Forensic Psychologists

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Psychologists are often used as an expert witness to testify in most cases, because their expertise are needed. They will either testify as a psychological expert witness or stand in as a forensic psychologists (American Psychological Association [APA], 2003). In some cases the court will hire a psychologist to check the sanity of a person being accused of a crime. This will let the court know if the person being accused is fit to stand trial. If the accused is fit to stand trial then the court proceedings will continue. If the person isn’t fit to stand trial then the trial will be put on hold for further testing. Forensic psychologists play a big role in most cases. The jury and the judge believe in their testimony, because they’re experts …show more content…

Whether or not they volunteer they may have to testify as a forensic psychologists (Bank, 2001). A forensic psychologist as defined by the APA (1991) is a member of the profession of psychology and has a special responsibility for the quality of psychology practiced in the legal system. They have a responsibility to help their client and do what’s in their best interest. A psychological expert witness has two roles. One role being for therapeutic therapy where someone will come and talk to them looking for a listening ear. The therapists will help him or her by giving his or her professional opinion. Secondly the psychological witness will serve as a forensic expert for the judicial system. They will testify in civil proceedings, criminal proceedings, and professional negligence lawsuits (Cohen, …show more content…

Trayvon parents wanted justice and they felt that justice wasn’t served. The forensic expert said that they found marijuana in Trayvon system. Professor Larry Kobilinsky stated that with the amount of THC that was found in Trayvon’s system it had nothing to do with his behavior. They also called the medical examiner who did Trayvon’s autopsy and he testified to the same thing. Florida has a stand your grown law that passed in 2015. If there is probable cause and you can prove that you were in the right then its self-defense. Mr. Martin was shot in the chest meaning he was face to face with his killer, and since he wasn’t shot in the back Zimmerman attorney went with the self-defense

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