Definition
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the disciplined integration of three sources of information in professional decision-making: the best available research evidence, the practitioner's clinical expertise, and the characteristics and preferences of the client or case. The term originated in medicine in the 1990s and has been imported into psychology, social work, education, and policing as a quality standard.
In forensic psychology, EBP means decisions about assessment tools, treatment programmes, interview techniques, and risk management should rest on demonstrated empirical support — not tradition, charisma, or marketing claims. Where evidence is weak or absent, practitioners should say so and proceed cautiously, not invent confidence they cannot defend.
Why it matters
Where it shows up
EBP shapes accreditation of offender programmes, admissibility of expert testimony, design of national risk-assessment protocols, and the curriculum of forensic-psychology training. National bodies (APA, BPS) publish guidance on what 'evidence-based' means in specific applied domains.