1437212094

I Ogólnopolska Konferencja Naukowa Krimed

Metody badawcze w kryminalistyce i medycynie sądowej Wystąpienia Gości Honorowych

Application of psychological knowledge in criminal procedurę

Relationships between psychological knowledge and the law existed long before the psychology became an independent scientific discipline. Although in the second half of the nineteenth century thanks to the students of Wilhelm Wundt - creator of experimental psychology, it was possible to bring the psychology to the courtrooms, a continued interest in the use of psychology in the legał field is observed only sińce the sixties of the twentieth century.

In Poland over the past two decades there has been an increasing number of publications in the field of forensic psychology, forensic, testimony ofwitnesses, that were useful to psychologists in acąuiring expertise, as well as in enhancing competencies of other professionals associated with the judiciary. Setting up organizational units of police psychologists in Poland sińce 1996 is, among others, a manifestation ofthe need to involve psychologists in the activities of the criminal proceedings.

Currently in Poland the skills of psychologists are used in criminal proceedings mainly for the purposes of court expertise and during court hearings. A psychologist is summoned mainly in those cases where his or her participation in the proceedings is mandatory. Verification of current practices in use of psychological knowledge in the Polish criminal proceedings seems to be important. Such discussion would be particularly valuable if representatives of various groups affected by these issues were taking part.

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