Not many people know there are two areas of psychology related to law (forensic, correctional)

What is it about?

Psychology has several subfields - different specialties within the field. Two of them relate to the law - forensic psychology and correctional psychology. Not many people know the differences between these two different subfields of psychology. This article shows that they are in fact distinct from one another and explains how and why they are separate subfields. Importantly, forensic psychology and correctional psychology are for scientists and practitioners - not just for practitioners as some people assume. This article shows how basic and applied science can be generated in forensic and correctional psychology.

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Why is it important?

Confusion is common both in psychology and in the general public about the scope of "forensic" psychology. People - including experts in psychology - get forensic psychology confused with correctional psychology. This is a problem because the ethical issues in these subfields are different, and the ethics codes should recognize those differences. It is also a problem because students have trouble finding an education path toward unclear career goals. This article clearly defines forensic psychology as relevant to the law to help resolve legal cases, typically pre-adjudication (during a legal case). Correctional psychology, in contrast, is not for legal decision making but rather to aid in decision making in the criminal justice system, typically post-adjudication (after an offender is found guilty). These clear definitions should help reduce confusion in the field and beyond, and should help students make their way more easily toward chosen career paths.

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