Submit your evaluation report of treatment programs for violent and non-violent offenders and victims. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final project. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback

Running Head: FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY

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FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY

Forensic Psychology Literature Review

Matthew Rosario

Southern New Hampshire University

Forensic Psychology (Literature Review)

Forensic psychology refers to the subdivision of psychology which exclusively deals with the evaluation of persons under the justice system of a country. This means that a psychologists’ patients consists of offenders and victims of crimes, which inexplicably denotes the importance of the forensic psychologist in the judicial process. Per se, this paper looks to evaluate the role of forensic psychology in the treatment of diverse populations in the judicial systems. The analysis will rely on various literature that offers insightful knowledge on the concerns and treatment methodologies that specifically relate to non-violent offenders, violent offenders, and trauma victims. Comment by Rachell: I’m not sure this is what you mean…? Comment by Rachell: There really is NO reason to use this phrase in an academic paper. Comment by Rachell: This is somewhat redundant with the previous sentence.

Non-violent Offenders

Common concerns

The term non-violent offenders derives its implication in literal sense by referring to criminals who engage in criminal activities that contribute no harm to the victim. The judicial system faces a large number of cases that often can be attributed to non-violent offenders, explaining the huge number of such offenders in the current populations in prisons. The prevalence of psychological illness among criminal offenders is a serious issue taking into account that reports from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services show that approximately 20% of U.S. citizens suffer from a diagnosable mental illness. Comment by Rachell: what does this really mean? Consider revising for clarity. Comment by Rachell: You must provide a citation each and every time you use information from a source or else it’s plagiarism.This applies throughout your paper. Be sure to add in citations throughout for info you got from a source. Also, up front, you do not have enough sources (or have not cited) enough to meet rubric requirements.

According to Levi, Nussbaum, & and Rich, (2010), the clinical assessment of non-violent offenders will involve a diagnosis of the numerous symptoms that the offender has been showing before and after the criminal act. First, the offender could be suffering from Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) which affects the ability of an individual to coexist with other members of the society. Patients from APD have been known to have disregard of social norms and the emotions of those they hurt. This means that many non-violent offenders will always tend to display behavior that can be construed to be public disturbance, an offence punishable by law (Levi, Nussbaum & Rich, 2010). Comment by Rachell: You should use “and” for citations outside of parentheses, but “&” for citations inside parentheses

Additionally, the incarceration of a non-violent offender to a restrictive prison system has shown to have ultimate effect on the psychological profile of many non-violent offenders. Most non-violent offenders encounter great shock upon imprisonment, leading to further psychological concerns such as increased conduct disorder. Invariably, it is the responsibility of a qualified forensic psychologist to model the best treatment regime to aid the rehabilitation of mentally ill non-violent offenders. The concerns identified above are not necessarily restrictive to non-violent offenders, as they can displayed by other mentally ill patients who are either nonaggressive or violent (Levi, Nussbaum & Rich, 2010).. Comment by Rachell: Remember, the focus on this whole final project is on the treatment of offenders and trauma victims. This includes the common concerns. So each piece of this rubric, you should be discussing in relation to treatment.

Treatment

The aptitude to understand the ramifications of a psychological illness on the social behavior of an individual is essential in enabling proper diagnosis of mental illness and articulating the proper treatment regime. The importance of treatment is attributed to the need to offer the paramount transitioning skills from jail back to the society. Comment by Rachell: Okay. How might you write this clearly and concisely, avoiding some of the jargon type writing? Comment by Rachell: Be sure to try to write clearly. It appears that you are using words which may fit tangentially, but actually end up interfering with your clarity.

In a study titled, Treating offenders with mental illness: A review of the literature by Vanderloo and Butters (2012) identifiedy the need to balance between two treatment techniques, ‘offense focused’ and ‘offender focused’ treatments. For instance, treatment of Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) is a cumulative process that targets management of dire symptoms and any associative behaviors like drug use. The offender can be prescribed for medication by the doctor that often helps in suppressing extreme behaviors and symptoms that are exhibited uncontrollably. Comment by Rachell: TIP: You should NEVER do this, anymore, in your entire writing career. Instead, write per APA guidelines. You will not use phrases like “this study said, this article found,” or list the title of studies. Instead, you just cite! It’s easier and MUCH more concise. See the writing chapter of your APA manual. I will fix this one, but you will need to correct all instances of this and similar ones, in this assignment and all future assignments. See how my revision cut out unnecessary info. The reason for citations in yoru paper is for conciseness, so you are simply referring the reader to your reference list, saving you all this space in your paper to devote to more relevant information. Comment by Rachell: You’ve already used abbreviation previously so you can use it from now on. Comment by Rachell: Support for this?

