Bridging the Gap: Integrating Psychology and Law Enforcement for Effective Crime Investigations

Abstract

Module 6 Reflection Journal – Psychology and Law Enforcement Psychology exists in a state of tension with the legal system by the fact that the goals and the processes of investigations as far as science is concerned differ substantially from those of the law. To begin with, it could be argued that science entails logic, a process where conclusion could be reached using observations. Before a conclusion is reached, researchers explore many fields and data must be examined from all across from correlational studies and experiments. Tension comes in from the essence that law demands answers that are at least beyond reasonable doubt as far as criminal law is concerned. Again, scientific conclusions remain provisional and they are open to prevarication. Additionally, the scientific conclusions are prone to change as long as new data is gathered. Therefore, science does not stand a chance of providing foregone conclusion as far as future conclusions are concerned (Winerman, 2004). In such a scenario therefore, tensions arise in that law. On the other hand looks pas legal precedents in which the truth is determined as well as direct future policies. Lastly, psychological science tends to incline on the nomothetic rather than on the ideographic. This tends to focus on description, prediction and explanations of behaviours in terms of probality. The probability cannot possibly give one hundred percent accuracy. Contrary to law, actions evaluations in combination with intentions while keeping in mind about accuracy are all involved. In other words, evaluation of truthfulness is vital in law. A lot can be done to improve the divide between the different approaches to crime investigations. First of all, some strategies could be employed to ensure the gap between psychologists and the law is bridged. For instance, psychologists could act as trial consultants and handle one side in the court case. Additionally, the trial consultants could survey community members to determine the best location for a fair trial. This could be due to...