Perceptions of the Everyday Work of Psychologists in the Judiciary of Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Legal Psychology is a recognized specialty within Psychology in Brazil, recognized by the Federal Council of Psychology since 2000, shaped by different demands and challenges. With that in mind, the aim of this paper is to reflect on the perceptions of forensic psychologists working within the Judiciary Branch of Rio Grande do Sul state on their professional practices and everyday work routine. To this end, we carried out a qualitative research with eleven forensic psychologists from the Justice Court of Rio Grande do Sul. The research was conducted by semi-structured interviews and the data analysis was done through thematic analysis. The main results point to an everyday work routine filled with demands that can be perceived as complex. Moreover, the professionals interviewed affirm the perception of recognition by the Legal Professionals in relation to their work, at the same time as they report an overload of demands and a small number of professionals working in the state's Justice Court. Thus, the relevance of Psychology professionals within the judicial system is highlighted, in the sense of helping with subjective comprehension of legal demands.