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Forensic Psychology• Application of Psychological Principles in criminal and civil legal contexts• Can include Assessment, Treatment, Research, Consultancy, Training, Management and Supervision• Client groups include Courts, Offenders and Victims• Criminal Justice Personnel include Police, Prison and Probation

Forensic Psychology• Settings include Custody, Community, Health, Academic Institutions, and the Courts• Emphasis on applying scientific methods to practice – scientist practitioner role• Work thus can be a mixture of Research and Application• HPC Protected Title

Forensic Psychology• BPS (GBC) Accredited Psychology Degree (or alternative)• MSc Forensic Psychology (BPS Accredited)• Route to HPC registration / Chartership• BPS Qualification in Forensic Psychology (“stage 2”)• OR Accredited Practitioner Doctorate in Forensic Psychology

Forensic Psychology• Four core competencies –• Conducting Psychological pplications and Interventions• Research• Communicating Psychological Knowledge and Advice to Other Professionals• Training Other Professionals in Psychological Skills and Knowledge

Forensic Psychology• Division of Criminological and Legal Psychology (BPS) founded in 1977• Major BPS Journal “Legal and Criminological Psychology” from 1995• Became Division of Forensic Psychology 1999• Comments

Forensic Psychology• Most Forensic Psychologists are working in Prison contexts• Originally “Prison Psychologists” recruited from 1940s• “Golden Age” 1999 – 2003• Professional Head Psychologist appointed 2000: prison and probation remit

Forensic Psychology• Led to clearer career structure (Pay roughly £20K - £60K)• Emphasis on need for CPD• Set up (England and Wales) Area Psychologists - 11 areas in all• Reorganisation of Home Office in 2007 – Psychology now under Ministry of Justice• Change endemic – eg growth of private sector

Forensic Psychology• Overview• Treatment programmes (individual and group) in prison and community settings• Assessment of Offenders• Support and Training for Staff• Research• Presenting Evidence in Court• Advising Parole Boards and Mental Health Tribunals

Forensic Psychology• Accredited Offending Behaviour and Substance Misuse Programmes (often CBT based)• Series of activities to help offenders reduce reoffending• “What Works” basis• 42 currently (02/12), including -

Forensic Psychology• CALM (Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it): emotional management programme, to help understand the factors that trigger anger and aggression and how to manage them• ETS (Enhanced Thinking Skills): includes impulse control, flexible thinking, social perspective taking, values, moral reasoning, reasoning, interpersonal problem solving

Forensic Psychology• HRP (Healthy Relationship Programme): for men who have committed domestic violence, with an emphasis on their abusive behaviour, teaching alternative skills and behaviours• SOTP (Sex Offender Treatment Programme): variety of programmes to reduce sex offending (includes Internet variant). Recognising and modifying patterns of dysfunctional thinking, emotional regulation, intimacy skills and relapse prevention

Forensic Psychology• Individual assessments: eg assessing risk of re-offending (eg lifers, sex offenders, parole board) or of suicide, self-harm• Developing and evaluating assessment techniques (eg psychometrics)• Advising governors and staff on incidents (eg hostage taking, suicide)

Forensic Psychology• Research projects (eg bullying, effectiveness of interventions, drop out rate from probation)• Training staff (eg stress management)• Providing consultancy to hospital staff, prison officers, police, etc• Attending team and area meetings

Forensic Psychology• Great variety of prisons (over 120 E&W)• 85600 (in 2010)• Security categories – closed / open• 8 High Security Prisons• Adult / Young Offenders• Gender specific (5% female)• Can be Specialist –sex offenders, psychiatric, drug takers

Forensic Psychology• Growth of foreign nationals in prison (14%)• 83% Convicted / 17% Unconvicted• Lifers (around 11000 – Life / Public Protection)• 27% ethnic minorities

Forensic Psychology• Prison conditions – Architecture• Regimented• Timetabled• Smells / Sounds• Uniforms

Forensic Psychology• Discipline / Complaints• Work / Education• Medical / Religious facilities• Peer support / Listeners• Drugs in prison• Visits

Forensic Psychology• Also employed in other settings• Home Office Research and Development Unit• Health Service (eg Special Hospitals)• Social Service (including Police)• University Lecturers / Researchers

Forensic Psychology• Expert Witnesses in Court - egs• Assessment of mental state• Competency to stand trial• Risk assessment• Personal injury assessment• Child custody in Divorce• Mitigation• Witness Credibility

Forensic Psychology• Investigative Psychology (“Crime Analysts”)• Initial basis of Offender Profiling• Now broader – Eye Witness Testimony, Forensic Psycholinguistics, False Confessions, Deception, Interview Techniques (eg cognitive interviewing)

Forensic Psychology• Prison service recruits -• Psychological Assistants• Trainee Forensic Psychologists• Qualified Psychologists• Various grades• Some become Governors

Forensic Psychology• Claim looking for –• Preferably some relevant experience• Strength of character, patience, integrity, empathy, desire to help offenders• Assessment Centres

Forensic Psychology• See www.justice.gov.uk• Graham Towl et al books (BPS Blackwell)• Psychology in Prisons• Psychology in Probation Services• Applying Psychology to Forensic Practice• Forensic Psychology

PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource

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