Legal Precedents & Cases
The legal concept of "General Acceptance" as a standard for admitting scientific evidence in court originated from this case.
What is Frye v. United States?
Unlike a clinical setting where the client is the patient, in a forensic setting, the "client" is typically considered to be these entities.
Who is the Judge, Court, or Hiring Attorney?
When a judge orders an evaluation to determine if a defendant is mentally fit to go through a trial, the psychologist is performing this specific forensic task.
What is a Competency Evalutation?
In 1908, this psychologist published On the Witness Stand.
Who is Hugo Münsterberg?
This 1962 ruling changed the medical monopoly in the courtroom by allowing psychologists to testify as expert witnesses regarding mental illness.
What is Jenkins v. United States?
When conducting a forensic evaluation, this essential document is used to inform the examinee about the purpose, limits of confidentiality, and the role of the psychologist.
What is Informed Consent?
If a parole board needs a professional to conduct a Violence Risk Assessment to determine the likelihood of an inmate re-offending, they need a professional in this subfield.
What is Correctional/Prison Psychology?
Hugo Münsterberg's primary argument regarding the legal system was that this type of research and expertise should be applied in courtrooms.
What is psychological research?
Under the precedent set by this case, a forensic psychologist is required to break confidentiality when a client makes a specific, credible threat of violence against an identifiable victim.
What is the Tarasoff case?
In a case study, Dr. Miller committed this specific ethical violation when he was hired by the prosecution but claimed to be working for the suspect's benefit.
What is Misrepresentation of Role?
A defense attorney needs a professional to analyze local community attitudes to assist in selecting a fair jury, which falls under this subfield.
What is Forensic Psychology Jury Consulting?
William Marston created an early lie detector test based on this biological measurement.
What is systolic blood pressure?
Before the Jenkins v. United States decision, the court system viewed psychologists as researchers unqualified to give expert testimony, giving this specific profession a monopoly.
What are Medical Doctors (or Psychiatrists)?
To avoid "Confirmation Bias," a forensic evaluator must remain an advocate for this, evaluating all evidence objectively regardless of who hired them.
What is the data?
If Dr. Miller tells a suspect, "I'm a psychologist here to support you... everything you tell me is private," he is violating this ethical principle regarding the disclosure of information.
What is Informed Consent?
William Marston's early lie detector innovation directly influenced the legal standard set in this 1923 case because it established that scientific evidence must be "generally accepted".
What is Frye v. United States?