What is a Forensic Psychologist?
As a forensic psychologist, I apply psychology to the legal process by putting my understanding of how people think into action in the court room. The interface between law and society and criminology. Bottom line, I know how people think. With over 30,000 hours of face-to-face clinical sessions under my belt, I take this expertise of understanding the human condition, personalities, and how different people think, and apply it to matters with legal consequences.
As an expert on the impact of trauma on victims, I provide tremendous support to those who find themselves engaging in the court system—because let’s face it, the courtroom is a strange place. It is unfamiliar to many and proves to be quite intimidating with its adversarial themes and cross examination.
Psychology in the Courtroom--
As an expert in white collar crime, psychopathology, and sociopathy, I bring skills of detection, consultation, interpretation of evidence, and predictability to the pursuit of those who harm individuals and society on a greater whole. My understanding of how people think ranges from victims to perpetrators.
In the Mind of the Jury--
Cases aren’t decided on the facts, but on jurors’ perceptions of the facts. We can’t change the way jurors think, but we can change what we ask them to think about. We can better decide which facts jurors are likely to find most persuasive and why. Because let’s be blunt, some people lie, and it’s critical to help the jury understand that we are telling the truth. The jurors will need to hear a narrative that makes sense to them—that will serve to put things in order. If they distrust the narrative, they will distrust our case and our attorneys. The power to frame the question is the power to decide the case.
Let’s keep in mind that jurors are often smarter than people think. And they tend to have a belief in a just world and illusion of control. They may secretly believe that “good” people (like themselves) should be able to predict and control outcomes in a just world, i.e., the illusion of control. Good things happen to “good” people and bad things happen to “bad” people because that’s how the world ought to work. A just world demands punishment for bad acts and rehabilitation when appropriate.
To sum it up, we are seeking protection for the vulnerable, the rule-breakers to be accountable, and justice to be restored so we can live in a just world. And forensic psychology can help to attain this.