Forensic Psychology

Paper Code:

24DPSY711

Credits:

04

Contact Hours:

60.00

Max. Marks:

100.00

Objective:

This course will enable students to apply psychological theories and principles in crime investigation and the criminal justice system, understand the roles and responsibilities of forensic psychologists, and develop skills in forensic investigation techniques.

Course Outcomes:

Course		Course Outcomes	Learning and teaching strategies	Assessment Strategies
Course Code	Course Title	Course Outcomes	Learning and teaching strategies	Assessment Strategies
24DPSY	Forensic	CO161: Appraise the	Approach	Class test,
711	Psychology (Theory)	application of various theories and principles of psychology in	in teaching:	Semester end examinations,
		the crime investigation and	Interactive	Quiz,
		criminal justice system.	Lectures,	Assignments,
		CO162: Develop an idea about	Discussion,	Presentation,
		the roles of forensic	Learning
		psychologists in court, and	activities
		demonstrating the knowledge	for the
		of key issues in forensic	students:
		psychology including	Self-learning
		eyewitness testimony and false	assignments,
		confession.	application-
		CO163: Developing a working	based
		knowledge and understanding	questions,
		of the basic methods of	Seminar
		investigation used in forensic	presentation,
		psychology with an emphasis on
		crime scene analysis, criminal
		profiling and forensic
		psychological tools.
		CO164: Learning about the
		forensic interviewing with the
		help of advanced tools used in
		crime interrogation.
		CO165: Examining the rights
		and competencies of accused to
		stand the trial, and the pleads.
		CO166: Contribute effectively in
		course-specific interaction

12.00

Unit I:

Introduction

Defining forensic psychology & legal psychology; The roles of the Psychologist. The Psychology of Forensic Identification: DNA, Fingerprints, and Other Types of Physical Trace Evidence.

Cyber-crime: nature and prevention

12.00

Unit II:

The Psychologist in Court

Expert evidence; Forensic reports; Pre-trial preparation; Forensic portfolio; Examination in chief, Cross Examination

Psychology in courtroom: The Hidden, Consequential World of Plea Bargaining; Jury Selection; Assembling a Jury: Pools, Venires, and Voir Dire; Using Stereotypes & Science to Select Jurors; Juror Characteristics and Attitudes as Predictors of Verdict; Pretrial

Publicity as a Source of Bias; An Overview of Trial Procedure

12.00

Unit III:

Criminal Profiling & Psychological Autopsies

Eyewitness Identification & Testimony; Lie Detection: The Complexity & Pervasiveness of Deception, The Polygraph, From Physiological Arousal to Cognitive Load, Some Emerging Technologies for Lie Detection

12.00

Unit IV:

Interrogations & Confessions

The Power of a Confession; The Evolution of Interrogation Techniques; Inside the Modern Interrogation Room; The Problem of False Confessions; Interrogators Lying; Potential Solutions to the Problem of False Confessions

12.00

Unit V:

Competency to Stand Trial

Meaning; CST Versus Competency to Plead Guilty & Competency to Waive an Attorney; Dealing with Incompetent Defendants; Methods for Evaluating CST; CST Evaluations and Ultimate Issue Testimony by Experts; Restoration of CST; Adolescents & CST

Essential Readings:

Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2006). Current perspectives in forensic psychology and criminal justice. Sage Publications, Inc.
Batchman, R., & Schutt, R. K. (2008). Fundamentals of research in criminology and criminal justice. London: Sage.
Costanzo, M., & Krauss, D. (2010). Forensic and legal psychology. Macmillan.
Haward, L. (1981). Forensic psychology. London: Batsford Academic and Educational Ltd.
Howitt, D. (2002). Forensic and criminal psychology. New Delhi, India: Prentice Hall.

Suggested Reading:

Loftus, E. F. (1996). Eyewitness testimony: With a new preface. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Pozzulo, J., Bennell, C., & Forth, A (2018). Forensic Psychology. Pearson Canada Inc.
Ross, F. D., Read, D. J., & Toglia, M. P. (1994). Adult eyewitness testimony. New York: Cambridge University Press.

E Resources: