COGNITIVE BIAS IN FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS: IMPLICATIONS, CHALLENGES, AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES

Abstract

Forensic psychological evaluations are critical in informing legal decisions, including criminal responsibility, risk assessments, competency determinations, and civil disputes such as child custody. However, these evaluations are susceptible to cognitive biases, systematic errors in judgment that can compromise the fairness, accuracy, and reliability of assessments. This paper reviews the types of cognitive bias that commonly influence forensic evaluators, examines their impact on legal outcomes, and discusses evidence-based strategies to mitigate their effects. Key biases include confirmation bias, anchoring, availability heuristic, overconfidence, and cultural or racial biases. Mitigation strategies such as structured professional judgment, blind assessment procedures, checklists, ongoing training, and AI-assisted decision support are explored. The paper also highlights ethical and legal considerations and provides recommendations for future research and practice. The findings emphasize that awareness, structured methods, and technological support are essential to maintaining the integrity of forensic psychological evaluations.