forensic psychologist develops their behavioral analysis of a defendant and develops theories pertaining to a suspect’s motivation to commit a particular act. The dangers lie in the fact that as humans, forensic psychologists are compassionate by nature and must be sure to maintain their professionalism as to not let their emotions dictate their findings.

Bartol, A. & Bartol, C. (2008). Current Perspectives in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Behavior (2nd ed.).California: Sage Publications, Inc.