Environment, Psychology, and Social Context in the Mind of the Criminal - Essay Example

E-PORTFOLIO Name: Instructor: Course: Date: E - Portfolio As a psychology student I intend in future to have an ability to read the behavioral aspects of mainly the individuals involved in crime. Further the course has been outline to help me acquire different techniques to handle the different situations available in the field. The course has theories structured to help a student understand the environment, psychology and social context in the mind of a criminal. There are also practical experiences through profiling the real case scenarios for behavioral criminals. The theoretical part is well dealt with in the offender profiling part one. The field trips are also very useful especially in the first part of the course; it provides a good understanding of the situation being dealt with theoretically during the lectures. the self directed learning program has also created a sense of personal responsibility, the self reliance that is required enables a psychologist to work independently. There is also the necessity of including the IQ and social factors these when understanding the behaviour of the offenders. Most crimes are also associated with background of the offender. This is done especially to give an overview that the same crime will occur again. The lectures I have attended have given me enough preview about the whole forensic psychology is about. It has tried to explain to me why it is very important to keep the kind of evidence credible. It is also a major task to differentiate when a suspect in presence of the court trying to fake mental illness. The experience I intend to acquire at this point is to help analyses and differentiate for the court system those who fake and those who are actually sick. The evidence must be foolproof to ensure that an actual mentally sick offender is not punished for being in pretence. (Psychology and Criminal Behaviour, n.d) The interesting part is to have a chance to observe the behavior of a suspect. To study an animal is interesting but to study a human being is mind blowing. Those in pretence are always assumed that they cannot maintain this temporary behavior at all times. It is upon the forensic psychiatrist to find get the suspect when then behavior is back to the normal individual. Since these program is the new way of fighting behavioral crimes it has many employment opportunities. The use technology in conducting investigation is an avoidable. To ensure a psychiatrist is well knowledgeable then it is very helpful to have the modern technology and crime unit for the necessary exposure. Through these studies I have a chance to become a charted psychiatrist. With such a title I would be deemed as a credible source of analysis relating to behavioral crimes. The main initial step towards this goal is to ensure that all the available theories concerning the criminal behaviors. The psychologists try to intervene to bring an understanding between the legal system and the criminal behavior. (Psychology and Criminal Behavior, n.d) It is also expected that the studies to help one become more capable of advising regarding the issues pertaining the treatment of criminals. Since the legal system only issues punishment to behavioral criminals just like other petty criminals then it is upon the forensic psychiatrist to intervene. The intervention should be geared towards ensuring that the criminal understands the repercussions of his behavior to the people involved. The punishment verses treatment is a key role in rehabilitating the offenders. This course enables the psychologists to provide effective program to be effective in both ways for the offenders. It is advisable that the psychiatrist tries to get the criminal denounce the behavior by indicating that there are better ways to live. The prisons where these victims are locked is maintained and controlled by normal people. With dynamic behavior among the criminals it is up to the chartered psychiatrists to inform the prison management on how to go about the detainees. The group most times is so diverse in behavior that the wardens are much stressed it upon the psychiatrist to intervene to helps wardens. It is important to note several among the offenders their personal behaviours and differences. This is very important to avoid those with powerful mind controls abilities recruiting fellow in mates into other crimes or gangs. Personality Factors & Criminal Behaviour and Individual Differences & Criminal Behaviour are very important lessons for the psychologist to be able to handle the grouping of the offenders. The mind is very powerful organ and can also be highly influenced by the environment. The psychiatrist should always provide counseling which should be at the same time inquisitive on the ability of the warden to handle the pressure over a prolonged period of time. (Forensic Psychology, 2011) Not only does the psychologist help the wardens at personal levels but are also involved in designing the rehabilitation programs. In the United Kingdom the largest organ for the employment of forensic psychologists is the HM prison. In this institution there are in charge of designing the rehabilitation program for the offenders. Such programs are anger management, for the drug addict special rehabilitation centres are provided mostly those who do hard drugs and alcoholics. This is an indication of the importance of the substance misuse and offending behaviour units are useful at such points. It also helps to relate between crime and substance misuse. (Forensic Psychology, 2011) Crimes are also grouped regarding the offenders. In this cases the crimes are done either by the juveniles, all the necessary details to proof this are provided for in the young offenders unit. The same case is for the female offenders and violent offenders. These units provide knowledge on procedures to handle each case. In the cases of the juvenile crimes the psychologists further explores the background in which the offender had. The protection received from guardian and the kind of peer pressure the offender was going through. The Risk, protective factors and developmental trajectories of crime helps analyse the suspect. The offenders are also trained in cognitive and social skills which they can use when they complete their sentences in the outside world. For the case of the staff in this institution just like earlier stated are they equip them with stress management services or an understanding to bullying mechanisms and also the hostage negotiation techniques. Several requirements are necessary to ensure that there are minimum standards maintained by all the chartered psychologists. The overview of the course is categorized into three main dimensions. The knowledge, research and practice dimension. The research dimension is composed of two stages, the first stage is generally involved in gaining the knowledge base in the field the second part consists a combination of knowledge and research. The context of practice has four major sections psychology and criminal behavior; this section helps the student have critical thinking about why criminals behave in the manner in which they behave. The topic further goes ahead to relate the drive that results in the criminal activities. The students get a clear picture of what happens in the mind of a behavioral offender. There is also the biological relation to crime. Some studies show that some crimes are a result of a combination of the genetic composition and the environment. it is up to the forensic psychologist to differentiate among these claims, by use of the Biological Psychology & Crime knowledge this would make the work more easier.