Forensic Psychology

The advancement of technology and innovation has given rise to the field of forensic psychology, which is a mixture of law and psychology in the judicial and the legal system of a country. The importance of this field cannot be ignored, a reason why more people are opting to join this field. There is a crucial need to make sure that there is adequate information available to enable the potential entrants in the field to make wise decisions.

Description of the Educational Levels Required/Recommended

There are two distinct educational levels recommended and required for anybody who may opt to join this field.

The first level is the master’s level, while the second is the doctorate in forensic psychology (Van Dorsten 2002). Although the

Teaching other college level forensic psychology students is also a reserve of the candidates with a doctorate level degree. For those with a master’s level degree, they can perform tasks in police departments here they will help detect crimes and offenses. They can also work in mental health facilities, in universities to carry out research, and in the legal systems.

Aspects of Forensic Psychology that a Forensic Psychologist needs to be well-versed in

Specific Amendments to the US Constitution

One would need to understand the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution, insofar as it deals with the rights that the citizens are guaranteed. For instance, the right not to incriminate oneself is important for the forensic psychologist because they will not be required to go against this rule when offering expert evidence in a court of law.

Case

However, many eyewitnesses take advantage of this to mislead the court, leading to wrongful convictions. To mitigate this, forensic psychology has been used to ensure the process is clean and that the evidence adduced is accurate. In America, forensic psychology has been introduced to this sector. For instance, such psychologists have worked on the limit of memory that a person can hold (Van Dorsten & James 2002). This means that beyond certain timeframes, the eyewitness testimony may be rendered useless because it is subject to distortion. Forensic psychology, thus, has affected this area and influenced the way evidence is adduced in court.

Jury Selection

In the recent past, forensic psychologists have increasingly taken a role in selecting the jury for certain important cases. In particular, such psychologists are required to determine the possible implications that the presence of a certain judge may have to the outcomes of the case in question. Other aspects such as the size of the jury and its composition have been researched on by the forensic psychologists to determine whether they have an impact on the outcome of cases (Steel 2010). This is crucial as it affects how the American Judicial System