Psychology of Crime Self-Paced

Course Essential Questions

• How do the fields of Law and Psychology work together to promote the well-being of both society and the individual?
• How does understanding human behavior contribute to a more safe and equitable society?
• What ethical conflicts arise with the collaboration of the legal and psychology fields?
• How does the work of Psychologists contribute to reform in the Criminal Justice System?

Course Learning Objectives

• Explain the role that forensic psychologists play in the legal system.
• Compare the goals of the legal and psychology fields and assess the ethical considerations when those goals conflict.
• Apply standards of psychology to case studies in order to render legal decisions.
• Evaluate policy for the use of psychology practices in the legal system.
• Explain how the work of psychologists protects the legal and civil rights of citizens.

Unit 1: Introduction to Forensic Psychology (Topics 1 & 2)

Unit Level Essential Questions

• What is forensic psychology?
• What roles do forensic psychologists play in the legal system?

Topic 1: Defining Forensic Psychology

• Examine the evolution of forensic psychology including skills and education needed for the profession.
• Identify the general roles taken by forensic psychologists in the civil and criminal courts
• Evaluate differences in the goals of the legal and psychology professions.
• Describe the impact of media on knowledge of forensic psychology.

Topic 2: Roles of Forensic Psychologists

• Identify areas of expertise in Forensic Psychology.
• Apply Ethical code and qualification standards for expert witness testimony to a case study.
• Evaluate case studies using standards of forensic psychology.
• Examine the ethics of forensic psychologist as a "hired gun."

Unit 2: Assessment and Evaluation (Topics 3-5)

• How does expertise in mental illness provide value to criminal and civil cases?
• How can an individual's ability to function in everyday life be challenged in the legal system?

Topic 3: Legal Competencies

• Identify mental competencies that can be challenged in the legal system.
• Apply competency standards to case studies.
• Examine use of mandatory restoration of competency.
• Evaluate the use of civil commitment as an area where the goals of law and psychology would conflict.

Topic 4: Insanity and Other Defenses

• Analyze and apply standards of insanity defense to case study
• Evaluate the plausibility of defenses to crime.
• Examine the execution of those with mental impairments.

Topic 5: Psychological Damages

• Define psychological damages and identify categories of injury.
• Identify cases in which psychologists determine psychological damages.
• Apply standards for psychological damages in case studies

Unit 2: The Investigative Process (Topics 6-8)

Unit Level Essential Question

• How can understanding human behavior contribute to the investigative process?

Topic 6: Lie Detection and Eyewitness Testimony

• Distinguish myths and facts about lie detection methods.
• Evaluate human methods to identify lie detection.
• Analyze factors that can impact memory.
• Compare techniques for eyewitness identification and recommend improvements.

Topic 7: Interrogations, Negotiations, and Confessions

• Identify Interrogation techniques.
• Explain Supreme Court rulings on methods to obtain confessions.
• Analyze reasons for false confessions
• Apply Negotiation standards to case studies.

Topic 8: Criminal Profiling

• Identify and apply elements of criminal profiling.
• Analyze and apply criminal motivation categories to case studies.
• Distinguish psychopath and sociopath and apply psychopath checklist to a case study.
• Evaluate the validity of profiling as a method of identifying suspects.

Unit 4: Treatment of Offenders and Victims (Topics 9 & 10)

Unit Level Essential Questions

• How can forensic psychologists assist in the rehabilitation of offenders?
• In what ways can forensic psychologists help victims of crime?

Topic 9: Treatment of Offenders

• Compare the goals of legal versus therapeutic treatment
• Explain the role of psychologists in the treatment of offenders
• Assess the use of specialized treatments and courts.
• Examine funding levels for treatment of criminal offenders

Topic 10: Victim Advocacy

• Identify the harmful effects of criminal victimization
• Explain the goals of Victim Advocate programs
• Identify cause of death using a psychological autopsy
• Examine the legal protections of criminals versus rights of victims

Unit 5: Mitigating Individual and Societal Harm (Topics 11-15)

Unit Level Essential Question:

• How can forensic psychologists contribute to the preservation of civil and human rights?

Topic 11: Juvenile Issues

• Apply standards for waiving juveniles to adult court
• Examine trends in school violence and recommend solutions
• Construct a recommendation for a child custody case
• Justify the outcome of an emancipation of a minor case study
• Examine the use of life sentences for juveniles

Topic 12: Group Influence

• Compare and contrast why people join terror groups, gangs and cult.
• Conduct primary and secondary research on impact of terror events on victims
• Analyze current trends on juvenile gangs
• Examine stereotypes and other factors associated with terror groups, gangs and cults that challenge their ability to leave those groups.
• Choose a topic for the final project.

Topic 13: Human Rights

• Analyze and apply standards for political asylum to case study
• Examine psychological effects of marginalized groups facing discrimination
• Analyze current trends in Human Trafficking
• Examine immigration policies as they relate to political asylum

Topic 14: Impact of Technology

• Research prevalence and impact of online bullying
• Examine the effects of identity theft and advise prevention strategies
• Evaluate the ethics of using neuromarketing to identify consumer patterns
• Construct a project that applies course concepts to identified case study.

Topic 15: Careers in Forensic Psychology

• Apply areas of forensic psychology to personal interests and skills
• Evaluate criminal cases and apply elements of criminal motivation, psychopathy and forensic psychology.
• Evaluate the role of psychologists in criminal cases.