1: What is Forensic Psychology?

1: What is Forensic Psychology?

1. Forensic Scientist

   • Deals with blood splatter and analysis NOT psychologists

2. Forensic Psychology

   • Definition
     • Narrow Definition
       • Professional practice of clinical psychology focusing on assessment and treatment of individuals within a legal context
     • Broad Definition
       • Professional practice of clinical psychology focusing on assessment and treatment of individuals within a legal context AND Research that examines aspects of human behaviour directly related to  the legal process

3. Types of Psychologists

   • Clinical Forensic Pyschologist
     •  - Deals with mental health issues - Tells the judge whether their crazy or not - Work in our prison for treatment with people who have mental issues - Need: PHD, 5-7 years in training and registered with a professional organization which makes you do a oral exam and a written exam
   • Experimental Forensic Psychologist
     • - Research related to legal system. Government, Academia. - Develop or evaluate treatment program, research on psychopaths - Need: Honors, Masters Degree, Specific focus on Forensic Psychological issues
   • Legal Scholar
     • - Know mental health system and legal system very well - Develop policies that are relevant - Simon Fraser University, Law Degree at UBC

4. Relationship between Psychology and Law (Henry, 1980)

   • Psychology IN the law
     •  - Forensic clinical psychologists - The use of psychology within the legal system - Police Officers who use psychology data
   • Psychology AND the law
     •  - Psychology does research which is relevant for the law - The use of psychology to study the law and the legal system
   • Psychology OF the law
     • - Legal Scholar - Using Psychology to study the law itself

5. 5 Major Areas of Forensic Psychology

   • Police Psychology
     • - Working with police who received trauma - Create tests to evaluate who is a potential recruit for being a policeman
   • Psychology of Delinquincy and Crime
     • - Studies why people do crimes? - Studies why people stop crimes?
   • Victimology and Victim Services
     • - Provides victim support to the victim - Looks at long term consequences of child sexual abuse
   • Legal Psychology
     • -  What happens in the courtroom - Eyewitness Testimonies - Not criminally responsible
   • Correctional Psychology
     • - Work in prison - Checks if their aggressive before they're released - Provide treatment programs for these certain people

6. Forensic Psychiatrist Vs. Forensic Psychologist

   • Forensic Psychiatrist
     • - Trained to assess/treat mental health - Research - Can become Medical Doctor - Physical disease model - Prescribe Medications
   • Forensic Psychologist
     • - Trained to assess/treat mental health - Research (MORE) - Psychological model

7. Other Forensic Disciplines

   • Forensic Anthropologist
     •  - Examine Bones
   • Forensic Linguist
     • - Examine Words
   • Forensic Odontologist
     • - Examine Dental Records
   • Forensic Entomologist
     • - Examine insects at crime scenes
   • Forensic Pathologist
     • - Performs autopsies
   • Forensic Chemist
     • Examines blood, paint chips, hair samples
   • Forensic Artist
     • Draws facial composites, age progression

8. Kathy Reichs on Forensic Anthropology (Video)

   • - Specializes on human skeletons - Works for Medical Examiners, Coroners, Military - Helps with identifying body or cause of death - Job is always different - Work as a team - Have to be emotionally uninvolved