Introduction to Forensic Psychology By Bruce A. Arrigo :: Forensic psychology is a popular field. Its allure, in part fueled by sensationalized and glamorized media images, features psychologists tracking down serial killers, treating sexual psychopaths, and studying the criminal mind. Indeed, as a teacher, I see many of my students expressing considerable enthusiasm for careers as “profilers” engaged in the behavioral science pursuit of crime scene analyses. While there is certainly a need for trained specialists in this domain of forensics, the field itself is considerably more vast.

The expanse of the field is rooted in its sundry models of instruction and practice. Clinical practitioners emphasize the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of different civil and criminal forensic populations. Law psychology practitioners emphasize the development of the legally trained specialist whose overlapping skills in courtroom processes and human behavior make for a formidable expert in the treatment and policy arenas.

Law—psychology—justice practitioners emphasize the development of a cross-trained specialist whose integrative knowledge base in psychology, criminology, organizational analysis, policy studies, and law readies the person for the increasing demands of a multifaceted profession. If appropriately prepared, this specialist moves skillfully among those in the psychotherapeutic, management, and advocacy communities.

Clearly, each of these models includes a unique set of strengths and limitations. What each of these approaches shares, however, is that its collective vision of forensic psychology is not so narrowly defined or so unidimensionally depicted as is the impression created for us by the popular media. Much of what forensic experts do is not stylish or seductive. Indeed, if anything, much of the work is often tedious and technical. This is not the same as suggesting that the contributions of forensic psychologists are insignificant or trivial to society. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Introduction to Forensic Psychology By Bruce A. Arrigo

Forensic psychology: Table of Content

1. Adult Forensics
Overview 3
Power, Authority, and Discretionary Decision Making 4
Use of Force 8
Evidence Tampering 12
Adult Criminal Profiling 17
Coerced Confessions 23
2. Juvenile Forensics
Overview 31
Dealing with Troubled Youths 32
Policing Juvenile Gangs 39
Juveniles’ Attitudes toward the Police 43
Adolescent Female Prostitutes: Criminals or Victims? 48
3. Civil Forensics
Overview 55
Public Attitudes toward Police 56
Exploring the Police Personality 61
Police and the Mentally 111 68
Community Policing: Trendy or Effective? 72
Police Training: Communication Skills and
Conflict Resolution 76
Policing Minority Populations 82
4. Family Forensics
Overview 89
Police as Mediators in Domestic Disputes 90
Police Stress 95
Police Work and Family Stress 103
Homosexual Police Officers 108
5. Adult Forensics
Overview 115
Plea Bargaining 117
Competency to Stand Trial 121
Jury Selection 124
Psychological Tests and Forensic Assessment Instruments
in the Courtroom 127
Risk Assessment 132
Forensic Verdicts or Psychiatric Justice: NGRI and GBMI 136
6. Juvenile Forensics
Overview 141
Defining the Age of Criminal Responsibility 142
Children/Juveniles and the Reliability of Their Courtroom Testimony 148
Best Interests of the Child Doctrine 152
Sentencing: Psychology of Juvenile Rehabilitation 156
7. Civil Forensics
Overview 161
Defining Mental Illness 163
Right to Refuse Treatment 168
Least Restrictive Alternative Doctrine 172
Duty to Inform vs Client Confidentiality 177
Victim Compensation Programs 181
Victim-Offender Mediation 186
8. Family Forensics
Overview 195
Family Trauma and the Cycle of Crime 197
Family Violence: Homicide 200
Impact of Mental Health Law Doctrines on Families: Paternalism
and Parens Patriae 206
Family Law and Emotional Rights 210
Domestic Violence 217
Gay/Lesbian Rights and Definitions of the Family 221
9. Adult Forensics
Overview 229
Offender s Right to Refuse Treatment 231
Incarcerating and Executing the Mentally 233
Sex-Offender Treatment 239
Electronic Monitoring: Technology and Managing Offenders 243
Prison Violence 248
Underground Economy of Prison 254
10. Juvenile Forensics
Overview 261
Juveniles in Adult Jails 262
Juveniles on Death Row 266
Juvenile Boot Camp 269
Suicide among Incarcerated Juveniles 273
Incarceration of Status Offenders 277
11. Civic Forensics
Overview 283
Psychological Stress and Correctional Work 284
Community Corrections 289
Mentally Disabled Inmates 295
Society’s Reaction to Sex Offenders 299
Women Working in Male Prisons 304
Inmate Sexuality 309
12. Family Forensics
Overview 315
“Make-Believe” Families 316
Pregnant Women in Prison 321
Female Prisoners and Mother—Child Separation 326
Other Family Members of Inmates 331
Female Inmates: Mothers in Prison 334
Introduction to Forensic Psychology By Bruce A. Arrigo PDF


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