Free Essay on Forensic Psychology in Legal Proceedings: Unraveling Complexities and Case Implications

Introduction

Forensic psychology is comprehensive in studying and analyzing research from professionals pursuing other disciplines and also conducts its formal study. They further deal with criminals as the crimes they have perpetrated, which subjects them to be present in crime scenes. Forensic psychologists have direct involvement in the criminal justice system. They are required to evaluate, assess, and even administer treatment to criminals or those who have a history as victims of crimes. The evaluations are varied in different areas as jails and mental health centers. Once an evaluator completes the assessment test, it writes a vital report in a court setting. The assessments concentrate on numerous issues that include the offender's health, comprehension of legal proceedings, and how capable the offender is to communicate to a legal counsel. A total disagreement can be identified in the report submission, where the court system legally nullifies the findings based on the prosecution and defense attorney denying the evaluator's opinion. The court's ultimate decision on the defendant's competence is determined and does not consider the report submitted by the evaluator.

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Thesis: Observations qualify an offender to be approved to stand for a trial based on the evaluator's assessment results.

Case Scenario

The case deals with evidence in the Due Drop Inn murder crime scene, which is directed to identify Rhonda's ex-husband's killer, James. The court process empowers law agencies to cross-examine the pieces of evidence and obtain a court warrant to search any possible suspect's residential area to get any additional correlated evidence with the leads found at a crime scene. The pieces of evidence collected are cartridge cases from the bullet that penetrated James's heart, connected to the type of gun used to kill him. Further, blood spots that could be collected to retrieve the DNA of those actively present at the crime scene can be recovered because gunshot wounds lead to profuse bleeding of the targeted victims. Possible footprint marks were also identified as violent engagement in a crime scene leaving clear footmarks that could aid in confirming the shoe type the suspect was wearing (Gay et al., 2017). The law enforcement agencies got lucky at the crime scene immediately. They identified fresh tire tracks in a compound, a connection to where the escapees could have headed, and the vehicle model they used to get away from the crime environment. The identified variables as evidence should be handled and treated with professionalism where they pack DNA evidence in plastic containers and take pictures of footprints that mark physical features present.

Expert testimony and report writing are further measures that act as directives in a case proceeding based on evidence analysis in a forensic laboratory. Mere confessions cannot be relied on in a court setting as we cannot predict who is lying or committed to telling the truth; thus, a provision of pieces of evidence deters any lies about an individual involvement in a crime scene or plans to execute a crime (Gay et al., 2017). In our case, all evidence linking the murder to Tim was well-stocked. They are the only accurate means of the current times, which are reliable to link a suspect to a crime scene giving unique identification features at a single suspect. The testimonies that ascertain an alibi given in a courtroom aid the prosecution department in making a legal proceeding over the offender with whatever case they are accused of committing.

In the Dew Drop Inn murder case, an expert's testimony would give a more transparent approach to the pieces of evidence found in the scene where the cartridge case would match the exact definition of the missing pistol from the box in the suspect’s residential area. A shred of further convicting evidence was the tire tracks from the crime scene that resembled the vehicle model in Tim's environment. The report would also contain the DNA match of the victim's blood from the crime scene, which is further collected at Tim's home with an insinuation that he took the shot at a close range. The shirt was covered with high-velocity blood spatter with consistent gunshot blowback. The incriminating evidence that pointed at Tim as the crime perpetrator had just gotten more muscular and Tim was arrested and reprimanded for an alignment in court as demanded by the law enforcement agencies. On the defendant’s first hearing, his attorney put a motion of his incompetence to stand trial, and the court had to make an order for his evaluation in the forensic psychology laboratories. The court is subjected to delay any hearing at whatever level as long as the victim's chances to cooperate are not guaranteed hence breaching his rights. The forensic psychological process is well defined by procedures directed by the court demanding a genuine report to determine the court proceedings on the defendant.

The Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 123 Section 15 dictates the people in favor of insanity, stating that, whenever a court of competent jurisdiction lacks confidence in a defendant's ability to stand trial in a criminal case, he is criminally responsible because of the mental defect (Gay et al., 2017). Like Tim, the court orders a close examination by a qualified psychologist for a written and signed report on their finding to direct the court order on halting or proceeding with the hearing sessions. These reports compose an introduction and the context of the evaluation of the defendant. The terms under which a defendant can qualify for a trial is only when the criminal responsibility report states his competence in court for having a satisfying present ability to consult the attorney to a reasonable degree of rational understanding. He should also have substantial experience with the charges that have been filed against him by the prosecution body. Despite the legal process, the values are guaranteed their confidentiality, but the results are still submitted with or without their consent.

Forensic Psychological Evaluation

The due procedure can be completed in two contact visits, with each having a 4-hour minimum requirement depending on the nature of legal concerns among several issues. The psychologists attempt to obtain detailed information to provide to Tim's attorney. The procedures demanded to know more details about the victim by questioning his family of origin history, marital history, education, work, social adjustment, legal history, and medical history (Bartol, 2017). The various questioning fields can determine one's sanity and ability to connect with those around them, which is the metric to portray mind and consistent behavior to an individual. The forensic examination includes an intensive interview related to health matters, psychological testing, and further assessment of your personality. Tim received a comprehensive document review on employment, medical, and every pertinent record he may have had. Psychological tests do not show a failure or a pass, for they are not yes or no answers. They are outcomes used to rate your psychological state.

Analysis of the Forensic Psychology Results

The court received a submission of forensic psychology on Tim's where bout, which turned out to be less convincing based on various features that he was marked to have a perfect life. He indicated having served in the army for eight years, where he also maintained a wonderful marital life in a happy marriage (Bartol, 2017). The only negative thing was his law history. He was associated with considerable anger and violent incidences in the past, proving that the present case wasn't a rare one. There is no cure for anger as mental health in typical law proceedings but instead treated as cancer that should be eliminated for the public good. The court overruled the efforts to free Tim in his murder case and commanded a proceeding of the case hearing with all the evidence collected from the scene well-presented before the court. The court is given the mandate to make whatever ruling they pose appropriate as long as there is enough evidence for crimes committed and eliminating the insanity window of escape through forensic psychology. Tim was in for the trial without any hope of redemption, if at all, the evidence pointed at him.

References

Bartol, C. R.(2017). Introduction to forensic psychology: Research and application. Sage Publications.

Gay, J. G., Vitacco, M. J., & Ragatz, L. (2017). Mental health symptoms predict competency to stand trial and competency restoration success. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 22(2), 288-301.