Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology

The final version of the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists, prepared by the AP-LS Committee on the Revision of the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology, was adopted by APA Council of Representatives on Aug. 3, 2011. The guideline will appear in a future edition of American Psychologist, and is available for download (PDF, 174KB)

The Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists applies as follows:

For the purposes of these Guidelines, forensic psychology refers to professional practice by any psychologist working within any sub-discipline of psychology (e.g., clinical, developmental, social, cognitive) when applying the scientific, technical, or specialized knowledge of psychology to the law to assist in addressing legal, contractual, and administrative matters. Application of the Guidelines does not depend on the practitioner’s typical areas of practice or expertise, but rather on the service provided in the case at hand. These Guidelines apply in all matters in which psychologists provide expertise to judicial, administrative, and educational systems including, but not limited to, examining or treating persons in anticipation of or subsequent to legal, contractual, administrative, proceedings; offering expert opinion about psychological issues in the form of amicus briefs or testimony to judicial, legislative or administrative bodies; acting in an adjudicative capacity; serving as a trial consultant or otherwise offering expertise to attorneys, the courts, or others; conducting research in connection with, or in the anticipation of, litigation; or involvement in educational activities of a forensic nature.

Revision History:

• SGFP Guidelines originally adopted in 1991 (PDF, 64KB)
• January 2006 Draft of the Revised SGFP Guidelines (PDF, 87KB)
• February 2008 Draft of the Revised SGFP Guidelines (PDF, 99KB)
• September 2008 Draft of the Revised SGFP Guidelines (PDF, 91KB)
• August 2010 Draft of the Revised SGFP Guidelines (PDF, 169KB)