Early History

• Basic concepts of forensic psychology emerged in the beginning of the 20th century. William Stern's experiments in memory recall demonstrated that people often possessed faulty memories, especially when asked leading questions such as "Is that the man you saw with the pistol?" This discovery revealed the unreliability of witness testimony as well as how to conduct more impartial interrogations. During this period, Alfred Binet and Sigmund Freud also conducted studies that concluded that the amount of time it takes for a person to answer a question could imply an effort to deceive or conceal information.
  
  

Forensic Psychology Vs. Clinical Psychology

• Unlike a clinical psychologist, the job of the forensic psychologist is not always to "cure" the subject as much as provide an impartial evaluation of his or her mental state. In particular, they are often employed by the court to assess a defendant's competence to stand trial. However, some forensic psychologists also specialize in counseling victims, assisting them to prepare for testifying in court and cope with the attendant emotional trauma. They also provide insight into the neurological and psychological state of victims and witnesses as well as their competence to testify.
  
  

Forensic Neurospsychology

• In the subfield of neuropsychology, the forensic investigator studies disorders and damages to the brain that may cause the subject to engage in criminal behavior. They examine subjects for medical aberrancies, such as brain damage to the frontal cortex and temporal lobe, abnormal brainwaves and peculiar functioning of the amygdala--the part of the brain that regulates feelings of fear and aggression. More recently, forensic neuropsychologists have studied chemical imbalances that may result in criminal behavior.
  
  

Malingering

• The "insanity defense" is a very common issue in forensic psychology. Criminals often fake mental illness to avoid being sent to prison. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as "malingering." Legendary mob boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante went so far in his deception that he often committed himself to mental institutions to appear as if he were unable to control a major crime family. When this issue arises, the forensic psychologist may conduct two evaluations. The forensic psychologist may evaluate whether the defendant is competent to stand trial. If the suspect proves mentally competent, an attorney may also request a study of the defendant's psychological state during the time he committed the alleged crime. The latter often can be used as evidence in a "temporary insanity" defense.
  
  

Recidivism

• Some forensic psychologists also evaluate whether a convicted criminal is fit for parole. The role of the forensic psychologist is especially pertinent in cases involving child sex offenders. For example, California state law indefinitely prohibits the release of child molesters--regardless of actual sentence--until a penal psychologist deems them cured of their deviant urges and fit for release.