INTRODUCTION TO
FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
CETYS UNIVERSITY
FALL 2021
Adam Yerke, Psy.D.
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
[email protected]
Seminar Overview
The purpose of this seminar is to introduce students to the field of forensic psychology and the myriad of ways in which
psychology and the law interact. Students will learn about the origins of forensic psychology and the influence of notable
legal cases. In addition, students will gain an understanding about the various roles of forensic psychologists, including in
the community, courts, mental health hospitals, and jails and prisons. Finally, students will develop knowledge of current
best practices for clinical assessment and treatment of forensic populations, including sexual offenders. Students will
complete a group culmination project to be presented during the final class.
Topics:
• Origins of Forensic Psychology
• Notable Laws and Legal Cases
• Various Roles of Forensic Psychologists
• Assessment and Treatment of Forensic Populations
• Career Opportunities
Class # Date/Time Topics Guest Speakers
1 Sunday, October 10, 8-11 am Introductions
Seminar Overview
Origins of Forensic
Psychology
2 Saturday, October 16, 8-11 am Various Roles of Clive Kennedy,
Forensic Ph.D.
Psychologists
3 Sunday, October 24, 8-11 am Notable Laws and Linda Gomberg,
Legal Cases J.D., Ph.D.
4 Saturday, October 30, 8-11 am Assessment and
Treatment of
Forensic
Populations
5 Sunday, November 7, 8-11 am Assessment and Sebastian Rilen,
Treatment of Psy.D.
Forensic
Populations
6 Saturday, November 13, 8-11 am Culmination Project Students!
Group Culmination Project:
Forensic Psychology Around the World
Students will be assigned to groups and present a culmination
project during the last class.
Select a legal jurisdiction (state or country) different from your
own. Investigate the role of psychology professionals in the legal
system (i.e., forensic psychologists) and address the following:
1. What role, if any, do psychology professionals play in the legal
system (e.g., courts, prisons, legally mandated clients)? What are
the education and training requirements for psychology
professionals to work in the field?
2. Describe at least two statutes related to mental health. Describe at
least two case laws related to mental health. For example, consider
court-ordered treatment, involuntary hospitalization, not guilty by
reason of insanity, sexually violent predators, etc.
3. Provide at least two examples where the law follows psychology.
Describe the influence of psychology.
Introductions
Who are you?
• Name, state/country of origin
• Year in school, degree, career goals
Why are you interested in
Forensic Psychology?
RECOMMENDED
TEXTBOOK:
GOMBERG, L. (2018).
FORENSIC
PSYCHOLOGY 101.
SPRINGER
PUBLISHING
COST: $35
PUBLISHER LINK:
HTTPS://WWW.SPRINGERPUB.COM/FORENSI
C-PSYCHOLOGY-101-
9780826140746.HTML#PRODUCTDETAILS
Psychology practiced and/or studied
for any legal purpose.
The study of psychology for, about,
What is and within the law.
Forensic
Psychology? This is often not as exciting as what is
portrayed by the media!
Forensic psychology rests on a strong
scientific foundation, despite being
apart of a social science.
What is Forensic Psychology?
What is Forensic Psychology?
Real World
Example
◦ Offenders with a Mental Health Disorder (OMHD) in
California, US.
◦ Created to provide a mechanism to detain and treat
inmates with a severe mental health disorder who reach
the end of a determinate prison term and are
dangerous to others as a result of a severe mental
health disorder.
◦ The law became effective on July 1, 1986.
◦ The OMHD commitment is codified in sections 2960 to
2981 of the Penal Code (PC) and regulated in sections
2570 to 2580 of the California Code of Regulations Title
15.
◦ Process:
https://www.dsh.ca.gov/Treatment/docs/DSH_MDO_29
62_and_2972_Process_Flowchart_2019-02-19.pdf
Penal Code section 2962: OMHD Criteria
1. The Prisoner has a severe mental disorder.
2. Their severe mental disorder is not in remission and/or cannot be kept in remission without
treatment.
3. The severe mental disorder was one of the causes of, or was an aggravating factor in, the
commission of a crime for which the prisoner was sentenced to prison.
4. The prisoner has been in treatment for the severe mental disorder for 90 days or more within the
year prior to the prisoner’s parole or release.
5. Crime meets criteria: defendant received a determinate sentence for an enumerated offense or
one where prisoner used force or violence or caused serious bodily injury, or the threat thereof.
6. By reason of his or her severe mental disorder the prisoner represents a substantial danger of
physical harm to others (the public) if released.
1. PRESENCE OF A SEVERE
MENTAL DISORDER
◦ The term “severe mental disorder” means an illness or disease or
condition that substantially impairs the person's thought, perception
of reality, emotional process, or judgment; or which grossly impairs
behavior; or that demonstrates evidence of an acute brain
syndrome for which prompt remission, in the absence of treatment,
is unlikely.
◦ The term “severe mental disorder,” as used in this section, does not
include a personality or adjustment disorder, epilepsy, mental
retardation or other developmental disabilities, or addiction to or
abuse of intoxicating substances.
◦ Common examples include: Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Major
Depressive Disorder
◦ Common examples excluded: Antisocial Personality Disorder,
Borderline Personality Disorder, Substance Use Disorders
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
1. PRESENCE OF A SEVERE MENTAL DISORDER
A. History
• Social History
• Criminal History
• Juvenile
• Adult
• Substance Abuse History
• Mental Health History
• Review of Records
B. Current Medication
C. Medical and Psychological Complaints (By inmate/patient)
D. Mental Status
E. Diagnosis
F. Conclusion
Clinical Forensic
Evaluation
◦ Relevant records
◦ police reports
◦ criminal record
◦ victim/witness statements
◦ hospital/prison records
◦ Third parties
◦ family members
◦ police officers
◦ mental health treatment providers
◦ The individual client
Clinical Forensic Interview
◦ Interview
◦ Mental Status Exam
◦ Behavioral Observations
◦ Additional Assessments
◦ Personality
◦ Cognitive/Neuropsychological
◦ Actuarial Risk
◦ Malingering
Legal Origins
◦ Two major legal traditions
◦ Common Law
◦ Legal system is based on cases and case precedent or judge-made law
◦ Civil Law
◦ Written or codified laws, referred to as statutes
◦ Statutory law tends to follow judge made law (common law) in the U.S., and the law often
follows psychology.
Psychology → Common Law → Civil Law
Legal Origins
◦ Applied to Offender with Mental Health Disorders
◦ Multiple cases have informed the statutes, such as:
◦ People v. Gibson (1988)
◦ People v. Pretzer (1992)
◦ People v. Robinson (1998)
◦ People v. Beeson (2002)
◦ People v. Del Valle (2002)
◦ People v. Renfro (2004)
◦ People v. Sheek (2004)
◦ People v. Green (2006)
◦ People v. Kortesmaki (2007)
→Penal Code section 2962
Psychology → Common Law → Civil Law
Next Time
◦ American Psychological Association (APA) Ethics and
Forensic Specialty Guidelines
◦ Forensic Psychology Origins:
◦ The Queen v. Daniel McNaughton (1843)
◦ Clive Kennedy, Ph.D., Forensic Psychologist
