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Questions and Answers
What is one of the main roles of police psychologists?
What is one of the main roles of police psychologists?
Which type of validity assesses how well a test indicates current performance?
Which type of validity assesses how well a test indicates current performance?
What impact has the recruitment of women and ethnic minorities had on police culture?
What impact has the recruitment of women and ethnic minorities had on police culture?
What is the MMPI-2 primarily used for in law enforcement?
What is the MMPI-2 primarily used for in law enforcement?
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Which of the following is considered an organizational stressor for police officers?
Which of the following is considered an organizational stressor for police officers?
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What is the primary goal of an Early Intervention System (EIS) in law enforcement?
What is the primary goal of an Early Intervention System (EIS) in law enforcement?
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How does police culture typically affect officers' relationships with one another?
How does police culture typically affect officers' relationships with one another?
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What are the implications of stress on police officers?
What are the implications of stress on police officers?
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What is the main reason 'competency to stand trial' terminology is replaced with 'adjudicative competency'?
What is the main reason 'competency to stand trial' terminology is replaced with 'adjudicative competency'?
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Which of the following is NOT a criterion evaluated by forensic psychologists for competency to stand trial?
Which of the following is NOT a criterion evaluated by forensic psychologists for competency to stand trial?
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In which case was the standard for competency to stand trial established?
In which case was the standard for competency to stand trial established?
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What percentage of defendants are typically found incompetent to stand trial?
What percentage of defendants are typically found incompetent to stand trial?
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What is a significant disadvantage of the theory used in forensic evaluations?
What is a significant disadvantage of the theory used in forensic evaluations?
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Which type of risk factor is defined as one that cannot be changed?
Which type of risk factor is defined as one that cannot be changed?
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What is the primary purpose of the Competency Screening Test (CST)?
What is the primary purpose of the Competency Screening Test (CST)?
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What is one of the primary tasks performed by forensic psychologists during the criminal justice process?
What is one of the primary tasks performed by forensic psychologists during the criminal justice process?
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What does malinger mean in the context of competency evaluations?
What does malinger mean in the context of competency evaluations?
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When a competency evaluation is court-ordered, who is considered the client?
When a competency evaluation is court-ordered, who is considered the client?
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What role do mental health courts serve in the criminal justice system?
What role do mental health courts serve in the criminal justice system?
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Which of the following is an example of an acute dynamic risk factor?
Which of the following is an example of an acute dynamic risk factor?
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What is a likely outcome for defendants who cannot have their competency restored due to intellectual disabilities?
What is a likely outcome for defendants who cannot have their competency restored due to intellectual disabilities?
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During which stage of the criminal justice process can questions about a defendant's competency arise?
During which stage of the criminal justice process can questions about a defendant's competency arise?
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What is the order of evaluation for a defendant deemed incompetent?
What is the order of evaluation for a defendant deemed incompetent?
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Which of the following instruments is used in violent risk assessments?
Which of the following instruments is used in violent risk assessments?
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What is the primary focus of the insanity defense in criminal law?
What is the primary focus of the insanity defense in criminal law?
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Which test assesses a defendant's understanding of right and wrong?
Which test assesses a defendant's understanding of right and wrong?
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In Riggins v. Nevada (1992), what was a key ruling regarding defendants using the insanity defense?
In Riggins v. Nevada (1992), what was a key ruling regarding defendants using the insanity defense?
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Which of the following accurately describes the difference between sanity and insanity?
Which of the following accurately describes the difference between sanity and insanity?
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What must be documented for insanity tests to be valid?
What must be documented for insanity tests to be valid?
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How does a forensic psychologist typically assess criminal responsibility?
How does a forensic psychologist typically assess criminal responsibility?
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Which of the following is a common treatment option for defendants found Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity (NGRI)?
Which of the following is a common treatment option for defendants found Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity (NGRI)?
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What role does a forensic psychologist play in the conditional release of patients found NGRI?
What role does a forensic psychologist play in the conditional release of patients found NGRI?
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What characterizes life course persistent offenders (LCPs)?
What characterizes life course persistent offenders (LCPs)?
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According to Steinberg's Dual-System development model, which networks develop at different rates during adolescence?
According to Steinberg's Dual-System development model, which networks develop at different rates during adolescence?
