The Psychology of Law

"Despite notable contributions in eyewitness identification, most legal research done by psychologists has had a minimal impact on law and public policy in the United States. In fact, much psycholegal research is marred by systemic flaws. In this carefully reasoned and compelling text, Sales and Krauss explain how psychologists have often failed to understand the law and the context in which it operates. Even subtle misunderstandings about the nature of courtroom testimony or the application of different legal statutes across different jurisdictions, they argue, can produce research that fails to examine real-world phenomena. To combat this, the authors present a road map for how criminal justice and forensic researchers can use research to describe, explain, predict, and provide solutions for legal situations and have a real impact on judges, juries, and the legal profession at large"--Unedited summary from book cover.