PSY 474 Forensic Psychology

Fall 2015Mondays & Wednesdays 5:15-6:35 pm

HB Crouse Kitteridge

Instructor: Thomas F. Umina, Ph.D.E-mail address: tfumina@syr.eduOffice Hours: Available before class and other times upon request.

Required Text: Pozzulo, J., Bennell, C., Forth, A. (2012). Forensic Psychology , Pearson College Div.

NOTE: Additional readings maybe required and these will be posted on Blackboard at least 24 hours before class.

Course Objectives: This course is designed to cover the major areas of forensic psychology. The course begins with general consideration of the study of forensic psychology, including some of the major milestones in the history of the field. Topics covered during the semester include Police Psychology and the Psychology of Police Investigations, Deception, Eyewitness Testimony, Mental Health inside the New York State Correctional System, Risk Assessment, Forensic Assessment, and Psychopathy among other topics.

Course Structure: The format of the course will be mostly lecture, although discussion is encouraged. You are expected to complete assigned readings (both in the textbooks and corresponding PowerPoint presentation) and to be prepared to discuss them in class. Videos that reinforce important points may also be part of the course structure. The content of the videos may not be duplicate information to that of the text, therefore making class attendance imperative.

Grading: Your final grade in the course will be composed of six exams. Each exam will be 50 multiple-choice questions totaling 300 points. Therefore the maximum number of points earned in this course will be 300. NO Extra Credit is given in this class.

Attendance and Participation:Attendance and participation during class are expected of every student. It is an empirical fact that students who miss class as compared to those who attend class regularly tend to perform worse on exams. Attendance and participation are especially in critical in this course because this is the only way to determine which aspects of the textbooks and/or readings the instructor feels are most essential and therefore more likely

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to be covered on the exams. Please do NOT be late for class; it is disruptive for your classmates as well as for your instructor. As mentioned previously, the content of videos shown during class may not be duplicate information to that of the text, therefore this information would be missed if not in attendance.

Exams: A total of six exams will be administered during this course.Each exam will be worth 50 points, and will be comprised entirely of multiple-choice questions. The exams will make your final grade. NO Extra Credit is given in this class.

Absences from exam days must be documented in accordance with official university policies. If you fail to provide a documented reason for missing an exam, you will receive a score of 0 for that exam. At my discretion, I may allow make-ups for exams in the event of documented personal emergencies or documented significant medical illnesses/injuries. Make-ups, if permitted, may differ from the original exam in terms of the number of questions asked and/or question format. It is your responsibility to contact me (within three weekdays from the day you were absent) if you missed an exam.

The last/final exam will not be a cumulative final. Students are expected to be on time for exams. No student will be permitted to start an exam after the first person has finished his or her exam. Exam grades will be posted on Blackboard in approximately one week following the exam dates.

Grading: Final grades will be based on the following distribution:

% of Total Points Final Course Grade

93% and above = A90% to 92.9% = A-87% to 89.9% = B+83% to 86.9% = B80% to 82.9% = B-77% to 79.9% = C+73% to 76.9% = C68% to 72.9% = C-64.5% to 67.9% = Dbelow 62% = F

These letter grades reflect the following criteria:

A = Performance reflects superior understanding of course material; performance exceeds that of the class average by a substantial margin and indicates that the student is very well suited for further study in the field.

B = Performances reflects a solid understanding of course material; performance exceeds that of the class average by a modest degree and indicates that the student is most

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likely well-suited for further study in the field.

C = Performance reflects the class average and indicates that the students is minimally prepared for further study in the field.

D = Performance reflects minimal understanding and indicates a lack of readiness for further study in the field.

F = Work is clearly inadequate and unsatisfactory.

NOTE: It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of his/her standing in this class. Furthermore, if a student has to miss a class, it is up to that student to find out what material was covered and what announcements were made.

NOTE: There is no “extra credit” in this class.

NOTE: The instructor reserves the right to alter the syllabus at any time during the semester.

Communicating with the Instructor: The best way to communicate with me is via email (tfumina@syr.edu). Please include ‘PSY 474’ in the subject line of all email to me so I do not mistake your note for SPAM. I am also available before and after class to answer questions. Please do NOT use the Blackboard email system as I do not check it regularly.

