Psychology and Justice System

Code:

P723

Acronym:

PSJ

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Psychology

Instance: 2014/2015 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIPSI	31	Official Curricular Structure	4	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

- Acquire in-depth knowledge within the areas of forensic psychology, psychology of justice, witness psychology, among others.
- Acquire in-depth knowledge about the relationship between psychology and the justice system.
- Develop knowledge of the Portuguese Justice System and compare it with other European, North-American and South-American justice and penal systems.
- To understand the role of the psychologist within the Justice System and develop skills in the domain of psychological intervention within the various sub-systems of the justice system (e.g., courts, prisons, reeducation facilities, child welfare institutions).
- Acquire in-depth knowledge about forensic psychological assessment/expertises.

Learning outcomes and competences

It is expected that the student is able:
. to know the interface areas of psychology and the justice system
. to know and undestand the different roles of the psychologist in justice system
. to know the Portuguese justice system and its way of functioning

Working method

Presencial

Program

- Psychology and its contributions for the Justice System.
- Forensic Psychology, Criminal Psychology, Witness Psychology and Criminal Investigation.
- The role of the psychologist in the Justice System.
- The Portuguese legal and penal system.
- The specific role of the psychologist in the Courts, Police and Criminal Investigation, including Forensic Psychological Assessment, Intervention with Perpetrators and Psychological Support to victims in contact with the judicial system, both children and adults.

Mandatory literature

Brewer, N. & Williams, K. D. (Eds); Psychology and law. An empirical perspective., New York: The Guilford Press. , 2005
Ceci, S. & Hembrooke, H. (Eds).; Expert Witness in Child Abuse Cases. What Can and Should be Said in Court., Washington: American Psychological Association., 2001
Debuyst Christian 300; Dangerosité et justice pénale. ISBN: 2-88049-005-7
Eisen, M.L.; Quas, J.A. & Goodman, G.S. (Eds.); Memory and Suggestibility in the Forensic Interview., New Jersey: Laurence Erlbaum., 2002
Fonseca António Castro 070; Psicologia forense. ISBN: 972-40-2853-4
Foucault Michel; Surveiller et punir. ISBN: 2-07-072968-0
Goldstein, A. M. ; Forensic psychology: Emerging topics and expanding roles. , New York: Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2007
Hess Allen K. 340; The^handbook of forensic psychology. ISBN: 0-471-17771-7
Matos, M., Gonçalves, R. & Machado, C. (Eds.); Manual de Psicologia Forense., Braga: Ed. Psiquilibrios., 2011
Santos Celina Paula Manita; Auto-organização psicológica e transgressão
Shapiro David L.; Forensic psychological assessment. ISBN: 0-205-12521-2

Complementary Bibliography

Bartol Curt R.; Criminal behavior. ISBN: 0-13-192766-3
Foucault Michel; Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère.... ISBN: 2-07-028895-1
Machado. C. & Gonçalves, R.A. (Coord.).; Psicologia Forense., Coimbra: Quarteto Editora., 2005
Poole, D. & Lamb, M.; Investigative Interviews of Children. A guide for helping professionals., Washington: American Psychological Association., 1998
Redondo, S.; Garrido, V.; Perez, J. & Barberet, R. (Eds).; Advances in Psychology and Law: International Contributions., Walter De Gruyter, Inc., 1997
Roesch, R.; Hart, S. & Ogloff, J. (Eds).; Psychology and Law. The State of the Discipline., New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Press, 1999
Shapiro David L.; Criminal responsibility evaluations. ISBN: 1-56887-046-9
Walker, L.E. & Shapiro, D.L.; Introduction to Forensic Psychology. Clinical and Social Perspectives., New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Press., 2003
Zilboorg Gregory; The^psychology of the criminal act and punishment

Teaching methods and learning activities

- Some of the classes have a theoretical approach to the topics.
- Theoretical-practical classes with active participation of students.
- Some classes with invited lecturers - professionals within the fields of Law, Police and Criminal Investigation, Forensic Psychology, Social Security, etc. – in order to enrich students’ understanding of their professional activity.
- Elaboration and discussion of theoretical and practical assignments (role-play of a “congress” setting in Psychology and Justice) carried out by students in small group settings throughout the semester.
-Attendance of a trial in a Court of the student’s choice, followed by a descriptive and analytical report of the experience.
- Aside from class work, tutorial supervision of the assignments;
- Independent study, including research and literature search, in order to facilitate the assimilation of contents of the Psychology-Justice relationship and the Psychologist’s role in the judicial system.

keywords

Social sciences > Criminology
Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	50,00
Trabalho de campo	20,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

In the case of non-submission of the individual or group practical works by the deadline established at the beginning of the semester, the student will not be admitted to the final exam and, therefore, cannot obtain final approval in the discipline.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final grade based on a 0-20 scale:
- 50% of the grade is based on the final exam classification;
- 50% of the grade is based on theoretical and practical assignments carried out by the students throughout the semester.

Examinations or Special Assignments

In the legally established situations in which students cannot participate in the practical role-play of the victim’s intervention plan, they must present a written description of a practical case created by them, along with a proposal of assessment and psychological intervention for this case. Similarly, in the legally established situations when the students cannot complete the written exam, it must be replaced with a written assignment on a subject established with the teacher early in the semester.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

In exceptional cases, foreseen in the regulations or in cases duly justified and accepted as valid by the School’s competent committees, students may be evaluated outside the usual context and regular calendar, through the completion of a written project with a content similar to what other students have done to assess the practical component (weighing 50% in the final grade) and an oral or written test on the contents of the discipline (weighing 50% in the final grade). In these cases, the student should contact the teacher responsible for the discipline at the beginning of the semester to define the rules and methodologies of the alternative evaluation.

Classification improvement

There is a possibility of repeating the final written examination (and only the final written examination) in one of the proceeding exam periods.