Custom Search

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Special Topics in Forensic Psychology

Special Topics in Forensic Psychology
At times, forensic psychologists are retained as consultants. They are asked to assess job applicants or current employees or to assist as expert witnesses testifying about specific topics or areas of specialized research, rather than about specific people. These roles, though somewhat different from those of traditional experts expected to provide information relevant to specific individuals in courts of law, nonetheless require knowledge about the relevant professional literature, case law, and the legal system. In this section, three topics are considered, representative of roles of the psychologist as consultant and as expert witness on specific areas of research. Law enforcement and other agencies employing those in high-risk occupations frequently retain psychologists as consultants. Experts on a specific area or topic of research may be consulted and asked to serve as expert witnesses to review, for a jury, research related to such topics as eyewitness memories for people and events. Still other experts are retained as jury consultants, advising lawyers about which potential jurors might be most open to the arguments and evidence likely to be raised during trial.

No comments: