CRJU 1323 - Introduction to Forensic Psychology

Credits: 3 Spring

This course will introduce students to each of the five sub disciplines of Forensic Psychology: Criminal, Police, Investigative, Correctional and Legal Psychology. Students will explore theory, research, and practices relevant to each of these specialized areas where the principles of psychology intersect with the criminal justice mission in the United States. We will look at the various psychologically based methods and techniques used by the police to identify and apprehend criminal offenders, including criminal/geographical profiling, content analysis, forensic hypnosis, and polygraph to name a few. We will explore the role of forensic practitioners in America’s criminal and civil justice systems. Topics such as competency, insanity, the psychology of the courtroom, and expert witness testimony will be discussed.