Forensic psychology - Definition

Forensic psychology can be broken down into 2 areas:

1. Applying psychological techniques to help in the prosecution of criminals.
2. The rehabilitation of criminals once in the prison system.

Separate to this is Investigative Psychology (IP), a science created by Professor David Canter, who has written the books Criminal Shadows and Mapping Murder. IP is not a form of profiling per se, but rather is a means by which scientific knowledge can provide resources that can be used in police investigations. Professor Canter has been asked to provide "profiles" of criminals for the police, but these are based on scientific evaluations, rather than any experienced based procedures. IP began after Prof Canter was asked to aid the police in the investigation of Railway Rapist case in the late 1980s in the UK. His findings are well documented in his books, as well as the Channel 5 series "Mapping Murder".

The Centre for Investigative Psychology is currently based in Liverpool and an MSc in Investigative Psychology/Psychology with Investigation is currently running. The course was suspended in 2003-2004 whilst Prof. Canter took a sabbatical, but 16 students were taken onto the course in 2004-2005, including students from Canada, America, Barbados, Hong Kong and India.

See also

• Important publications in forensic psychology

External link

• Centre For Investigative Psychology (http://www.i-psy.com/)
• Mapping Murder by Professor David Canter (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0753509261/qid=1107617638/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_2_1/026-7619662-7392408)
• Criminal Shadows by Professor David Canter (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0006383947/qid=1107617731/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_2_1/026-7619662-7392408)