Forensic Psychology Definition as Per APA:

Forensic psychology, as defined by the American Psychological Association, is the

application of clinical specialties to the legal arena. This definition emphasizes the application of
clinical psychology to the forensic setting. Christopher Cronin, who has written a well-known
textbook on forensic psychology, defines it as “The application of clinical specialties to legal
institutions and people who come into contact with the law” (p. 5), again emphasizing the
application of clinical skills such as assessment, treatment, evaluation to forensic settings. This is
considered a narrow definition. The broad definition of forensic psychology emphasizes the
application of research and experimentation in other areas of psychology (e.g., cognitive
psychology, social psychology) to the legal arena. This would include applying results from
studies in areas such as cognitive psychology to legal questions. Two good examples include
Elizabeth Loftus’ many studies on eyewitness identification and Stephen Ceci’s research on
children’s memory, suggestibility and competence to testify. Cronin labels this definition “legal
psychology” or “The scientific study of the effect of the law on people, and the effect people
have on the law.”
Thus, the practice of forensic psychology, and perhaps the most frequent duty of forensic
psychologists, is the psychological assessment of individuals who are involved, in one way or
another, with the legal system. Therefore, although it is necessary to have training in law and
forensic psychology, the most important skills a forensic psychologist must possess are solid
clinical skills. That is, skills like clinical assessment, interviewing, report writing, strong verbal
communication skills (especially if an expert witness in court) and case presentation are all very
important in setting the foundation of the practice of forensic psychology. With these skills
forensic psychologists perform such tasks as threat assessment for schools, child custody
evaluations, competency evaluations of criminal defendants and of the elderly, counseling
services to victims of crime, death notification procedures, screening and selection of law
enforcement applicants, the assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder and the delivery and
evaluation of intervention and treatment programs for juvenile and adult offenders.
The practice of forensic psychology involves investigations, research studies, assessments,
consultation, the design and implementation of treatment programs and expert witness courtroom
testimony.
 Arguably one of the most interesting assessments for a forensic psychologist is
assessment in “mens rea” (insanity) cases. In the U.S., a person cannot be held responsible for a
crime if he/she did not possess a “guilty mind” (mens rea) at the time the criminal act was
committed. There are several conditions in which the law recognizes that a guilty mind is absent
(e.g., self-defense). “Insanity” is not a psychological term but a legal one. The standard for
insanity is determined by each state, and there is also a federal standard. A common standard is
whether the person knew what he/she was doing was wrong. The forensic psychologist has to
determine not how the person is functioning at the present moment, but his/her mental state at
the time of the crime. Thus, much of the forensic psychologist’s work is retrospective and must
rely on third-party information, collateral contacts and written communications (e.g., statements
made at the time of the crime).
Although there are master’s level degrees in forensic psychology, all forensic
psychologists must have either a PhD or a PsyD degree from an APA-accredited or Canadian
Psychological Association (CPA)-accredited doctoral program. They must also have the
equivalent of two years of organized, sequential, supervised professional experience, one year of
which is an APA- or CPA-accredited predoctoral internship. Often there are other requirements
as well. The candidate can apply for licensure and sit for an oral or written exam (depending on
the state where the candidate will be practicing). Practitioners can also become board certified
(as diplomates) by the American Board of Forensic Psychology.
Forensic psychology has grown in the past 20 years. It is a broad applied field that offers
numerous opportunities to the practitioner. Forensic psychologists work in many different legal
environments, writing reports, giving testimony, doing direct treatment or working with
therapeutic communities. In his book “Trials of a Forensic Psychologist: A Casebook,” Charles
Patrick Ewing gives a clear picture of what it is like to evaluate, write and give testimony in
court on difficult criminal cases. In many of Stephen Ceci’s and Elizabeth Loftus’s studies,
forensic concerns change the nature of how we conceptualize memory and miscommunication.
Forensic psychology is definitely here to stay.
Forensic Psychology vs. Criminal Psychology

While criminal psychology is sometimes used as a synonym for forensic psychology in other
English-speaking countries, it’s not a recognized specialty, subspecialty or proficiency area in
U.S. psychological practice, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).
Forensic psychology gained APA recognition in 2001. This official status is a key difference
between forensic psychology and criminal psychology.

Forensic psychology is the preferred term within the U.S. psychology establishment to refer to
areas of the field that deal with criminal acts and the legal system. Although it remains in use, the
term criminal psychology is less common and often considered outdated.

It may be helpful to understand criminal psychology as both a nontechnical way to describe

some psychologists’ fields of expertise and a simplified term referring to a broad body of
psychological knowledge. Forensic psychology, on the other hand, is one of several fields that
translate this knowledge into practice.

Differences Between Forensic Psychology and Criminal Psychology

 Educational opportunities. Many U.S. higher education institutions host forensic

psychology degree programs. Criminal psychology is not typically offered as a formal
academic major, but individual courses within psychology, criminal justice
or criminology programs may focus on criminal psychology.
 Professional recognition. You won’t generally find “criminal psychologist” as an
official job title. Psychologists whose practice centers on the intersection of the human
psyche and the criminal justice system are typically known as forensic psychologists.
Other psychologists, such as those specializing in developmental, social, cognitive or
clinical psychology, may also focus on crime-related issues.
 Scope of practice. Criminal psychology commonly refers to psychological research or
practice related to understanding and predicting criminal behavior. On the other hand, the
forensic psychology field goes beyond exploring why people commit criminal acts.
Forensic psychologists employ a constellation of on-the-ground practices that draw on
 psychological and legal knowledge to support the justice system’s functioning and
provide psychological services to those involved in civil and criminal cases.
What Is Criminal Psychology?

Criminal psychology can be broadly understood as encompassing those areas of psychological

theory and practice that center on the motivations and mental health conditions that influence
criminal behavior. As such, the concepts and frameworks gathered under this term form part of
forensic psychology and allied social science fields like criminology and criminal justice.
For example, forensic psychologists may draw on their understanding of criminal psychology
when they provide expert testimony during legal proceedings, conduct a court-ordered
psychological assessment, or evaluate an intervention program for offenders. The same body of
knowledge can also inform a criminologist’s research or help criminal justice professionals such
as law enforcement and corrections officers identify suspects and effectively rehabilitate
offenders.

While these professionals may not be “criminal psychologists” per se, they all use the skills and
knowledge commonly associated with criminal psychology in their daily work.

What Is Forensic Psychology?

Forensic psychology is an APA-recognized psychology specialty. Psychologists in this focus

area provide clinical and research expertise within the judicial and legal systems. They may take
part in both criminal and civil proceedings.

This field is often considered a subset of clinical psychology. However, psychologists can pursue
a forensic specialization from backgrounds in several psychology subfields, including clinical,
counseling, experimental or cognitive psychology.