STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      Upon completion of this course, the student should demonstrate knowledge and/or skill in the following areas:

         A.      Understanding the major perspectives in the field of forensic psychology and how to ethically apply theory and scientific method to the study of basic and applied research questions.

         B.      Familiarity with the numerous career opportunities in forensic psychology and the requisite preparation for each.

         C.      Understanding the major psychological issues and applications in hiring, training and counseling law enforcement personnel.

         D.      Understanding the major theories and practices of forensic psychology as applied to investigating crime.

         E.      Understanding the major theories of the development of habitual criminal behavior and how these theories may be applied.

         F.      Understanding the nature of, and factors associated with the perpetrators of, violence and intimidation.

         G.      Understanding research and applications for the rehabilitation of offenders and for prevention.

         H.      Understanding the nature of, and factors associated with the perpetrators of, sexual assault. Understanding research and applications for the rehabilitation of offenders and for prevention.

         I.      Understanding current research regarding the effects of various types of crime on its victim`s psychology and the application of research to treatment.

         J.      Understanding the types and dynamics of family violence and the roles of forensic psychology experts in family violence.

         K.      Understanding the current practices and issues surrounding the role of forensic psychology specialists in consulting and testifying in the courts, both civil and criminal.

         L.      Understanding the state of correctional institutions in the United States today. Understanding research on the management of correctional institutions and the rehabilitation of offenders and how it can be applied.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      Police psychology: Issues in hiring and assessing officers, preventing corruption, stress management specific for police stress, and numerous special policing circumstances such as excessive force, dealing with the mentally disordered, hostage situations and suicide.

 II.     Investigative psychology:  Profiling, risk factors and prediction, psychological autopsy, polygraph, hypnosis, lineups, issues in identifying offenders (such as bias).

 III.    Criminal psychology: The development of habitual offenders, juvenile offenders, school violence, criminal psychopaths.

 IV.     Psychology of violence and intimidation:  Data and demographics, causes, effects of violent media and video games, criminal homicide, serial killers, workplace violence, hate crimes and stalking including cyberstalking.

 V.      Psychology of sexual assault:  Demographics and typologies of offenders, pedophilia, juvenile sex offenders, recidivism and assessment.

 VI.     Victimology and victim services:  Legal rights of victims, victimization data, psychological effects, treatments.

 VII.    Family violence, abuse and victimization:  Intimate partner violence, child abuse, repressed or recovered memory issues, child abduction, elder abuse and neglect.

 VIII.   Psychology and the Courts:  Consulting and testifying, how court procedures work. A chapter on both criminal and civil court is included.

 IX.     Correctional Psychology:  Overview of correctional facilities, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation models, obstacles to treatment, juvenile corrections.