Forensic Psychology In Civil Cases

In civil situations, forensic psychology professionals have a critical role to play. For instance, they perform crucial functions in determining the directions that civil proceedings take. Like criminal cases, civil cases are heavily influenced by the reports of forensic psychologists. For example, these professionals may be called upon to carry out evaluations on repressed memory among offenders. A case in point is one where Spiegel &Scheflin (1993) point out that in about 50 civil cases, forensic psychologists have delivered evaluations that courts have used as a basis of determining whether repressed memory can be used as a basis for pressing charges against alleged perpetrators of childhood sexual abuse.
One of the areas where a forensic
Firstly, these professionals are required to work directly alongside victims and offenders. Their work includes profiling, diagnosing, and developing treatment for individuals who have been convicted of various serious offenses. For example, they might interview victims and their family members while simultaneously conducting research on violent offenders. Consequently, they face the challenging task of offering mental health treatment to offenders who have already been placed under custodial settings. They must use their skills to establish an environment in which relationships with inmates can
Police officers require both criminological and psychology knowledge to be able to handle investigations effectively. Forensic psychology professionals who focus on police aspects handle crises arising from the law enforcement process. The role of forensic psychology experts within the ranks of police departments is rapidly expanding. This phenomenon may be attributed to industry maturation as well as a growing relationship between law enforcement and psychology both in theory and practice.
The main seminal case involving police involvement in forensic psychology is Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in which the U.S. Supreme Court made a determination regarding appropriate standards under which scientific expert testimony could be evaluated (Groscup & Penrod, 2003). On the other hand, reliability of evidence is a major ethical concern. Admissibility is not determined by reliability, meaning that police departments often get away with shoddy investigations but still get leeway to present the evidence they collect for use in court proceedings regardless of its quality.