Objectivity, social justice, and ethics in forensic psychology

This article examines the viability of aspiring to a concept of objectivity that is defined by neutrality and apoliticism in psychological practice and research, with a focus on forensic psychology, and it argues that aspiring to this version of objectivity is both unrealistic and harmful. This article discusses attitudes toward social justice work in psychology, explores the extent to which the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct integrates social justice, and applies proposed expansions to the APA Ethics Code from Hailes and colleagues to forensic psychology. To conclude, it explores suggestions for integrating social justice considerations into the practice of forensic psychology while still adhering to the APA Ethics Code.