Forensic Psychology - Contributions to Policing

To truly understand a field of study, you must first understand its place and relevance in history. Although forensic psychology, i.e., the study of psychology as it relates to legal issues, may have begun as early as the 1800s, its impact on police work did not occur until much later. In 1919, Germany recognized the need for psychologists within a police department; however, in the United States, this need was not recognized until 1968 when the Los Angeles Police Department (L.A.P.D.) hired Martin Reiser, EdD. Dr. Reiser, who has become known as the "Father of Police Psychology," emphasized that police psychologists need to understand the inner workings of the police department and must speak in a way that police could relate to. He also understood the bureaucracy of the police department and warned psychologists that any new programs may take a long time to implement. As a result of Reiser's knowledge of forensic psychology, his perseverance, and his ability to be accepted into the world of the L.A.P.D., he successfully worked as a police psychologist for many years and wrote numerous books and articles on the topic of police psychology. Since then, other psychologists have made great strides in working and developing programs within police departments.

The connection between forensic psychology and police psychology is still being fostered, primarily because police psychology itself is a newer branch of forensic psychology. Police psychology focuses on police professionals and organizations and on the needs of both in order to solve cases and provide better training. Over the years, most police departments began hiring part-time forensic psychology consultants as opposed to full-time employees in an effort to address specific issues relevant to police work. These psychology professionals are schooled in forensic psychology and can apply different areas of study to the needs of police professionals.
, consider the specific areas within the field of forensic psychology that are relevant to police work and how they have impacted the field of police work.

Select two contributions that forensic psychology has made to the field of police work. Think about how these contributions have impacted the field of police work and why.

a description of two forensic psychology contributions to police work. Then, evaluate the impact of each contribution to the field of police work. Be specific and provide examples.