Criminal PsychologyCriminal Psychology

Chapter 1Chapter 1

TalbotTalbot

Kellogg Community CollegeKellogg Community College

What is Forensic Psychology?What is Forensic Psychology?

Text Book Definition:Text Book Definition: Any application of ___________research, Any application of ___________research,

methods, theory, and practice to a task methods, theory, and practice to a task faced by the _____ system.faced by the _____ system.

State of Michigan’s Definition: diagnostic State of Michigan’s Definition: diagnostic services provided to the criminal justice services provided to the criminal justice system and psychiatric treatment for system and psychiatric treatment for criminal defendants adjudicated criminal defendants adjudicated incompetent to stand trial and/or acquitted incompetent to stand trial and/or acquitted by reason of insanity.by reason of insanity.

Benefits for Michigan?Benefits for Michigan?

Beyond a specialty designationBeyond a specialty designation Licensing & credentialingLicensing & credentialing Reduces the “hired gun” influenceReduces the “hired gun” influence Increases in validity and reliability Increases in validity and reliability

Detriments?Detriments?

What is Criminal Psychology? What is Criminal Psychology?

Any application of Any application of ____________research, methods, ____________research, methods, theory, as it pertains to ___________. theory, as it pertains to ___________.

The scientific study of criminal The scientific study of criminal behavior, ___________, and __________.behavior, ___________, and __________.

"the branch of psychology which "the branch of psychology which investigates the psychology of crime investigates the psychology of crime with particular reference to the with particular reference to the personality factors of the criminal."personality factors of the criminal."

History of Forensic/ Criminal History of Forensic/ Criminal ΨΨ

Cesare Lombroso (1836 – 1909) – Cesare Lombroso (1836 – 1909) – Father of modern criminology.Father of modern criminology.

William Healy (1899) – causes of William Healy (1899) – causes of juvenile delinquency.juvenile delinquency.

Grace M. Ferdinand (1909).Grace M. Ferdinand (1909). Sigmund Freud (Late 1800 – early Sigmund Freud (Late 1800 – early

1900)1900)

““Experimental Psychology has reached Experimental Psychology has reached a stage at which it seems natural and a stage at which it seems natural and sound to give attention to its possible sound to give attention to its possible service for the practical needs of life.”service for the practical needs of life.” On the Witness StandOn the Witness Stand

1909 –1909 –Hugo MHugo Müünsterbergnsterberg

Alfred Binet, Hermann Ebbinghaus, Alfred Binet, Hermann Ebbinghaus, William SternWilliam Stern

Where now?Where now?

ValuesValues

Whose?Whose? Psychology’sPsychology’s Law Enforcement’sLaw Enforcement’s Lawyer’sLawyer’s Judge’sJudge’s Society’sSociety’s

TensionsTensions

Stare Decisis v. innovationStare Decisis v. innovation Adversarial v. advocateAdversarial v. advocate Prescriptive v. descriptivePrescriptive v. descriptive Absolutes v. probabilitiesAbsolutes v. probabilities Intuition/ Anecdotal v. empiricalIntuition/ Anecdotal v. empirical

TruthTruth

Commonality?Commonality? Psychology’s DefinitionPsychology’s Definition Legal Field’s DefinitionLegal Field’s Definition

Where Next?Where Next?

Issues of memory and eye-witness testimony.Issues of memory and eye-witness testimony. Determination of competence and Determination of competence and

responsibility.responsibility. Expert witnessExpert witness Fitness for DutyFitness for Duty ConsultantConsultant ResearcherResearcher Criminal ProfilingCriminal Profiling Mediator/ NegotiatorMediator/ Negotiator