9781422273456

Legal Psychology: A Different Take

When most people think of forensic psychology, they tend to focus on the practical application of helping to solve individual cases. Christopher Cronin, the author of the textbook Forensic Psychology: An Applied Approach , emphasizes how empirical research and experimentation in various areas of psychology can be applied to the legal arena in a broader sense. He describes legal psychology as “[t]he scientific study of the effect of the law on people, and the effect people have on the law.” Legal psychology includes studies on eyewitness identification, a child’s ability to testify competently, the validity of cognitive tests, the process of jury selection, and other issues that crop up within the legal system. Research into these areas is used not for a particular case but to help set legal standards, definitions, and procedures for wider use. according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Considering the consistent need within the criminal justice system for psychologists who specialize in legal matters, the field is promising for young career-seekers. Forensic psychologists can find various intellectually stimulating jobs in law enforcement. The agencies that utilize forensic psychologists include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the U.S. Secret Service; the U.S. Department of Defense; local and state police departments; and county offices. Additionally, licensed forensic psychologists often have their own private practices and provide their services to law enforcement agencies, attorneys, or the courts on a case-by-case basis. Although many people associate forensic psychologists with law enforcement and profiling criminals, practitioners can opt to pursue careers on the other end of the spectrum as well. Some forensic psychologists work in clinical settings, such as prisons, psychiatric hospitals, and mental health centers. Within such environments, these professionals provide counseling and psychotherapy to criminals dealing with psychological issues or needing treatment. These efforts can also be geared toward rehabilitation and decreasing the chance of recidivism, or returning to prison once they have been released.

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Forensic Psychology