Forensic Psychology in the Judicial System

Forensic psychology is an extremely important part of the justice system in America. If someone is on trial for a vicious crime, they could plead "not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect," and must undergo an exam to see if they are competent to stand trial. Competency to stand trial is necessary to ensure due process, provide equal treatment under the law, and maintain the dignity of legal proceedings. States have their own rules for determining a defendants competency to stand trial. In most cases, defendants must be able to understand the charges against them, understand the facts of his or her case, to tolerate stress while awaiting the trial and at the trial itself, and to refrain from irrational behavior in court. If found to not be able to stand trial, the defendant can be treated with psychiatric medication for up to a year. The charges are not dismissed, but the case gets suspended. If treatment has failed, a defendant can be committed to a treatment program at a psychiatric center until they are deemed appropriate to stand trial.

An example of this very situation is seen in season two of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. The witness is suffering from schizophrenia and is given an injection of psychiatric medication that will last for a month so that he can testify at a trial.

This episode can be watched on this link -

http://www.watchsvuonline.net/season2/s02e06.php

A brief review on The Human Predator

My idea of a “good book” is probably unconventional to some people. How many people can sit down with a book called The Human Predator and become immersed in the mind frame of a classified murderer. I picked this particular title up in a book store a few months ago. Since then, whenever I get some free time, I pick a section and start reading. Nothing has ever interested me as much as this field of psychology. Katherine Ramsland, Ph.D., and author of the book, The Human Predator, discusses the mechanics of Forensic psychology and criminology. It was interesting to learn that the concept of forensics was established, several decades after the death of Christ. Ramsland wrote with a great deal of intellect and detail. The book flows well whether one reads the chapters in numerical order or simply skims through different sections. The sections I found most interesting had to do with historical, landmark cases or murders. Criminals such as Jack the Ripper, H.H Holmes, Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer have created the need for such a thing as forensic psychology; the interaction between psychology and the criminal justice system. Ramsland draws the reader in by giving the (to me) curious details of famous crimes such as these. When one hears how, “The soft-spoken Dahmer was killing men, then cutting off body pieces and preserving them or dissolving them in acid” how can one not wonder what was going through every thought Dahmer was having. Why would someone do something like this? Call me crazy, but it is the most fascinating field of psychology and I think Ramsland’s mixture of academic facts and respectable writing skills could provoke even the least interested person to read a sentence of this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Human-Predator-Historical-Chronicle-Investigation/dp/0425213781/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304517050&sr=8-1

Getting a Degree and Career in Forensic Psychology

Forensic Psychology can be described as the use of psychology to aid in the criminal justice system. Typically utilized in court rooms, Forensic psychologists often find work evaluating those who are facing the judicial system. However, only a select group of colleges offer degrees strictly in the field of Forensic psychology. These universities include:

University of Arizona

University of Virginia

University of Denver

University of Nebraska

University of Illinois

Nova Southeastern University

Florida Institute of Technology

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Michigan State University

Farleigh Dickinson University

These are just a few of the more well know schools that offer Master’s Degree programs that will put you on the right track to becoming a Forensic Psychologist. In particular, most of these colleges offer a “Master of Arts” Degree. This means that the holder has already received a bachelor’s degree and is now a postgraduate. Once completing graduate school and demonstrating an advanced understanding of the skills and concepts taught, this degree may be earned. The difference between this and a Master of Science degree is that the Master of Arts is far less science oriented. Instead it focuses more on humanities. However both degrees put an emphasis on liberal arts and an overall well-rounded education. Because Forensic Psychologists study the human mind and work towards evaluating individuals, it is understandable that such a thorough education is required of them. Getting a degree is only the first step in actually acquiring a job in this exciting field. Once you gained the license and appropriate skills you’ll need to do some job hunting. One of the best places to begin your search is:

Psychology Jobs

This website contains an extensive list of positions that need to be filled. Information about contacting, applying, and scheduling interviews has been made available by the employer, as well as job descriptions.

Simply Hired

Simply Hired is another website with similar information concerning job offers. However this website also allows visitors to create a username and ‘save’ and prospective jobs that the user finds interesting for quick and easy access at a later time.