(Diploma in Forensic Psychology Candidate Handbook, 2007-2008) Appreciating the legal framework, this unit is directed at ensuring that all the psychologists are relevant with the existing laws. For the forensic psychologist to provide any information there must be good understanding of the law especially in the civil and the criminal law. The last two parts are the methodological issues commensuration with master’s education level and the appreciating of the ethical and professional considerations involved in the practice. The unit will educate on matters pertaining professional and ethical responsibilities when practicing. The other portion of the four divisions involves learning how the psychology is applied in the justice system. They start at the point of investigation; this is detailed search of evidence that implicates the offender. From the onset of the investigations a forensic psychologist is expected to use the criminal thinking perspective to understand the crimes pattern if any. The criminal perspectives studies equip the forensic psychologists with the knowledge of how to go about such cases. There is then the application in the legal process, this providing the research findings in the court usually as exhibits and witness. The forensic psychologists are given chance to present the findings regarding the case and the offenders state of mind when the incident occurred. In case of incarceration the psychologists makes follow up visits to see how the offender is responding to rehabilitation, this is well learnt here as the custodial process. Thorough care is also provided to ensure that offenders do not slide back into the previous behaviors. this is provided for in the working with offenders section. There are also cases where the psychologist has to work with specific client group then the assessment and intervention program comes in handy. The process of intervention and assessment can be between the forensic psychologist and victims of the offence or offenders or litigants, appellants, individuals who seek mediation and arbitration or the justice system. The sexual offenders and domestic & intimate offenders need a lot of psychological counseling. The psychiatrist is well informed of how to detect and group such crimes in the respective units. It is very important to handle this cases sensitively because of the violations are very gross. (Diploma in Forensic Psychology Candidate Handbook, 2007-2008) Throughout the course all these factors are well taught and create confidence of doing things right when time comes. In this field professionalism in handling and communicating of information is very necessary. The presence of a unit dealing with the style and nature in which the information is communicated is very assuring. The subsections ensure that you are capable of producing a report professionally, giving testimony from a expert orientation, approach on how to carry out an assessment and project management, consultancy and intervention from an organizational angle. (Diploma in Forensic Psychology Candidate Handbook, 2007-2008) The second part involves the research. This research is to be conducted at publishable levels. It should in quarterly submissions not exceeding ten thousand words and should be in APA style. There are exceptional allowance to present the research in group provided that there is proof of participation in designing the research, data collection, carrying out its analysis and report writing. The proof can be inform of a letter from the lead researcher or author and should indicate originality in the work you contributed. The research can also be assessed through oral examination. These two modes of assessment are very helpful in training for the real work. The research writing prepares a psychologist for the documents to be presented to the justice system for records and reference. The oral presentation is good practice on how a psychologist will present the findings and analysis of the offender in the justice system. The information should be very professional. Competencies to be achieved through research include; Ability to design psychological research processes Conducting psychological research activities Analysis and evaluation of psychological research data The writing of the portfolio is essences of the final part of becoming a professional forensic psychology. The portfolios are very useful to show the understanding of the student to the course. The relation of the four core roles should stand out in the portfolio this include; conducting interventions and applications, research, communication with other professionals and capability of training other professionals. It is through such assessment can the clear level of understanding by the student be established. The last bit involves the supervised practices, as has been in many disciplines many student are exposed to real scenarios of their theoretical studies. This can be through voluntary services, work or additional training. The idea is to gain experience through supervision and guidance from one or several more experienced mates. This is core preparation to join private or individual practice. This kind of program is very important because the chartered forensic psychologists are expected by the employers and the public to have consistency and ability to handle several issues. The practice under supervision gives chance to make mistakes and learn from them. In summary the following are achieved through supervised practices; Establish requirements and benefits for application or interventions. Ability to plan for applications or intervention Establish, maintain, and develop a working relationship. Implementation of both intervention and application Directing the implementation of intervention or application conducted by others either Evaluation of results from application or interventions (Diploma in Forensic Psychology Candidate Handbook, 2007-2008) Exemplars of this role can be achieved through assisting in investigation like analysis of crime scene, treating or supporting the staff, assessing or treating the offenders through large-scale initiatives and research operations. According to employers records most of the vacancies are advertised for those forensic psychologists that have the following; British psychological society accredited degree in psychology leading to graduate basis for chartered membership and a health professions council approved program of training leading to registration as a forensic psychologist. These are in line with what the course offers and the foundation is set. Once the psychology degree has been attained one can either get a BPS masters in accredited forensic psychology followed by a stage two BPS qualification or a doctorate in forensic psychology to get the registration with the health professional council. (Forensic Psychologist, 2010) The work exactly replicates all that is in the course like the investigating crimes along with police, rehabilitating offenders, supporting prison staff and treating those with severe mental illness in high security hospitals. Main duties include carrying out risk assessment of the offenders, policy and strategy creation, advising parole boards and advising the best sites to locate the prisoners. As this is one of the job descriptions it is very encouraging considering what the course syllabus is offering. (Forensic Psychologist, 2010) References Diploma in Forensic Psychology Candidate Handbook. (2007-2008). Retrieved on; 10/5/11 from: http://www.bps.org.uk/downloadfile.cfm?file_uuid=984CD7F0-1143-DFD0-7E65-2850080DE7AF&ext=pdf Forensic Psychologist, (2010). Retrieved on; 10/5/11 from: https://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/PlanningYourCareer/JobProfiles/JobProfile1601/Pages/default.aspx Forensic Psychology, (2011) Retrieved on; 10/5/11 from: http://www.bps.org.uk/careers/careers_home.cfm Psychology and Criminal Behaviour, (n.d) Retrieved on; 10/5/11 from: http://records.beds.ac.uk/statex/SITS_DEGREE2.asp?module=PSY005-1&semester=TY&title=Psychology%20And%20Criminal%20Behaviour Read More