Citation

Rode D, Kabzińska J, Rode M, Hazbda-Siwek E. Prob. Forensic Sci. 2018; 114: 137-157.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Institute of Forensic Research Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Psychological knowledge plays an essential role in juvenile cases in making appropriate decisions relating to adolescents who violate legal or social norms. Because they are presented as evidence in legal cases, psychological opinions need to satisfy rigorous formal and methodological requirements. The main purpose of the research, which was conducted in six district courts, was to investigate the practice, methodology and decision-making criteria of forensic psychologists who prepare expert opinions in juvenile cases in Poland. A questionnaire tool was used to gather information about cases in which courts appointed psychologists as expert witnesses. Records of court cases employing expert opinions (N = 253) were analysed to discover the subjects and procedures associated with psychological assessments of juvenile delinquents. It was found that though the questions the court asks are diverse, most referrals concern (1) determining the level of demoralisation (2) the signs of, and reasons for, demoralisation (3) deciding courses of action to prevent further demoralisation and (4) complete diagnoses of the personality, and emotional, social, and intellectual development, of juveniles. With respect to the decision-making criteria for psychological diagnosis of juvenile delinquents, the results showed that forensic psychologists follow functional, developmental, and prognostic models. In addition to setting out their research, the authors present a number of new developments in the psychological assessment of juvenile delinquents.

Key words

Juvenile justice; Demoralisation; Psychological expert opinion.

Language: en