Forensic Psychology and the Criminal Justice System May 2018 Psychology 3364 May 17 th -June 1 st, 2018 4:30-8:30pm TBD cell: 214-641-9003 (prefer text) Jill Johansson-Love, Ph.D. email: jjohanssonlo@mail.smu.edu Office Hours (by appt.) Dr. Love is a clinically trained forensic psychologist who works fulltime as an area manager with Dallas County Community Supervision and Corrections Department. She has worked and trained in a variety of forensic settings including forensic psychiatric hospitals, private practice, jails, and prisons. Prerequisites PSYC 1300 and one additional Psychology course, or instructor approval. Textbook and Required Reading Introduction to Forensic Psychology : Research and Application 5 th edition (Bartol & Bartol, 2018) Selected Articles in Forensic Psychology (Download from Blackboard) Examination of the interface between psychology and the legal system, focusing on the role of mental health experts in criminal trials and civil disputes. Lectures will cover a broad range of issues regarding the role of forensic psychologists in criminal (and some civil) proceedings for both adults and juveniles. The course will include observation assignment of felony court hearings at Frank Crowley Court House. Student Learning Objectives Students will, on a test, be able to identify and describe the various roles forensic psychologists play in the resolution of criminal and civil matters in legal proceedings in correctional, hospital, and community settings. Students will, on a test, be able to identify, describe, and critically discuss basic principles forensic psychologists use in assessment and consultation to answer specific questions posed in criminal and civil proceedings. For example, students will be able to recognize and apply basic principles involved evaluating a person to determine if he or she is competent to stand trial. Students will, on a test, be able to discuss, identify, and describe the research on violent offenders, and the hallmarks of psychopathy Students should be able to provide firsthand accounts of the application of forensic psychology and the judicial process in criminal cases through observations of court proceedings and a meeting (Q & A) with a district judge, DPD, and other community agencies involved in the various hearings.
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to define forensic psychology and discuss the application of forensic psychology in the civil and criminal justice system. They will also have a good understanding of the felony court process for persons charged with a crime. Additionally, the students will learn and examine how psychology is involved in working with in various areas of the system including police, probation, prison and parole. Grades will be based on the following criteria: A = 90 to 100 D = 60 to 69 B = 80 to 89 F = 0 to 59 C = 70 to 79 Practical Experience (15% of your grade) This assignment will include a focus on sentencing for felony cases in Texas. You should observe sentencing for about 10 plea bargains or describe observing a trial at the Frank Crowley Courthouse 133 North Riverfront Blvd. Make sure you note the gender, ethnicity, age of the clients, the charge and circumstances of the cases, and the sentence for each case. If you observe arguments by either side in the cases during the sentencing phase of a trial or while observing open pleas and sentencing before judges, you should note those arguments. The sentencing may occur in the sentencing phase of a trial by a jury or in an open plea in front of a judge. Your assignment will include the following: You will write a summary for each case you observe, including the court or judge, date, and time of the observation or work this information into the text if you only observed one trial and not multiple plea hearings. You will write a 6-page paper summarizing the cases and discussing your observation of difference or similarities in sentences by gender, age, ethnicity, and for similar offenses. You should also discuss your view of fairness in the sentence delivered given the charge and circumstances of the offense. You may also include a discussion of the justification provided by each side for the case if you observed the arguments. Finally, include a discussion of what you expected to observe with regard to sentencing and what you learned during your observations. The paper should be in APA format and it should be 6 complete pages in length, double spaced with one inch margins. You will turn in both your summary sheet for each case and your paper on the due date. Attendance (5%) Sign in when you attend class to get the credit. Class attendance is required for undergraduates and will be monitored through roll call.
