Abstract :
[en] In countries where Justice is regulated by the Statute Law (as opposed to Common Law) criminal cases are first investigated by a Judge whose task is to gather all elements of evidence and defence before the case is submitted to the Court. Expert reports are ordered by the investigative Judge during that preliminary phase. The usual mission entrusted psychologists is to assess the personality of the accused, while respecting their presumed innocence, a legal right retained until adjudication. Thus, the assessment of the personality of the accused cannot take into account the offense and cannot aim at explaining it. In fact, we find that often, and sometimes at the (illegal) request of the judge, these requirements are not met. This type of professional misconduct can have serious consequences and raise many legal, psychological and ethical issues.
[fr] Au pénal, la mission principale requise des experts psychologues est l’évaluation de la personnalité de l’inculpé, dans le respect de son droit à la présomption d’innocence : l’acte incriminant ne peut lui être attribué avant que le jugement n’en ait décidé. Donc, l’analyse de la personnalité de l’inculpé ne peut inclure ni expliquer l’acte incriminant.
Dans les faits, on constate que souvent, et parfois à la demande (illégale) du juge, ces exigences ne sont pas respectées. Ce type de conduite professionnelle fautive peut avoir de graves conséquences et soulève beaucoup de questions juridiques, psychologiques et éthiques.
Disciplines :
Law, criminology & political science: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Social & behavioral sciences, psychology: Multidisciplinary, general & others
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