Psychology 2032B-001

The Psychology of Crime and Corrections

If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.

1.0    CALENDAR DESCRIPTION

This course introduces students to a broad range of issues in forensic psychology. Topics include detecting deception, eyewitness testimony, investigative interviewing, roles and responsibilities, offender profiling, correctional psychology, risk assessment, victims of crime, and fitness to stand trial. A focus will be on critical thinking, skepticism, argument, and confronting assumptions.

Antirequisites: Psychology 2031A/B, Psychology 3313A/B 

Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. So if you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.

3 lecture hours, 0.5 course 

2.0    COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor: Jennifer Drummelsmith, M.A.                           

       Office Hours: By appointment                          

       Email: jdrumme2@uwo.ca                                           

 

Time and Location of Class: Monday 7:00pm – 10:00pm NBC 101

 

TA: TBD                                                                                   

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western

http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.

Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Student Accessibility Services (formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities) at 519-661-2147.

3.0  TEXTBOOK

Pozzulo, Bennell, & Forth (2017). Forensic Psychology (5th Ed.) Pearson/Prentice-Hall, Toronto

 

            This textbook is available in print or electronic versions

 

                        This textbook is available at campus libraries 

4.0    COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course introduces students to a broad range of issues in the area of forensic psychology. The objective of the course is to guide students in becoming better consumers of information about crime, trials, punishment versus rehabilitation, incarceration, etc. A particular focus of this course will be on the discrepancy between common lay-person beliefs about crime and what is supported in empirical literature. Given this, a particular emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, skepticism, argument, and confronting assumptions. Topics include detecting deception, eyewitness testimony, investigative interviewing, role and responsibilities, offender profiling, correctional psychology, risk assessment, victims of crime, not criminally responsible and fitness to stand trial.

   4.1    STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES 

This course is designed to assist students in understanding the intersection of psychology and the criminal justice system.  In pursuit of this goal, we will examine various topics including factors that affect eyewitness accuracy; factors that contribute to false confessions; factors that contribute to criminality and violent crime specifically as well as many other areas.  This will be accomplished over 12 weeks of lectures, textbook readings, and supplemental readings.  Evaluation will consist of two 75-item multiple choice examinations.

 

            By the end of the term, students should have developed the following skills:

 

Course Learning Outcome

Learning Activity

Assessment

 

Identify key concepts, principals, and overarching themes relevant to forensic psychology.

 

 

Lectures and required readings

 

Mid-term and final tests involving MC questions

 

Apply concepts and theories in forensic psychology to develop critical thinking to become better consumers of information as it relates to psychology and crime.

 

 

Lectures and required readings

 

 

Mid-term and final tests involving MC questions

 

Identify and think critically about weaknesses in forensic psychology both clinically and in research.

 

 

Lectures and required readings

 

Mid-term and final tests involving MC questions

 

5.0     EVALUATION

Evaluation is based on two (2) exams. The midterm exam covers the first half of the course and is worth 40% of the final grade. It will consist of 75 multiple choice questions selected from lecture material, textbook material, and supplemental readings. The final exam will be cumulative. The majority of the final exam will cover lecture material, textbook material, and supplemental readings covered after the Mid-Term [February 24, 2020] and will consist of 100 multiple choice questions. 

The final exam is worth 60% of the final grade. The final exam will have the following breakdown: 75 MC questions from course material (lectures, textbook readings, and supplemental readings) covered after the mid-term, and 25 MC questions from course material (lectures, textbook readings, and supplemental readings) covered prior to the mid-term.

Midterm examination: (40 %)

Final Examination: (60%) 

Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:

70%     1000-level and 2000-level courses
72%     2190-2990 level courses
75%     3000-level courses
80%     4000-level courses
   
The Psychology Department follows Western's grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf):

A+  90-100      One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A    80-89        Superior work that is clearly above average
B    70-79        Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C    60-69        Competent work, meeting requirements
D    50-59        Fair work, minimally acceptable
F    below 50    Fail


6.0  ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE

The midterm will be held in-class on February 24th, 2020 and will cover the lectures, text book readings, and supplemental readings from January 6th until February 10th inclusive (i.e., the first 6 classes).