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What is a common characteristic of externalizing behaviors?
What is a common characteristic of externalizing behaviors?
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Which behavior is associated with Hyperactive-Impulsive Attention Problems (ADHD)?
Which behavior is associated with Hyperactive-Impulsive Attention Problems (ADHD)?
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What impact does peer rejection have on a child's development?
What impact does peer rejection have on a child's development?
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What differentiates adolescent limited offenders (ALs) from life course persistent offenders (LCPs)?
What differentiates adolescent limited offenders (ALs) from life course persistent offenders (LCPs)?
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Which of the following is NOT classified as an internalizing behavior?
Which of the following is NOT classified as an internalizing behavior?
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What role does cognitive ability play in antisocial behavior according to the content?
What role does cognitive ability play in antisocial behavior according to the content?
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Study Notes
Police Psychology
- Psychologists evaluate police officers' job performance, especially after stressful experiences.
- Police culture influences officers' behaviors and attitudes, understanding this is crucial.
- Police culture is evolving with the recruitment of women and ethnic minorities.
- Different types of validity assess tests and inventories:
- Concurrent: measures current performance.
- Predictive: predicts future performance.
- Face/content: measures how the inventory appears to assess, not necessarily what it actually measures.
- MMPI-2 is a commonly used instrument in preselections, designed to assess psychopathy or behavioral disorders.
Early Intervention Systems (EIS)
- EIS aims to help employees before issues arise.
- Not widely utilized or popular yet.
Stress in Law Enforcement
- Law enforcement is a highly stressful occupation.
- Stressors are categorized into four main categories:
- Organizational Stress: Emotional and stressful effects from policies and practices of police departments.
- Work Stress: Stress stemming from the nature of policing tasks, like interacting with criminals and exposure to violence.
- Interpersonal Stress: Stress arising from relationships between officers and superiors, peers, or the community they serve.
- Personal Stress: Stress originating from personal issues, like family problems or financial concerns.
Daubert Standard
- A scientific standard for admitting expert testimony into court.
- Must meet five requirements:
- Testability: Must be falsifiable, tested and subjected to peer review.
- Error Rate: Must have an established error rate.
- Acceptance in the Scientific Community: Must be generally accepted by the scientific community.
- Peer Review: Must have been subject to publication and peer criticism.
- Reliability: Must be reliable, consistent, and replicable.
Risk Assessment
- Forensic psychologists play a key role in assessing risk, particularly for violence.
- Violent risk assessment evaluates the probability of an individual engaging in violence.
- Risk factors can be dynamic (changeable) or static (unchangeable).
- Dynamic Factors: Substance use, health.
- Static Factors: Criminal history, diagnoses, impairments.
- Stable Dynamic Factors: Friend groups, political beliefs.
- Acute Dynamic Factors: Rapidly changing psychological states, like mood swings, anger, or drug effects.
- Common risk assessment instruments include the NaBITA, SIVRA, WAVR-21.
Forensic Mental Health Assessments (FMHAs)
- FMHAs are common because they are required at multiple stages of the criminal justice process.
- Defendants are reevaluated throughout the process for competency or sanity issues.
- Examples of FMHAs:
- Competency to Stand Trial (CST)
- Criminal Responsibility (CR)
- Mental State at Time of Offense (Insanity Defense)
- Forensic psychologists play a crucial role in conducting FMHAs.
Competency to Stand Trial (CST)
- This assessment determines if a defendant has the mental capacity to participate in their legal proceedings.
- "Adjudicative competency" is now the preferred term, referring to a broader range of competency, including the ability to make legal decisions.
- CST evaluations are conducted in jails, hospitals, or outpatient settings.
- Around 20% of defendants are deemed incompetent.
- The standard for CST is based on the Dusky v. United States case.
- Two key aspects:
- Rational understanding of the proceedings.
- Ability to consult with their attorney.
- Two key aspects:
- Reasons for competency evaluations:
- Past history of mental disorders.
- Presenting signs of mental illness.
- Intellectual disability, emotional stress, or advanced age.
- Forensic psychologists use various instruments to assess adjudicative competency, including:
- Competency Screening Test (CST).
- MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool-Treatment.
