Evaluative Complexities in Forensic Psychology: Methodological and Ethical considerations

The field of forensic psychology intersects with criminology and forensic science, presenting a complex landscape filled with methodological and ethical challenges. These challenges are particularly evident in professional practice, where evaluating limitations can significantly impact outcomes.

Current discourse raises questions about the consistency and objectivity of assessments and highlights the need for a critical, multidisciplinary perspective to better understand and address these issues. This Research Topic aims to offer an in-depth examination of three pivotal areas.

First, the effectiveness of treatment programs for offenders is investigated, emphasizing the diversity of treatment models, the complication of measuring outcomes consistently, and the effects of legal mandates that expand these programs without always ensuring their objective efficacy.

Second, it explores inter-individual variability in medico-legal and criminological assessments, specifically addressing the discrepancies and differences among experts, consultants, and evaluators. Such variability can significantly influence the outcomes of forensic reports and expert opinions, raising questions about the reliability and objectivity of evaluative processes.

Third, the impact of assessing testimonial capacity, with particular attention to potential biases and influences stemming from psychological interventions, external factors, or the individual characteristics of the witness. These elements can affect mnemonic, cognitive, and emotional processes, thereby influencing the reliability and coherence of testimony, with important implications for evidentiary and procedural outcomes.

To gather further insights into these multifaceted challenges within the domains of criminology, forensic psychology, and forensic medicine, we seek theoretical and empirical contributions. Our aim is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, outline the current state of forensic and treatment evaluations, and provide critical reflections and future directions that enhance the methodological and scientific precision within forensic sciences.

We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• The effectiveness of treatment programs for offenders, with a focus on the heterogeneity of existing treatment models, the difficulties associated with standardized outcome measurement, and the implications related to the introduction of legal obligations. These mandates have made such programs increasingly widespread, though they are not always assessed in terms of objective efficacy

• Inter-individual variability in medico-legal and psycho-criminological assessments, specifically addressing the discrepancies and differences among experts, consultants, and evaluators. Such variability can significantly influence the outcomes of forensic reports and expert opinions, raising questions about the reliability and objectivity of evaluative processes.

• The impact of assessing testimonial capacity, with particular attention to potential biases and influences stemming from psychological interventions, external factors, or the individual characteristics of the witness. These elements can affect mnemonic, cognitive, and emotional processes, thereby influencing the reliability and coherence of testimony, with important implications for evidentiary and procedural outcomes

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: forensic psychology, criminology, forensic science, medico-legal assessment

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.