Criminal cases
Peter Hodgkinson's experience in forensic psychology involved him initially in provision of reports to the parole board on serious offenders.
He then regularly began to provide reports on offenders (generally violent and sexual offences) for defence solicitors for use both at trial and for sentencing. In a number of cases, Peter has given evidence in court.
An increasing number of cases involve assessment of intellectual ability and suggestibility.
Recent cases:
A young man stabbed another boy to death who broke into the house where he was spending the evening and attacked him. He could remember the first two stab wounds he made, but not the succeeding eight. Was there a psychological reason for this? What level of responsibility did he bear?
A young man of limited intellectual ability confessed to an arson attack. He later withdrew his confession. Had he demonstrated suggestibility in the police interview?
A young Asian man rammed a vehicle in which his sister was being driven by a man with whom she was living of whom her family deeply disapproved. What was his state of mind?
A young Jamaican man was manipulated by "yardie" gangsters into demanding money from someone. Was his experience of "yardie" crime in Jamaica and the implied threat to his wife and family a sufficient reason for him to bow to pressure?
A father was charged with sexually interfering with his daughter. He admitted the offences. How had these come to occur? What was the likelihood of re-offending?
A young man was charged with sexually interfering with his girlfriend's daughter. He denied the offence. He was thought to be of low intelligence. Was this related either to the offence or his denial?
Civil cases
Peter has also provided reports where appropriate in some civil matters, sometimes at the request of social services departments. These have often been where an offender's past behaviour impinges on current circumstances i.e. risk assessment.