Class Notes: Notes will be posted on Blackboard at least 12 hours before class. It is your responsibility to print them or to save them electronically ahead of time if you so desire. I will not be providing hard copies of the class notes. Please let me know if you have technical problems with the web page.

Please note that the posted lecture notes are merely rough outlines and should not be used as a substitute for class attendance, attentive note taking, and reading the assigned pages in the text. Moreover, the slides presented in class through elaboration will contain more information than the notes alone.

Religious Observations: SU’s religious observances policy, found at http://supolicies.syr.edu/emp_ben/religious_observance.htm, recognizes the diversity of faiths represented among the campus community and protects the rights of students, faculty, and staff to observe religious holy days according to their tradition. Under the policy, students are provided an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirements that may be missed due to a religious observance provided they notify their instructors before the end of the second week of classes. For fall and spring semesters, an online notification process is available through MySlice/Student Services/Enrollment/My Religious Observances from the first day of class until the end of the second week of classes.

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Academic Dishonesty: Any student who cheats on an examination or extra credit will receive a zero score for the exam or assignment. Cheating behaviors include using the same answers as a current or past student from this class, Internet, or other source without proper citation, and bringing prohibited devices (e.g., electronic dictionaries) into an exam. In addition to the zero score for the assignment, a report regarding the academic dishonesty will be filed with the appropriate Syracuse University officials. See Academic Integrity Expectations (section 1.0.1) for University language on this matter.

The Syracuse University Academic Integrity Policy holds students accountable for the integrity of the work they submit. Students should be familiar with the Policy and know that it is their responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to proper citation of sources in written work. The policy also governs the integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments as well as the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets and other verifications of participation in class activities. Serious sanctions can result from academic dishonesty. For more information and the complete policy, see http://academicintegrity.syr.edu

Accommodations for Students with Special Needs: Students who are in need of disability-related academic accommodations must register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS), 304 University Avenue, Room 309, 315-443-4498. Students with authorized disability-related accommodations should provide a current Accommodation Authorization Letter from ODS to the instructor and review those accommodations with the instructor. Accommodations, such as exam administration, are not provided retroactively; therefore, planning for accommodations as early as possible is necessary.

Course Schedule  

Date Topic Chapter

Monday 8/31/15 Overview and Introduction  

Wednesday 9/2/15 Introduction to Forensic Psychology Chapter 1

Monday 9/7/15 NO CLASS - Labor Day  

Wednesday 9/9/15 Police Psychology Chapter 2

Monday 9/14/15 Police Psychology / Police Investigations Chapter 3Wednesday 9/16/15 Psychology of Police Investigations Chapter 3

Monday 9/21/15 EXAM #1  Wednesday 9/23/15 Eyewitness Testimony Chapter 5

Monday 9/28/15 Child Victims and Witnesses Chapter 6Wednesday 9/30/15 Juries: Fact Finder Chapter 7

Monday 10/5/15 EXAM #2 Chapter 7

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Wednesday 10/7/15 The Role of Mental Illness in Court Chapter 8

Monday 10/12/15 N.Y.S. Correctional Mental Health System PowerpointWednesday 10/14/15 N.Y.S. Correctional MH System (Cont'd). Powerpoint

Monday 10/19/15 EXAM #3  Wednesday 10/21/15 NO CLASS  

Monday 10/26/15 Correctional M.H. Primer/Psychopathy Powerpoint/Chapter 11Wednesday 10/28/15 Psychopathy & PDs (Cont'd). Chapter 11

Monday 11/2/15 Sexual and Homicidal Offenders Chapter 14

Wednesday 11/4/15 EXAM #4

Monday 11/9/15 Sentencing/Practice and Public Opinion Chapter 9Wednesday 11/11/15 Juvenile Delinquency Chapter 12

Monday 11/16/15 Intimate Partner Violence Chapter 13Wednesday 11/18/15 EXAM # 5 Chapter 13

Monday 11/23/15 NO CLASS - Thanksgiving Break Wednesday 11/25/15 NO CLASS - Thanksgiving Break

Monday 11/30/15 Deception and Clinical Assessment Chapter 4Wednesday 12/2/15

Deception/C.A. (Con'td) & Risk Assessment Chapter 4 & C 10

Monday 12/7/15 Risk Assessment (Con'td) Chapter 10

Wednesday 12/9/15 EXAM #6