Within the field of Legal Psychology, AGLAIA Psychology Centre offers specialist services in Forensic Psychology. This discipline focuses on assisting judicial proceedings by collecting and analysing data on human behaviour, as well as producing technical reports that guide judges in their decision-making.
In situations where psychological factors may influence a case, the judge requests the involvement of a forensic psychologist. This professional collects and analyses data about the case and produces a psychological expert report. This scientific document, with legal validity, sets out the expert's considerations and conclusions regarding the mental state, personality and/or behaviour of the person assessed, providing the judge with a solid basis for their subsequent decision.
Criminal law
- Assessment of cognitive and volitional capacity: Determining the criminal liability of the individual.
- Psychological autopsies: Post-mortem analysis of a person's psychological state.
- Child sexual abuse: Assessment of psychological harm or sequelae in cases of child sexual abuse.
- Credibility of testimony: Assessment of the credibility and validity of testimony.
- Criminal profiling: Creation of psychological profiles of offenders.
- Assessment of victim sequelae: Evaluation of psychological harm or sequelae in crime victims.
- Victimisation: Study of the impact of crime on victims, profiling, analysis of risk and protective factors.
- Dangerousness: Assessment of the risk of violence, analysis of risk and protective factors.
- Violence against women: Assistance in cases of gender-based violence.
Civil law
- Separation and divorce: Assessment of suitability in custody cases through analysis of parental competencies, parenting style and psychological adjustment.
- Modification of measures: Review of previous legal agreements and assessment of the current state of the case.
- Civil annulment of marriage: Psychological assessment in annulment proceedings.
- Removal of parental authority: Assessment to determine parental suitability for the exercise of parental authority.
- Visiting arrangements: Design and supervision of family visiting programmes.
- Incapacitation: Assessments relating to legal capacity.
- Adoption: Assessment of parental suitability for adoption.
Juvenile law
- Young offenders: Assessment of minors who have committed an offence. Analysis of risk and protective factors.
- Aggression and sexual abuse: Assessment and treatment of aggressive or sexually abusive behaviour.
- Family violence: Assessment of violence in the home.
- School bullying: Analysis and treatment in cases of bullying.
- Legal measures for minors: Prognosis and evaluation of the effectiveness of legal measures.
Employment law
- Assessment of psychological capacities: Evaluation of employment aptitudes.
- Disorders and sequelae: Analysis of psychological disorders and sequelae in the workplace context.
- Disability and incapacity: Assessment of employment incapacity.
- Simulation: Detection of simulated behaviour and symptom exaggeration.
- Workplace harassment (mobbing): Assessment and treatment of workplace harassment.
Mediation and conflict resolution
Mediation is a voluntary and flexible conflict resolution process in which an impartial figure assists the parties in generating solutions and managing emotions. It allows mutually agreed solutions to be reached, which may be legally binding, minimising the financial and time costs of court proceedings.
- Family: Resolution of parent-child conflicts, with the extended family or between partners.
- Workplace: Resolution of conflicts between employees.
- School: Resolution of conflicts between students, or between students and teachers.
Frequently asked questions
Typically, a psychological expert assessment can be requested by:
— The court: it may appoint the expert from a list of specialised professionals, or request the involvement of an ex officio expert (attached to the Administration of Justice).
— The parties involved in the judicial proceedings: any of the parties may hire the services of a specialist psychologist not attached to the Administration of Justice.
— Any person who needs the services: any person may seek the advice of a psychologist specialised in forensic psychology for cases where psychological factors may be relevant.
Although in Spain there is currently no official qualification or regulation governing the role of the forensic psychologist, not all professionals are qualified to carry out a psychological expert assessment. It is advisable to ensure you hire a professional with specific training and experience in Legal and Forensic Psychology.
The Official College of Psychologists of the Balearic Islands (COPIB) offers a list of expert psychologists and a database where psychologists can be searched by area of specialisation.
A psychological expert report is necessary in legal proceedings where psychological factors may have influenced or be influencing the case. It is advisable to consult a lawyer for advice on whether it is necessary to request an expert report in your specific case.
Psychological report: can be issued by any psychology professional from a clinical or general health perspective. It clearly sets out what was observed during the assessment. Although it follows a similar structure to the expert report, it lacks legal validity. The psychologist who issues it may be called to testify in court as a witness.
Psychological expert report: is issued by a forensic psychologist who has carried out a thorough collection and analysis of data, using methodology specific to the forensic field. This report has legal validity as expert evidence. The expert may be called to ratify its content in their capacity as a psychological expert witness.
The price may vary depending on various factors:
— Characteristics of the case and level of complexity: more complex cases require more time and resources.
— Number of people or variables to be assessed.
— Characteristics of the people to be assessed: age, intellectual maturity, language barriers, etc.
— Area of law: criminal law cases tend to be more costly.
— Methodology and assessment techniques required: interviews, psychometric tests, review of case files, etc.
— Time required for assessment and preparation of the report.
— Whether ratification of the report in court is needed.
— Expenses if travel to other locations is required.