Psychology (PSYC) 395

Overview

Forensic Psychology is the fastest growing subspecialty in psychology. Social science impacts on most aspects of the legal process and psychologists are increasingly being asked to participate by providing knowledge to this system. This course examines the breadth of this participation and the application of psychological science to the Canadian justice system.

Outline

Unit 1: Introduction to Psychology and Law

• Chapter 1: An Introduction to Psychology and Law
• Chapter 2: An Introduction to Law and the Canadian Legal System

Unit 2: Investigative Procedures

• Chapter 3: Police Investigations
• Chapter 4: Memory in Legal Contexts: Remembering Events, Circumstances, and People

Unit 3: The Jury and Sentencing

• Chapter 5: The Jury: Selecting Twelve Impartial Peers
• Chapter 6: The Jury: Deciding Guilt and Innocence
• Chapter 7: Sentencing, Parole, and Psychology

Unit 4: Forensic Assessment and Treatment

• Chapter 8: The Assessment and Treatment of Offenders and Inmates: General Considerations
• Chapter 9: The Assessment and Treatment of Offenders and Inmates: Specific Populations

Unit 5: Specific Psycholegal Decisions

• Chapter 10: Fitness to Stand Trial and Criminal Responsibility in Canada
• Chapter 11: Violence and Risk Assessment

Unit 6: Psychology in Civil Law

• Chapter 12: Civil Commitment and Civil Competence: Psychological Issues
• Chapter 13: Psychology's Intersection with Family Law
• Chapter 14: Psychological Injuries and Tort Litigation: Sexual Victimization and Motor Vehicle Accidents

Evaluation

To receive credit for PSYC 395, you must complete all of the assignments, achieve a mark of at least 50 per cent on the final examination, and obtain a course composite grade of at least "D" (50 per cent). The weighting of assignments is as follows:

Six Quizzes	Course Project	Final Exam	Total
30%	30%	40%	100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.