Forensic Psychology and Law Enforcement
Law enforcement and forensic psychology can make a great team. However, both of them must be able to complement each other and work together to get any type of results. A researcher must be able to make “meaningful use” out the information gathered. Forensic psychologists can provide information and their opinions to law enforcement, but it’s their job to interpret the data. In this paper, we will take a look at how forensic psychologists work with law enforcement and their role in the criminal justice system. Without the work from forensic psychologists, many crimes would go unsolved. Forensic psychology can mean the difference in a killer being sent to prison or set free. As crime evolves, criminals become smarter and harder to catch. Law enforcement is continually trying to keep up with them and stay one step ahead. In many cases, criminals are able to cover their tracks and leave no physical evidence behind. When law enforcement has no evidence they have nothing to go on or no leads to investigate. In cases like these, they have no choice but to rely on forensic psychologists to access the situation and determine if there any suspects based on their behavior or their criminal record. The police even look to psychics for help in extreme cases, with no leads at all. When law enforcement and forensic psychologists combine their efforts they are often able to single out a viable suspect and solve cold cases. Forensic psychology plays a huge role in criminology and many people’s search for justice.
Evidence-based practices in medicine refer to the use of previous studies as some sort of guideline when conducting a project. Medical practitioners tend to follow EBPs because the research or procedure is proven and tried already, hence the slogan “history repeats itself”. The principle applies to investigative psychology. Forensic psychologists look at an individual’s history and determine if their history implies they are violent or mentally unstable. In most cases, a suspect with a violent past or one who is a registered sex offender will be focused on during an investigation. In some cases, there is no correlation between an individual’s criminal history or past on the case at hand. But when there are no leads whatsoever, it gives law enforcement something to work with and at times does lead law enforcement to the perpetrator. One’s criminal record not only can give law enforcement a heads up but can give employers a notice, which makes it difficult for offenders to find work. This phenomenon creates a vicious cycle in which criminals get stuck in that prevents them from ever leaving behind their life of crime. According to Appelbaum, B., (2015), “ the share of American men with criminal records grew rapidly in recent decades as the government pursued aggressive law enforcement strategies, especially against drug crimes. In the aftermath of the Great Recession, those men are having particular trouble finding work.” Criminals do their time but many times face a lifetime of hardships looking to work, due to their history.
Forensic psychology not only plays a big part in catching an offender but also plays a huge role in the outcome of the trial. Criminals try to claim insanity to get off easy and get sent to a mental health facility instead of prison. This phenomenon not only facilitates injustice but puts mental patients at risk who may have to share living quarters with a criminal. A psychologist’s assessment can determine if an offender faces criminal charges or a slap on the wrist. Criminals know to act insane to try and fool prosecutors, but effective psychologists have the training and intuition to spot a fake. According to Fraser (2018), “ many criminals attempt to exaggerate impairment for the purpose of a favorable outcome”. If a forensic psychologist makes a mistake it could mean a murderer going free. Law enforcement that works with forensic psychologists increases their chances of serving justice exponentially.
References
Appelbaum, B., (2015). Out of Trouble, but Criminal Records Keep Men Out of Work. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/business/out-of-trouble-but-criminal-records-keep-men-out-of-work.html
Fraser, J., (2018). He Said He Faked Mental Illness to Avoid Prison. Now, Accused in 2 Killings, He’s Sent Back to a State Hospital. Retrieved from https://www.propublica.org/article/anthony-montwheeler-sent-back-to-hospital
