Using Forensic Psychology in Assessing a Criminal Offender

Forensic Psychologists often assess offenders to determine whether they’re fit to plead their case in court, or are likely to be violent in the future. There are a number of important issues to be considered in this assessment and these are outlined here:

• Family background

  
  
  
  

  • Any history of abuse?

    
    
  
  

  • Offender ever removed from family?

    
    
  
  

  • Any criminal close relatives?

    
    
  
  
  
  



• Criminal background

  
  
  
  

  • Amount and variety of criminal convictions?

    
    
  
  

  • Types of victims? (Particularly their age and gender)

    
    
  
  
  
  



• Education

  
  
  
  

  • Achievements at school? (Or lack of them)

    
    
  
  

  • Age left school?

    
    
  
  

  • Literacy skill level?

    
    
  
  

  • Numeracy skill level?

    
    
  
  
  
  



• Attitudes

  
  
  
  

  • Opinions about crime and criminality?

    
    
  
  

  • Justifications of his or her offences?

    
    
  
  

  • Any processes of denial or minimisation?

    
    
  
  
  
  



• Psychological characteristics

  
  
  
  

  • General intelligence level?

    
    
  
  

  • Any indications of mental illness?

    
    
  
  

  • Any indication of personality disorder?

    
    
  
  
  
  



• Domestic circumstances

  
  
  
  

  • History of intimate relationships?

    
    
  
  

  • Current intimate relationships?

    
    
  
  

  • Any children?

    
    
  
  

  • Occupational history?

    
    
  
  

  • Residential circumstances?

    
    
  
  

  • Economic circumstances?

    
    
  
  
  
  

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