Forensic Psychology: How Can Psychology Help Law Enforcement?

Abstract

Aim: In this article, I would like to show how psychology, especially its forensic field, can help investigative authorities effectively detect individual crimes. Although most law enforcement psychologists work as primary care professionals, basically conducting psychological aptitude tests of colleagues and creating mental well-being, it is important to see that the science of psychology can be applied to law enforcement in a much more complex way.Methodology: Both domestic and international studies make researches with this topic, although in some criminal psychology and forensic psychology are used to be synonyms. In the present study, I review the literature on the means by which forensic psychology can assist in effective detection.Findings: Although the methodology of profiling specific offenders is not new, the procedure was developed primarily for the detection of serial crimes, but it has a great relevance in the detection of individual crimes. Furthermore, in addition to crimes against life, it can be used well in the analytical assessment of sexual offenses, as well as in the design of interrogation strategies.Value: In the present study, two methodological elements of forensic psychology, profiling and interrogation strategy, are analyzed in the light of sexual offenses.