Application of Psychological Tests in Criminal Justice Environment



Application of Psychological Tests in Criminal Justice Environment

Introduction

A psychological examination is an examination conducted by a psychologist. This examination generally includes a preliminary interview and the award of psychological tests: Rorschach, Thematic Apperception Test, test of intelligence (IQ - WISC or WAIS for adults to children), etc. It may also be of neuropsychological tests designed to evaluate, establish, locate and measure impairment psycho-organic. The psychological examination is not in itself a therapeutic approach; it aims to clarify a diagnosis, indication for treatment, psychotherapy, or a Nero-psychological rehabilitation. It can also form part of an insurance expertise or justice, civil or criminal (Ackerman, 1999). The review concludes with a written report must be provided to the patient must also know the stakes.

The legal system has to be adjusted as any other method of settlement of interests and social expectations to objective parameters of rationality, legitimacy material, and effectiveness, trying to get the interdisciplinary scientific knowledge and inspire their decisions. Our society demands today, a legal system that rationally explains and justifies their decisions, a system that does not use scientific knowledge a posteriori, but that in erect guarantee of correctness, security and equality. The purpose of this paper is to argue that whether the application of psychological assessment test applicable in the Criminal justice environment.

Discussion and Analysis

Thus after the mixed evaluation of psychological assessment testing applicability, one can say that it is an attempt towards a skilled professionals, in order to use tools and techniques of psychology in learning some specific information about that person. The psychological evaluation is an examination ordered by a magistrate to obtain clarification in a particular area that is not within its jurisdiction, that of psychology.

Critical Overview and Importance of Psychological Tests

Thus it has been observed that Wrightman's Psychology and the Legal System, showed the major importance of the concepts and methods of psychology in order to function various aspects of modern legal system. In this book they have aliened the reader with analysis of eye witness identification, insanity defense, criminal profiling and also the overview of psychology's contribution towards legal system and various other roles that is available for psychologist within the system (Greene & Kirk, 2013).

According to Wrightman, the Psychological assessment plays a key role in the process of making legal decisions about a variety of situations they face daily in different areas of the administration of justice. The field of forensic psychology is referred precisely to the link established between the needs of the justice system on one side and the technical instruments of psychological science on the other.

It is a fact that the psychological testing can in some ways be reliable and valid whereas they often does not achieve much more than an impressionistic evaluation of the person. Whereas sometimes majority of the psychologists needs an intuitive impression of the person, and the pseudoscience “tests” can be useful. However, the pseudoscience and science are quietly mixed together in one of the ...