HISTÓRIA DA PSICOLOGIA JURÍDICA E SUAS INTERSEÇÕES COM O SISTEMA PENAL

Legal psychology is an area of applied psychology that analyzes the interactions between law and human behavior, focusing on the relationship between the criminal system and the individuals who operate within it. Its historical evolution is deeply linked to the need to understand criminal behavior and provide support for the reintegration of prisoners into society. In the context of the criminal system, legal psychology operates on several fronts, such as the psychological assessment of defendants, monitoring of inmates and collaboration with the justice system in the application of sentences and socio-educational measures. The development of this discipline took place mainly from the second half of the 20th century, when human sciences began to be more valued in understanding crime and intervening with those who commit it. Over the last few decades, the role of the psychologist in the prison environment has been consolidated, carrying out diagnoses on the mental health of inmates, assessing risks and proposing strategies to reduce criminal recidivism. By intersecting with the criminal system, legal psychology seeks to promote restorative justice and provide elements for a more effective rehabilitation of convicts. In this way, the knowledge produced by this area contributes significantly to the promotion of more humanized and effective justice, benefiting both the justice system and society as a whole.