Forensic Psychology

Catalog description

Mental Health professionals working within legal systems have enjoyed a significant expansion of their roles and responsibilities. Among the traditional roles of Psychologist and Psychiatrist in the judicial system, the assessment of competency to stand trial and issues of criminal responsibility will be analyzed during class. In addition to discussing the interface between psychiatric/psychological practice and the legal system as it pertains to patients’ rights, confidentiality, duty to warn, patient-doctor privileges, the course will examine the following issues and legal processes as they pertain to the role of the Psychologist within the legal system: assessment of dangerousness, family violence, custody and parental fitness, civil commitment, Juvenile Delinquency.