Forensic Psychology Essay

According to the author, Christopher Cronin, who has written several well-known books including a well-known textbook on forensic psychology, which defines it as “the application of clinical specialties to legal institutions and people who come into contact with the law”. Once again stressing the application of psychological skills such as assessment, treatment, evaluation to forensic settings. This is considered as a narrow definition.

And while there is an unofficial agreement amongst forensic psychologist regarding how little shows such as “CSI” (Crime Scene Investigation) “NCSI”, “Law and Order: SVU define forensic duties. Yet, there are those who give the credit from the recent rise in interest of what actually happens between the gathering of forensics and the possible guilt or innocence of an individual caught in the legal system to these shows.

The broad definition of forensic psychology underscores the application of research and experimentation in other areas of psychology (e.g.,

In the U.S., a person cannot be held responsible for a crime if he/she did not possess a “guilty mind” (mens rea) at the time the criminal act was committed. There are several conditions in which the law recognizes that a guilty mind is absent (e.g., self-defense). “Insanity” is not a psychological term but a legal one. The standard for insanity is determined by each state, and there is also a federal standard. A common standard is whether the person knew what he/she was doing was wrong. The forensic psychologist has to determine not how the person is functioning at the present moment, but his/her mental state at the time of the crime. Thus, much of the forensic psychologist’s work is retrospective and must rely on third-party information, collateral contacts and written communications (e.g., statements made at the time of the crime).” (Ward,