Forensic psychology in legal protection and identification of child abuse: a systematic review

Abstract

Child abuse is a global problem that has serious consequences for children's emotional, social, and psychological development. In this context, forensic psychology plays a fundamental role in detecting signs of abuse early and offering technical resources to provide legal protection to victims. The current systematic review aims to synthesize the primary contributions of forensic psychology to the identification, evaluation, and judicial support of children in vulnerable situations. To this end, it analyzes the most recent scientific literature. The results highlight the importance of specialized forensic interviews, psychological forensics, and the application of validated psychometric tools to ensure objective and reliable evidence in judicial proceedings. Challenges associated with professional training, biases in assessment, and the demand for standardized protocols that reinforce the protection of children's rights are also identified. In addition to being a fundamental resource for creating comprehensive public protection policies, forensic psychology is an important tool in the secondary prevention of child abuse and in the validation of evidence during judicial proceedings.

Keywords: Forensic psychology; child abuse; legal protection.