Forensic Friday: Forensic Psychology

Forensic Friday: Forensic Psychology

Modern police forces use a wide variety of techniques to solve crimes. Some methods are high-tech such as chemicals used to find traces of blood not seen by the naked eye or the use of various world wide databases to search for fingerprint matches, facial recognition, or lists of identifying marks on suspects or victims. Other methods are not so high-tech such as plaster casts of foot or tire prints or good old deduction.

Forensic psychologists can help solve a crime or be used as expert witnesses to determine such things as the suspect’s competence to stand trial, child custody or visitation, workplace discrimination, or jurisdictional considerations such as the credibility of a defendant’s insanity plea.

Over the years, there have been many famous cases that were solved thanks to the skills of forensic  psychologists:

Ted Bundy is considered one of the United States most notorious criminals. Good-looking, successful, and well-educated, he kept his twisted, murderous deeds hidden for years. Psychologists created a profile of the potential killer, and when combined with information provided by Bundy's former girlfriend, authorities were able to track him down and prove his guilt.

Another serial killer named John Wayne Gacy murdered more than thirty young men. When he was caught, he tried to use an insanity plea for his defense, claiming he was not in control of his actions. After extensive interviews, psychologists proved Gacy had full use of his faculties and each of the killings was premeditated.

A third case involved a series of explosions that occurred at Radio City Music Hall between 1940 and 1950. As with the Bundy case, psychologists created a profile for the criminal nicknamed the Mad Bomber. Because of the sophistication of the devices, experts determined the suspect was most likely an engineer and probably an employee of Con Edison. That information combined with letters written to the newspapers led police to George Metesky who was living with his sisters in Connecticut. Like Gacy, Metesky was interviewed to determine his competency. Unlike Gacy, he was found guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a state mental hospital.

Forensic psychology did not become a recognized field until 1962, but thanks to television shows such as “Profiler” and “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” it is growing in leaps and bounds

Forensic Friday: Forensic Psychology

Forensic Friday: Forensic Psychology

According to Wikipedia, forensic psychology is the "intersection between psychology and the justice system." What does this mean exactly?

A forensic psychologist may be used for numerous reasons during a criminal investigation. They might study crime scenes and use evidence or the lack thereof to develop a criminal profile. Psychologists are also used as expert witnesses during criminal trials. Areas of expertise include a defendant's competence to stand try, child custody and visitation, workplace discrimination, and validity of insanity pleas).

Unlike other forensic disciplines, forensic psychology has been used for decades. Some well-known cases include:

• The case of the "Mad Bomber:" During the 1940s and 1950s, George Metesky planted bombs around New York City and bragged about them to newspapers. Psychological profiling combined with other police work led to Metesky's capture in 1957.
• The case of the "Guilford Four:" After a 1974 bombing in England, confessions were coerced from the suspects. Expert psychologists testified about the unreliability of confessions.
• The case of the "Twinkie Defense:" Psychologists convinced a jury that Daniel White was not guilty because of his dependence on junk food.
• The case of John Hinkley: Multiple "experts" testified for and against Hinkley's claim of insanity.
• The case of Richard Trenton Chase: A psychological profile was created after review of the murder scene, giving police the ability to identify and arrest Chase for the crime.

Forensic psychologists play an important role in the legal system. Combined with other forensic sciences and good police work, psychologists bring closure to cases that might otherwise remain open.