PSYCHOLOGY AND THE LAW
FALL 2005
Instructor: Charlene Bonner Psy.D., M.Ed., LADCI
Class Time: Tuesdays 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. or by appointment
E-mail: (preferred) bonnercmb@yahoo.com cbonner@anselm.edu
* Please note that I am only on campus on Tuesdays
Required Text: Bartol, C.R. & Bartol, A.M. (2004). Psychology and Law: Theory, research, and application. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Course Description and Goals: This course is designed to bring students an understanding of the role of psychology in the legal system.
Students will be expected to have a general understanding of:
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How psychology and the law intersect
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The role of a forensic psychologist
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Assessment of psychopathology within the court system
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Criminal responsibility and competency issues
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Civil Commitment issues
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Special topics covered in class
In an effort to maximize your learning experience, you are expected to attend all lectures and complete all reading assignments. Supplemental readings will also be assigned to accompany specific topics. Given time limitations, pertinent information gained in your text, may not be covered in class lectures.
There will be a series of films on special topics shown in class. You will be responsible for specific information provided in each film.
Assignments: There will be a midterm exam and a cumulative final. The format of each exam will be discussed prior to the exam date. In addition to the exams, there will be one oral report. You may work in groups of three on this report. The topics will be discussed in class. There may also be a series of announced quizzes. Each quiz will cover specific material covered in class.
Summary of Grading:
Exam I - Midterm - 30%
Exam II - Final - 35%
Oral Report - 20%
Quizzes - 10%
Participation - 5%
Assignment Schedule
| Tuesday August 23 |
Introduction to Course |
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| Tuesday August 29 |
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Chapter I and IIISpecial Topic: FilmThe Mental Health Dilemma Organization of CourtsRole of PsychologistLandmark casesBurden of proofTypes of Pleas
Tuesday Sept. 6 Chapter II Special Topic: FilmUntying The Strait Jacket Use of Psychological Assessments Understanding psychopathology
Tuesday Sept. 13 Chapter IVFilm: Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Competency / Criminal Responsibility
Tuesday Sept. 20 Chapter IV Cont.Film: A Crime of InsanityChapter V Insanity DefenseCivil Commitment
Tuesday Sept. 27 Chapter XII Film: Teenagers Under the Gun Juvenile Delinquency
Tuesday Oct. 4 Chapter XII Cont.Film: Kid Crime Juvenile Delinquency
Tuesday Oct. 18 Chapter XII Cont.Film: Kids Behind Bars Juvenile Delinquency
Tuesday Oct. 25 Midterm
Tuesday Nov. 1 Chapter XIIIFilm: Child Sex Scandal Psychology of Criminal Behavior:Sexual offensesParaphilias
Tuesday Nov. 8 Chapter XIIIFilm: Hunt for a serial arsonist Arson / Firesetters
Tuesday Nov. 15 Chapter XIIIFilm: Serial KillersOral Reports Understanding Sociopathy: The Psychopath
Tuesday Nov. 22 Chapter VI Oral Reports Psychology of the Jury
Tuesday Nov. 29 Special Topic: Film: Munchausen By ProxyOral Reports Child Abuse
Tuesday Dec. 6 Oral Reports TBA
Tuesday Dec. 13 Final Exam
* Please note that the syllabus is subject to change. All changes will be discussed in class.
ORAL REPORT
Your topic must be related to forensic psychology. Each group will have a maximum of 45 minutes to present their topic, followed by a class discussion. You are free to use any method of conveying the information: IE: film, lecture, class involvement, guest speakers etc. Each group must clear their topic and general presentation plan with me.
Possible Topics for Oral Report:
1. Research the Insanity Defense in more depth than presented in class. Use a high profile case to illustrate NGRI. Discuss the controversies with this defense. Discuss what typically happens to an individual who presents an NGRI defense.
2. Research the life of a serial killer. Discuss your theory on why this person may have become a serial killer. IE: Do you believe he/she was biologically wired this way? Did something happen to the individual that may have strongly influenced his/her behavior? Do he/she have a major mental illness? Discuss how you think the legal system should treat the individual.
3. Research the prevalence of individuals who are incarcerated with major mental illness. Discuss how such individual's function within the prison system.
4. Research specific criminal populations. IE: Women and crime. What are the general characteristics of this population? How does the system treat this population differently than other populations?
5. Research the mind of a suicide bomber. What is the history of suicide by homicide? Is there a profile that can be made for this population?
6. Research Battered Women's Syndrome: Self-Defense and Duress. How does the court consider this syndrome? What typically happens to women who have raised this as a defense in criminal matters?
7. Research violent crime among hate groups: IE: Neo-Nazi groups, Religious extremist groups, Gangs etc. Discuss the group process, code of conduct, psychology of the group etc. Discuss what type of individual is likely to join such a group. Discuss the typical life course of such a group member.
8. Research the history of Forensic Mental Health Institutions. What type of population is incarcerated in such institutions? What, if any, treatment happens in such institutions? How are inmates released from such institutions?
9. Research the effects of "bullying" on a child. Are there any trends between bullying and the history of school shootings?
10. Research the crime of Arson. Discuss high profile cases of serial arsonists. What type of personality profile did the arsonist have? Are there any correlations between trauma and arson?