We detected that you're using an older version of Internet Explorer. Forensic psychologists play an essential role in the court systems. They aim to inform and educate the trier of fact. Once qualified in court, forensic psychologists serve in the role of expert witnesses. Often, these professionals are retained to consult, write a forensic report, or provide oral testimony or deposition.
Sometimes, the forensic psychologist is asked to conduct an evaluation and render a report. In some cases, that report can lead to oral testimony.
Still, the attorney may just want general feedback and consultation regarding the mental health matters at hand. Similarly, one single source of information could offer a biased opinion. Therefore, it is best to use multiple sources of information to base the professional opinion.
In sum, forensic psychologists seek to assist the trier of fact or attorney in understanding mental health or psychological issues at hand in a legal case. Accordingly, they provide professional opinions that include interpreting psychological information relevant to the legal issue, whether it be through consultation, evaluations, reports, or expert testimony. Notably, the forensic psychologist must be able to integrate data that may be inconsistent and give appropriate weight to the various sources and come to a sound clinical decision.
A must-read detailed discussion on general best practices can be found in the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology. Vienna Psychological Group provides forensic evaluations and serves as an expert witness for criminal cases. We follow the above standards to draft our professional opinions. Call our office at or use our online platform to schedule a consultation.
