Role of Criminal Psychology in Criminal Justice System

Abstract

Criminal psychology as an academic discipline was established recently in the 19^th century as one of the methods of a criminal investigation. The term criminal psychology is firstly used by “Hugo Munsterberg”. This is the study of views, thoughts, intentions, actions, and reactions of criminals and their criminal behavior. This plays a crucial role in our Criminal Justice System to understand the psychological motivations that occur behind any given crime. The major roles include determining the criminal’s reason for committing the offense, interview and interrogate criminals, assess the crime scene, evidence, offended and their roles in the given crime, and create a profile to help law enforcement after the commission of a crime. It also helps to evaluate the thought and state of mind of the criminal ^[1]. In India, the first department for experimental psychology established at Calcutta University in 1916. After which Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science in Delhi in 1972. Then in 2001, it achieved global recognition as a specialized field by A.P.A. According to G.H. Gudjonsson and L.R.C Haward in the U.K. defined criminal psychology as the branch of applied psychology which is concerned with the collection, examination, and presentation of evidence for judicial purposes. According to the legal dictionary, criminal psychology is considered as the study of will, intention, thoughts, feelings, and reactions of criminals and those who engage in criminal behavior ^[2]. It implies by behavioral and mental health professionals whose findings are used to make judicial determinations. Criminal psychology also helps to assist police in the investigation, advice on interviewing suspects and witnesses, and also works for the rehabilitation process.