Forensic psychology is a relatively new branch of psychology, first being recognised as a specialist division in its own right by the British Psychological Society (BPS) in 1999 ( Howitt, 2018 ). Originally pertaining only to the study of the courts and related matters, the definition has now widened to include matters of psychology related to any area of crime, the criminal or those who work in the field ( Gavin, 2018 ). Psychologists working in this area may have roles as varied as giving expert witness statements in court, working in secure hospitals or
Introduction Women are in the minority of those residing in forensic mental health services, yet they are generally perceived to be particularly difficult to manage ( Jeffcote and Watson, 2004 ). Abundant evidence shows how such women are more likely to have histories of victimisation, and experience depression and self-harm ( De Vogel et al, 2016 ) while being confined within a system largely designed around the needs of men. Various policies in the United Kingdom (UK) have acknowledged the differing requirements and experiences of women, calling for
A key resource for students, academics and practitioners, this concise guide brings together various concepts vital to the theoretical, policy and practical debates on forensic psychology and its relationship with crime, policing and policing studies.
Covering issues such as criminal behaviour, police decision-making and crime scene investigation, each entry provides a succinct overview of the topic, together with an evaluation of the emerging issues. The text includes:
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associated concepts and further reading from research and practice;
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sample questions;
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references and glossary.
Forensic psychology most often involves working with perpetrators or ‘offenders’. This is exemplified within prisons, which is where the subdiscipline of psychology that is known as ‘forensic psychology’ began to develop. It is unsurprising that an outside assumption would be that the work of a forensic psychologist in prison is just about ‘offenders’. However, it is about so much more. The role involves working with prison staff, modifying and evaluating the environment itself (including for optimal rehabilitation support) and, of course, working with
Introduction Ask a member of the UK public what a forensic psychologist does for the police and the most likely response will be ‘offender profiling’. Although academics have yet to agree on an exact definition of what offender profiling is, generally it is accepted as being an approach by which inferences are drawn about an unidentified offender from their behaviour at the crime scene (for example, personality and criminal characteristics). In the last century, films such as Silence of the Lambs , television drama series such as Cracker ( Fitz in the
the discussion has highlighted, the desistance paradigm consists of several models, theories and approaches, each of which draw on different explanations of crime at varying ecological levels. At the individual level, desistance is often about discovering new purposes, achievements and forms of recognition, which may be facilitated through involvement in generative activities, and practitioners can undoubtedly have a positive role to play in supporting and encouraging this process. Forensic and criminal justice practitioners are, however, somewhat restricted by
Psychopathy has become one of the most studied psychological constructs in forensic psychology. It is a term that has become synonymous with evil, mainly as a result of considerable media attention. Hare (1999, p xi) has described individuals who suffer from psychopathy as ‘social predators who charm, manipulate, and ruthlessly plough their way through life leaving a broad trail of broken hearts, shattered expectations and empty wallets’. Hare’s definition focuses on two key components: firstly, aspects of personality which include manipulation, shallowness
The role of the forensic psychologist has traditionally been tied to the work of the courtroom and to the expert assessment of those moving through the criminal justice system (CJS). The traditional role of the forensic psychologist within prisons has also been a clear career route for aspiring psychologist, with roles in risk assessment, parole hearings and mental health support forming the central provision ( McGuire and Duff, 2018 ). HM Prison and Probation Service is the largest single employer of forensic psychologists in the UK, with over 500
Forensic psychology is often thought to be mainly concentrated around one of two areas: work within the courtroom, wherein forensic psychologists may act as expert witnesses, or alternatively in crime investigation, where they are involved in profiling and behavioural analysis in order to help apprehend an offender. In actual fact, the work of forensic psychology is impactful at each stage of the criminal justice process ( Scott-Snyder, 2017 ) from investigation, through interviewing and prosecution, through sentencing right through to the execution of that
