Broad personality or global traits are unlikely to assist in solving capital crimes, so forensic psychologists have begun to focus on characteristics of the crime to create differentiating profiles. The purpose of this study was to determine if offender and victim characteristics and method of murder could provide cluster profiles differentiating familial relationship between offender and victim. Guided by classical conditioning theory and social learning theory, an archival database of 147 capital offenders responsible for 506 victims was analyzed. Cluster analysis yielded 3 distinct profiles. Compared to other clusters, Cluster 1 offenders tended to be Black and unfamiliar with their victims, who tended to be male between 20 and 50 years old that were typically shot. Cluster 2 offenders tended to be White and familiar with their typically female victims under the age of 20 who they typically murdered by use of blunt force or strangulation. Cluster 3 offenders were distinguished from the other 2 clusters only by having accounted for 90.6% of all victims who were stabbed, but no other associations with variables in the data set were discovered to explain this finding. Though limited in sample size, range of variables, and supplemental insights that could have been gained from case files or interviews, the results contribute to positive social change with offender-victim characteristics and method of murder profiles that begin to differentiate the familial offender-victim relationship and that future research can prospectively build on to create retrospective profiling models, which could potentially lead to resolving unsolved serial murder cases.

There has been a significant amount of research on the impact of stress and job satisfaction amongst employees in a multitude of professional settings, including the criminal justice and higher education field. Yet, information on criminal justice professionals who work in more untraditional types of higher education institutions, such as career colleges, was lacking. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to examine whether there is a significant relationship between stress, job satisfaction, and being employed as a criminal justice department head within a career college institution and compare whether heads of other departments within career college institutions differ in terms of these relationships. Selye's stress model and Spector's model of job satisfaction were used as the theoretical framework. Nonexperimental quantitative survey data were collected from 77 department heads and instructors who worked in career college institutions. Participants were selected using a nonprobability convenience sampling procedure. The data were evaluated using discriminant analysis. The overall results showed no significant differences in the relationship of stress and job satisfaction between criminal justice department heads and instructors and their counterparts in other academic departments. Further in-depth research regarding the individual work-related experiences of these professionals could be beneficial in gaining a holistic understanding of criminal justice professionals who transition to higher education. With more knowledge, employers within this sector of higher education may be able to better evaluate institutional practices and develop more effective intervention and training programs aimed at improving retention and job satisfaction, as well as, igniting a change in the negative image that is often times associated with career college institutions.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is currently known as the silent killer among combat veterans who have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. Many combat veterans do not know or understand that they may be suffering from mental illness/disorders such as PTSD and turn to maladaptive behavior, resulting in criminal justice involvement (CJI). The goal of this study was to assess a relationship between PTSD and CJI among combat veterans. This study used cognitive behavior theory to understand the relationship between PTSD, CJI, and combat. This study used a predictive correlational design and statistical analysis of retrospective archival data (N=146) provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs to find the correlation between PTSD, CJI, and combat. The 5 research questions were: Does PTSD positively predict CJI in combat veterans? Does criminal history pre combat positively predict CJI in combat veterans who have PTSD? Does combat trauma experience positively predict CJI in combat veterans with PTSD? Does deployment length positively predict PTSD in combat veterans? And do multiple deployments positively predict PTSD in combat veterans? This study determined that PTSD did not significantly predict CJI and that criminal history did not predict PTSD. However, this study did predict that multiple deployments and length of deployment does predict PTSD in combat veterans. This study provides a way to bring change to how veterans are treated in the criminal justice system. This is important for many reasons, such as the positive social change it will have on the veteran community through providing insight on the changes that need to be made in PTSD awareness education and possible change in assessment and treatment of PTSD.

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The study focused on the occurrence of dyslexia among the convicted in the Czech Republic. On the ground of plentiful research results from various countries that refer to a connection between dyslexia and criminality, a research was conducted in Czech penitentiary environment (specifically the Horní Slavkov prison). The research sample comprised of 113 respondents aged 22 - 65 in the first round of data collection. All respondents met the research criteria: Czech citizenship, Czech nationality and Czech as a mother tongue. The data were collected via the Raven's standard progressive matrixes, personal questionnaire, interview, assessment battery including tests on specific learning disabilities among adolescents and adults and a rapid naming test. The research results have proven a several times higher occurrence of dyslexia among the sample population than in common population, which is 34 % dyslexic individuals in the sample. The research results are comparable to research results from abroad. On top of that, up to 84 % of the respondents spontaneously demonstrated dyslexic difficulties during the interview. Reading and writing skills in the sample are comparable to those in common population and intelligence is slightly higher than standard. The research hypothesis that there is a connection...

