What is a Forensic Psychologist?
A forensic psychologist is a clinical psychologist who has obtained specialized training in the area of forensic psychology. Forensic psychology as a sub-specialty of clinical psychology, is the overlap of psychology and the law, in which psychological principals and concepts are applied to legal issues that may be addressed in a court of law. A forensic psychologist is not just an expert, but is an expert who testifies in court. A valid opinion is more valuable if it is described and explained clearly and persuasively. A forensic psychologist assists the fact finder in increasing the accuracy of its decisions with regard to family, civil, and criminal matters. A forensic psychologist uses detailed assessment strategies to carefully determine and examine psychological factors that may be relevant to virtually any given legal issue. Upon completing a forensic evaluation, a forensic psychologist will clearly and logically defend his/her conclusions. These conclusions must be supported by
