APA Handbook of Forensic Psychology: Volume 1: Individual and Situational Influences in Criminal and Civil Contexts; Volume 2: Criminal Investigation, Adjudication, and Sentencing Outcomes

With significant new and updated content across two volumes and more than 40 chapters, this second edition of the APA Handbook of Forensic Psychology advances understanding of the scientific foundations and practical application of psychology to law and law-related policy.

Psychological knowledge is now regularly used in trial, appellate, and supreme court cases at state and federal levels, and is used to craft law on relevant topics. Psychologists routinely provide testimony about criminal defendants, litigants, and psychological issues in trial courts. Psychological knowledge finds its way into amicus briefs submitted to appellate and supreme courts. To address these and the many other contributions of the field, the first edition of this handbook was published in 2015. Since that time, social, cultural, and political events have shaped the evolution of forensic psychology towards a greater awareness of the importance of sociocultural identities and differences, and related structural and systemic issues. Further, the field has seen massive expansion of the use of technology, from videoconferencing for evaluations to machine learning in hiring decisions. Accordingly, this edition updates and expands the previous one, including discussions of sociocultural identities and systemic inequities, bias, and technology.

The first volume considers individual and situational influences in criminal and civil contexts, with chapters covering forensic evaluation and treatment in criminal cases, individual and situational predictors of criminal behavior, and applications of forensic psychology in civil cases. The second volume of the handbook presents the state of the field in criminal investigation, adjudication, and sentencing outcomes. Chapters examine victim and offender groups, criminal investigations and jury trials, and sentencing and incarceration. To ensure cohesiveness and thorough coverage of core topics, the chapters benefit from a standard set of headings, facilitating wayfinding and highlighting relevant themes. Chapter authors include well-established, internationally recognized scholars and practitioners, as well as rising stars in the field.

Drawing on contemporary psychological research and practice, the handbook provides an indispensable reference on forensic psychological issues important to researchers, practitioners, and students in psychology, other social sciences and practice disciplines, and law.