NCJ Number
184492
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2000 Pages: 219-233
Date Published
August 2000
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article sets out some of the theoretical frameworks that underpin clinical psychologists’ role in the police investigative context.
Abstract
Clinical psychologists are sometimes asked to provide operational support to senior investigating officers in major crime inquiries including murder, abduction, and violent and sexual assault. Working directly with investigating officers inevitably forces psychologists to focus on the phenomenology of the offense. This can lead to enhanced understanding of the critical relationship between the detail of the crime scene and the offender. The article argues that such offense analysis should already be a routine component of forensic clinical assessment; however, anecdotal evidence indicates that this is not so. Improving this aspect of the assessment process, when used in conjunction with other actuarial and structured clinical approaches, should improve any attempts at treatment planning and risk assessment. It would also provide a more comprehensive explanation of offending behavior in each specific case and could enhance clinical inference that may have been deemed of equivocal reliability. Notes, references