Another relevant form of treatment that can be applied is through group-based interventions programs. However, due to the regulations under which the prison systems in America operate, this is unviable. The security required to control groups is cumbersome and cannot be guaranteed. Thus, the treatment will majorly involve the psychologist and the offender only (Vanderloo and Butters, 2012). Comment by Rachell: Then why mention it? Ideally you should be reviewing the literature of treatment of this population. It really doesn’t help your paper or make sense to bring something up that isn’t viable. Review relevant literature.

Violent offenders.

Common Concerns

Violent offenders refers to criminals caught in the act or after committing a crime that often has potential body harm on the victim or on their own person. Violence is used to refer to assault on others and oneself, every so often through suicide attempts. The major psychological concern that is attributable to violent offenders is the nature of anger and violence-proneness. Vanderloo and Butters (2012), note that violent offenders have an aggressive biasness towards others that can be said to arise from improper behavioral scripts. In a generally developing psychology science, the impact of psychopathy profiling has been identified as another major concern with violent offenders. Though, it is important to note that there is no consensus on the personality traits of a psychopath since there is categorical evidence showing the ability to mask violent tendencies with a confident persona. A psychopathic violent offender will reveal other symptoms associated with emotional deficiency or double-personality, which feed their hunger for forcefulness. The concerns noted above are majorly associated with violent offenders. Comment by Rachell: Simply, clarify, combine these two sentences. Comment by Rachell: Explain this further Comment by Rachell: What does this mean? Comment by Rachell: What does this mean? This is another sentence that seems like it says something but really doesn’t. Make sure to continue to work on clearly stating your points. Comment by Rachell: Support for this statement? Comment by Rachell: Which is what? Comment by Rachell: Support?

Treatment

The threat posed by vicious mentally ill offenders requires that forensic psychologists to engage their patients under strict supervision of a security personnel. According to Vanderloo and Butters (2012), the treatment of violent offenders will begin with simple adjustments to daily routines that target cognitive behavioral treatment to help control anger and illegal conduct. It is important for the prison staff to be engaged in the process by avoiding confrontations and general survey of the individual when in public sections. Comment by Rachell: This is a very emotionally laden term…do you just mean violent? Comment by Rachell: So the treatment begins with treatment? What did you really intend to say?

Sentence commutations of offenders has been termed as another solution to mentally-ill patients to avoid the escalation of their mental state. However, due to the violent nature of this population, this particular solution is not applicable, considering the tough stance on to violent offences by the judicial system. Comment by Rachell: Same comment as up above section – you’ll need to vamp this up to be proficient and thoroughly review the literature.

Trauma Victims

Common Concerns

Trauma victims represents a distinct population from the other populations discussed above, due to its focus on the psychological effect of a criminal act on the victim. Different people will display different reactions or responses to a traumatic event. The most common type of concern relates to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with different degree of level from subtle to outright destructive on the health of the victim. Leading causes of trauma victims are sexual crimes, domestic violence, war, and death of a close friend or relative. Comment by Rachell: Do you mean trauma? Leading causes of trauma victims sounds odd. Comment by Rachell: Support for this?

In a recent study on trauma victims and forensic psychology by Kilbourbe & and Goodman (2015), the researchers noted the that levels of anxiety are manifested by trauma victims through mood swings, irritability, and lack of sleep. These emotional reactions have a painful effect on the close relatives of the victims too. Comment by Rachell: How? Support? Remember the focus should be on concerns related to treatment of these populations.

Treatment

The nature of this psychological profile makes it different to the other two populations in both categories; psychological concerns and treatment methodologies. According to Kilbourbe & Goodman (2015), the important step in the treatment of trauma victims is to discourage the tendency to isolate from others. The withdrawal from other will encourage depression and regress any attempts in offering support. The psychologist can also prescribe drugs that will help in regulating the nervous system extreme reactions that will offer the victim greater sense of control over their emotions. The healing process can also be aided by therapy sessions to help the victim evaluation of their feelings about the traumatic event. Comment by Rachell: Same comments as up above. This is a much better start, but you don’t have enough to make it a truly proficient lit review.

References

Kilbourne, B., Kilbourne, S., & Goodman, J. (2015). PTSD and Forensic Psychology: A Continuum of Care and Multi-Modality Approach (CCMM). The Forensic Examiner. Comment by Rachell: Matthew, see the rubric requirements under “Guidelines for Submission.” You do not have enough references.

Levi, M. D., Nussbaum, D. S., & Rich, J. B. (2010). Neuropsychological and personality characteristics of predatory, irritable, and nonviolent offenders: Support for a typology of criminal human aggression. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 37(6), 633-655.

Vanderloo, M. J., & Butters, R. P. (2012). Treating offenders with mental illness: A review of the literature. Utah: Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah.