NCJ Number
52230
Journal
Professional Psychology Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1975) Pages: 457-467
Date Published
1975
Length
13 pages
Annotation
DEVELOPMENT OF A DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY IS PROPOSED; ITS POTENTIAL FOR PSYCHOLEGAL AND SOCIAL ACTION RESEARCH AND FOR BENEFITS TO BOTH THE LEGAL AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFESSIONS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY IS THE APPLICATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES TO LEGAL ISSUES AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE NEED FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS WITH HIGH LEVELS OF SKILL IN TREATMENT, DIAGNOSIS, CONSULTATION, SOCIAL ACTION RESEARCH, AND THEORY CONSTRUCTION IS GROWING. PROBLEMS SURROUNDING DETERMINATION OF AN OFFENDER'S OR PATIENT'S 'DANGEROUSNESS' OR FITNESS TO BE RELEASED IN THE COMMUNITY ARE CITED AS AN ILLUSTRATION OF THIS NEED. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE DEMAND BY DEVELOPING FACULTY TO TEACH THESE SPECIALIZED SKILLS IN OTHER ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS. A RESEARCH CENTER FOR DEALING WITH PROBLEMS ARISING IN THE AREA OF THE CIVIL LAW; E.G., DOMESTIC RELATIONS AND CIVIL COMMITMENT, IS ALSO PROPOSED. THE PERSPECTIVE WOULD BE INTERDISCIPLINARY BUT FUNDAMENTALLY PSYCHOLOGICAL IN NATURE. INTERDISCIPLINARY SUBJECTS SUCH AS LAW, SOCIOLOGY, POLICE SCIENCE, CORRECTIONS, ANTHROPOLOGY, MEDICINE, AND POLITICAL SCIENCE WOULD COMPRISE 30 PERCENT OF THE CURRICULUM. COURSES IN ACADEMIC PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, AND PSYCHOLINGUISTICS WOULD BE REQUIRED. FOUR YEARS OF GRADUATE WORK WOULD LEAD TO A DOCTORATE OF PSYCHOLOGY AND/OR PHILOSOPHY, DEPENDING UPON THE BALANCE OF THE STUDENT'S WORKLOAD. INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF SUCH SPECIALLY TRAINED PSYCHOLOGISTS WOULD PERMIT EXPANSION OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST'S ROLE IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM AS WELL AS MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO MEET CURRENTLY UNSATISFIED NEEDS. BECAUSE OF THEIR SPECIALIZED TRAINING, THESE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGISTS WOULD BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO PROMOTE REFORM IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM. EXTENSIVE REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (MPK)