- Evaluation of Competency to Stand Trial– Revised (ECST-R).
- Interdisciplinary Fitness Interview– Revised.
- Forensic psychologists also review past records and conduct interviews.
- The "client" in a competency evaluation is the defendant when the defense attorney requests and pays.
- The client is the court when the evaluation is court-ordered.
- Malingering (faking incompetency) can occur, with ESCT-R as a validated instrument for detection.
Restoring Competency
- Competency can be restored through hospitalization and psychotropic medication.
- Individuals with intellectual disabilities may not be able to regain competency.
- Defendants deemed competent can be found guilty or not guilty.
Case Law: Jackson v. Indiana
- Established a limit on the confinement of individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial (IST).
- They cannot be held indefinitely if competence cannot be restored.
Criminal Responsibility (CR)
- This assessment focuses on the defendant's mental state at the time the crime was committed.
- It examines whether a mental disorder negates the accused's "mens rea" (guilty mind).
- The insanity defense argues that the defendant was not in control of their actions due to a mental disorder.
- Sanity refers to the mental state at the time of the crime.
Insanity Standards
- All insanity tests require a documented mental disorder.
- The initial question is whether the defendant knew right from wrong and understood the wrongfulness of their actions.
- Common tests:
- Right/Wrong Test: Examines the defendant's understanding of right and wrong, and awareness of acting wrongly.
- Right/Wrong Test with the "Violin Prong": Examines both knowledge of right and wrong AND the defendant's ability to appreciate the criminality of their actions.
Comparing Competency to Insanity
- Competency focuses on the defendant's mental state at the time of the legal proceedings.
- Insanity focuses on the defendant's mental state at the time the crime was committed.
Assessing Criminal Responsibility
- Forensic psychologists use a retrospective approach to understand the defendant's mental state at the time of the crime.
- Assessment instruments for CR:
- Rogers Criminal Responsibility Assessment Scales (R-CRAS).
- Mental State at the Time of the Offense Screening Evaluation (MSE).
Case Law: Riggins v. Nevada
- The Supreme Court ruled that defendants using the insanity defense have the right to be seen by a judge or jury in their natural, non-medicated state.
Treatment of Defendants Found Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity (NGRI)
- Hospitalization is common.
- Civil commitment (involuntary inpatient treatment) is a possibility, though not automatic in NGRI cases.
- Forensic psychologists play a role in determining when release may be appropriate.
- Conditional release is possible.
Life Course Persistent Offenders (LCPs)
- Offending begins early in childhood and continues throughout life.
Adolescent-Limited Offenders (ALs)
- Delinquency occurs only during adolescence, stopping around age 18.
Steinberg's Dual-System Developmental Model
- Offers a neurological explanation for ALs.
- Focuses on the maturation of two brain systems:
- Socioemotional Network: Influenced by peers and emotional arousal.
- Cognitive Network: Reasoning abilities.
- These systems develop on different timetables, leading to risk-taking and criminal behavior during adolescence.
Externalizing and Internalizing Behaviors
- Externalizing Behaviors: Maladaptive behaviors directed at the environment, like acting out, aggression, and antisocial behavior.
- Internalizing Behaviors: Maladaptive behaviors directed at the self, like anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and low self-esteem.
Four Prominent Disruptive Behaviors
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1. Hyperactive-Impulsive Attention Problems (ADHD): A chronic neurological condition characterized by poor attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
- Individuals with ADHD are more prone to criminal behavior.
- 2. Conduct Problems: A cluster of maladaptive behaviors characterized by antisocial behaviors.
- 3. Cognitive Ability & Crime: This area explores the role of cognitive and mental processes in the development of antisocial behavior and violence.
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4. Social Development Influences:
- Peer rejection is a strong predictor of persistent serious offending.
- Children accepted by their peer groups are less likely to engage in antisocial behaviors.
Psychopath vs. Sociopath
- More to come on this topic in the next chapter.
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Description
This quiz explores the role of psychology in law enforcement, focusing on how psychologists evaluate police officers' performance and the effect of police culture. Additionally, it covers Early Intervention Systems (EIS) and the impact of stressors faced by law enforcement officers. Test your knowledge on these critical topics to understand the intersection of psychology and policing.