 

The Final Exam will be during the final exam period, TBA, April 6-26, 2020, and will cover course material including lectures, textbook readings and supplemental readings from February 24th to the end of the semester.

 

Remember: Exams will cover lecture material, textbook readings, and supplemental readings. As well, electronic devices (for example but not limited to cell phones, laptops, ipods/earbuds, smart watches) are NOT permitted during exams. Please leave these devices at home or in your bag.

 

I will not be accepting questions about course material after the end of the lecture prior to the mid-term and after the last class. There is a forum function in the course OWL site, I encourage all students to post questions there to receive peer support. Keep in mind that this function is not closely monitored and is visible to everyone registered in the course.

 

Missed exams: If you are sick or absent for either the mid-term or final exam you will need to gain approval through academic counselling in your home faculty to sit a make-up exam. Because of the midterm weighting, this course is not eligible for the self-reported absence form. The make-up date for the midterm is March 13th, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (location TBA). The final exam make-up date is April 27th, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (location TBA). Please do not make travel plans until after that date in the event that you are unable to sit the final exam for one reason or another. 

7.0   CLASS SCHEDULE

Date

Lecture

Topic

Reading(s)

 

January 6

 

1

 

Introduction and Welcome to Psychology of Crime and Corrections

 

 

 

Chapter 1

 

January 13

 

 

2

 

Police Psychology, Interrogations, and Confessions

 

 

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

 

January 20

 

 

3

 

Deception Detections and Profiling Profiled

 

 

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

 

January 27

 

 

4

 

Eyewitnesses and Juries

 

Chapter 5

Chapter 7

 

 

February 3

 

 

5

 

Child Victims and Young Offenders

 

Chapter 6

Chapter 12

 

 

February 10

 

6

 

Sentencing and Parole

 

 

Chapter 9

 

February 17

 

Family Day, no class

 

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

February 24

 

MIDTERM EXAM

 

 

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

March 2

 

7

 

Assessing Fitness and the Not Criminally Responsible Designation

 

 

Chapter 8

Reading: TBA

 

 

March 9

 

 

8

 

Understanding and Assessing Psychopathy

 

 

Chapter 11

Reading: TBA

 

March 16

 

 

9

 

Introduction to Risk Assessment

 

Chapter 10

Reading TBA:

 

 

March 23

 

 

10

 

Homicide, Sexual Assault, and Intimate Partner Violence

 

 

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

 

 

March 30

 

 

11

 

TBD

 

TBD

8.0     STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES

Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link:  http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf

As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com http://www.turnitin.com

Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams may be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.

Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.



9.0    POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS

Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12

 

The full policy for consideration for absences can be accessed at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/Academic_Consideration_for_absences.pdf


Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html

 

If you experience an extenuating circumstance (e.g., illness, injury) sufficiently significant to temporarily make you unable to meet academic requirements, you may request accommodation through the following routes:

  1. Submitting a Self-Reported Absence form (for circumstances that are expected to resolve within 48 hours);
  2. For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner in order to be eligible for Academic Consideration;

For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration in order to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.

Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation. The self-reported absence form may NOT be used for absences longer than 48 hours; coursework/tests/exams/etc., worth more than 30% of the final grade; or exams scheduled in the December or April final-exam periods: http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html

Students seeking academic consideration:

  • are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;  
  • are encouraged to make appropriate decisions based on their specific circumstances, recognizing that minor ailments (upset stomach) or upsets (argument with a friend) are not normally an appropriate basis for a self-reported absence;

must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered by either the self-reported absence or SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence



10.0        OTHER INFORMATION

Office of the Registrar web site:  http://registrar.uwo.ca

Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca

Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:

    http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html

- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2019-2020 Calendar References

No electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, will be allowed during exams.

Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute lecture notes, wiki material, and other course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.

Additional Course Notes:

 

Lectures will be posted to the OWL class site before lecture each week. I do not post additional notes. Please bear in mind that the slides contain information that will be discussed in greater detail each week. It is therefore important to come to class, because we will discuss content that is not on the slides but is testable.

 

I do not permit lectures to be recorded in any way. If you require the ability to record lectures based on a documented academic accommodation, please discuss this with me via e-mail (jdrumme2@uwo.ca).