Introduction to Clinical Psychology Bridging Science and Practice

This chapter describes a number of ways that clinical psychologists contribute to the legal system and to legal decision-making. Forensic psychologists contribute to decisions about whether a defendant is competent to stand trial, whether a defendant was insane at the time he or she committed a crime, and whether certain individuals are a threat to themselves or others. Clinicians also become involved in civil actions, such as determinations about the role of stress or the extent of psychological damage following accidents or other events. Their involvement in criminal profiling and psychological autopsies is infrequent, but forensic clinical psychologists are commonly asked to perform activities such as psychological evaluations in child custody and divorce proceedings.