Three quizzes (50% total) 25% each You will have three quizzes during the course. The three quizzes will include material from class lectures and assigned reading. You will be able to drop the lowest grade quiz. Quizzes will be Multiple Choice. Quiz 1 Quiz 2 Quiz 3 Textbook Chapters 1, 2, 3 & Article 1 Textbook Chapter 4, 5 & guest lecture Textbook Chapter 7, 8, 9 Cumulative Exam (30% of your grade). Your final will be cumulative. The exam will include material from all of your lecture notes and reading assignments. You must be familiar with all of your notes and reading assignments to do well on the cumulative exam. Your exam will include fill in the blank, multiple choice, true/false. Cumulative Final Exam Textbook Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, & 12 & guest lecture If a student is having difficulties completing any of the class components, please communicate with the professor as soon as possible as any potential alternative will not be given during the last week of class. All grades are final. Professional Dress and Behavior If you choose to attend court proceedings to complete the practical portion of the course, it is important for you to dress and act professionally when you attend court. Please do not wear shorts, sundresses, sandals, flip flops, or tank tops to court. Make SURE to leave all pagers/cell phones in your car or make SURE they are silent when you attend court. The judges will take your cell phones if they ring in the courtroom and they will not be returned to you. Classroom Etiquette If you arrive late, take your seat close to the door, quietly. Late arrivals will be noted when they exceed 15 minutes and an explanation should be provided. If you need to leave class early give a valid reason prior to class and quietly leave. Laptop use is not allowed as attention should be focused on the lecture and students can be called upon to answer questions. Cellphones are not allowed during class and ringers should have been turned off. If laptops or phones are used for other purposes, than described above, during lecture they may be individually banned. If you eat or drink in class please clean up after yourself.
Make sure you are familiar with the following University Policies: Academic Integrity Cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course and will be dealt with according to the University's Honor Code. As stated by the Honor Council, "Permitting others to prepare their work, using published or unpublished summaries as a substitute for studying required materials, or giving or receiving unauthorized assistance in the preparation of work to be submitted are directly contrary to the honest process of learning." A violation of the Code will result in an F for the course. In addition, the student may also be taken before the Honor Council. If you are unclear about this please see the instructor immediately. Additionally, requesting special treatment in the form of additional extra credit opportunities not offered on the syllabus is considered an ethical violation. Finally, asking the instructor to alter your grade from the grade you earned will be treated as an honor code violation and will be reported to the Dean of Students as such. Disability Accommodations: Students needing academic accommodations for a disability must first register with Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies (DASS). Students can call 214-768-1470 or visit http://www.smu.edu/provost/alec/dass to begin the process. Once registered, students should then schedule an appointment with the professor as early in the semester as possible, present a DASS Accommodation Letter, and make appropriate arrangements. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive and require advance notice to implement. Religious Observance: Religiously observant students wishing to be absent on holidays that require missing class should notify their professors in writing at the beginning of the semester, and should discuss with them, in advance, acceptable ways of making up any work missed because of the absence. (See University Policy No. 1.9.) Excused Absences for University Extracurricular Activities: Students participating in an officially sanctioned, scheduled University extracurricular activity should be given the opportunity to make up class assignments or other graded assignments missed as a result of their participation. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements with the instructor prior to any missed scheduled examination or other missed assignment for making up the work. (University Undergraduate Catalogue) In accordance with Texas Senate Bill 11, also known as the campus carry law, following consultation with entire University community SMU determined to remain a weapons-free campus. Specifically, SMU prohibits possession of weapons (either openly or in a concealed manner) on campus. For more information, please see: http://www.smu.edu/businessfinance/police/weapons_policy.
Day Date Time Location Lecture Th 5/17 4:30P.M. SMU Introduction to the Course- What is Forensic Psychology? Ch. 1-Introduction to Forensic psychology Fri 5/18 4:30P.M. SMU Ch. 2-Police and Investigative Psychology Ch. 3-Psyhcology of Investigations Mon 5/21 4:30P.M. SMU Quiz 1 followed by Ch. 4-Consulting and Testifying Tue 5/22 4:30 P.M. SMU Ch.5 Consulting with Criminal Courts Wen 5/23 Daytime Frank Crowley Observe court during the day to write the paper and Judge guest lecturer in court room at 4pm Court House Thu 5/24 4:30P.M. SMU Quiz 2 followed by Ch. 7-Development of Delinquent Behavior and Criminal Behavior Fri 5/25 4:30P.M. SMU Ch. 8-Psychology of Violence and Intimidation & Ch. 9-Psychology of Sexual Assault Tue 5/29 4:30P.M. SMU Quiz 3 followed by Ch. 10-Forensic Psychology and the Victims of Crime and other wrongs Wen 5/30 4:30P.M. SMU Ch. 11-Family Violence and Child Victimization Thu 5/31 4:30P.M. SMU Ch. 12-Correctional Psychology Fri 6/1 4:30P.M. SMU Class review and Final and turning in the papers