Este trabalho pretende oferecer uma análise crítica da Síndrome de Alienação Parental (SAP). Primeiramente visa apresentar o conceito de SAP, o modelo diagnóstico e interventivo tal como propostos por Richard Alan Gardner, psiquiatra forense americano. A análise de sua obra baseiase em uma leitura psicanalítica que permite ampliar a explicação da ocorrência da síndrome para além de uma descrição fenomenológica e objetiva tal como formalizada pelo seu criador. A definição clínica permite hipotetizar os termos genético-estruturais da SAP segundo um recorte psicanalítico a partir de Freud e Lacan. Parte-se da constituição do sujeito para explicar que a eficácia da SAP é possível a partir de um reforçamento da alienação fundamental induzido por um cuidador em uma criança que está na sua dependência. Realiza-se uma formalização mais precisa da síndrome a partir da proposição da SAP como uma montagem particular de transferência que se estabelece entre a criança e um cuidador, que desfaz ou minimiza os laços com o outro genitor. O fenômeno da transferência é decomposto em seus elementos formativos, a saber, identificação, sugestão, fantasia e idealização, de forma a permitir explicar a SAP como uma conjugação específica desses componentes que resulta na associação de uma posição subjetiva da criança à posição do genitor programador. Desta leitura são extraídas consequências à práxis no campo Psicojurídico, as quais permitem discutir algumas questões relativas ao tratamento e à sua regulação no interior do dispositivo jurídico. Embora a psicanálise critique modelos psicopatológicos e nosográficos, algumas linhas mestras iluminadas na SAP de Gardner trazem contribuições inovadoras frente aos sintomas da família moderna, permitindo resgatar a eficácia de um sistema disciplinar jurídico ligado ao processo civilizatório com efeitos terapêuticos e viabilizando a configuração familiar das duas linhagens como núcleo referente e formador da criança / The aim of this study is to offer a critical analysis of the Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS). First it intends to introduce the concept of PAS, the diagnostic and interventional model as proposed by Richard Alan Gardner, American forensic psychiatrist. The analysis of his work relies on a psychoanalytic reading that allows to extend the explanation of the occurrence of the syndrome in addition to a phenomenological and objective description as formalized by its creator. The clinical definition makes possible to hypothesize genetic-structural terms of PAS through a psychoanalytic view from Freud and Lacan. It starts with the constitution of the subject to explain that the effectiveness of PAS is possible from a reinforcement of the fundamental alienation stimulated by a caregiver in a child who is in their dependence. It is carried out a more precise formalization of the syndrome from the proposition of the PAS as a particular transference assembly that is established between the child and a caregiver that undoes or minimizes the ties with the other parent. The phenomenon of transference is decomposed into its formative elements, namely, identification, suggestion, fantasy and idealization, in order to explain the PAS like a specific combination of these components which results in the association of a child\'s subjective position to the position of the programming parent. Consequences of this reading are taken to the practice in psycholegal field, which enable to discuss some issues related to treatment and its regulation within the legal provision. Although psychoanalysis criticizes psychopathological and nosographic models, some guidelines enlightened in GardnerPAS bring forward innovative contributions to the symptoms of the modern family, enabling to rescue the effectiveness of a legal disciplinary system linked to the civilizing process with therapeutic effects and allowing the family configuration of the two lineages as referent and forming core of the child

A Psicologia Jurídica é concebida como contendo a Psicologia Forense, que contém a Psicologia Judiciária. Estas relações de inclusão, com as respectivas delimitações, são aqui estabelecidas com fundamento nos papéis de perito e assistente técnico, tais como previstos na legislação vigente, da qual se abstraiu o critério de ausência ou presença da imposição de imparcialidade e pela qual se reconheceram diferenças quanto aos objetivos da atuação. Nosso método consistiu em proceder à ampla pesquisa da legislação pertinente, assim como de resoluções, diretrizes e bibliografia avalizada pelo Sistema Conselhos de Psicologia, além da bibliografia do último concurso do Tribunal de Justiça de São Paulo e de outras publicações a que tivemos acesso. Conduzimo-nos com o intuito de apontar imprecisões decorrentes da porosidade entre essas três áreas das interfaces da Psicologia com o Direito, cujas delimitações não nos pareceram ainda devidamente acentuadas. Pautamo-nos pela prescrição de obrigatoriedade da perícia psicológica na legislação e na regulamentação da profissão, enfatizando os contornos entre perícia psicológica e diagnóstico psicológico, discernindo o trabalho do psicólogo judiciário do cabível ao psicólogo assistente técnico forense. Empenhamo-nos em caracterizar a assistência técnica psicológica como todo o trabalho realizado sob a égide da ética da relação entre profissional e cliente/usuário de serviço público, em contraposição à ética da realização de perícias. Como resultado, definimos o campo da Psicologia Jurídica como o conjunto universo de todas essas práticas, nela se inserindo aquelas realizadas nos órgãos cujo fundamento é evitar a jurisdicionalização dos conflitos (Defensoria Pública e Conselho Tutelar), bem como naqueles voltados a atender pessoas em situação de vulnerabilidade social (CRAS) ou sob risco de rompimento de vínculos familiares (CREAS), quando o psicólogo insiste em uma prática genuinamente psicológica, ou seja, que não se volte a atender objetivos forenses (adequação do convívio familiar, mediação/conciliação de conflitos, promoção do entendimento, formalização do acordo, tomada de decisão). Classificamos como Psicologia Forense o trabalho do psicólogo na execução penal objetivando a reintegração social do preso e o realizado nas Centrais de Penas e Medidas Alternativas, assim como a assistência técnica psicológica realizada no Ministério Público e nos serviços criados pela Lei Maria da Penha e nos CREAS. Já a Psicologia Judiciária, classificamos como as práticas realizadas pelo psicólogo funcionário dos Tribunais de Justiça e as de todos que a eles se equiparam ao proceder a estudo psicológico sob determinação judicial de envolvidos em processos judiciais com quem nunca mantiveram contato prévio, além da realização de exame criminológico pelo psicólogo que atua no sistema prisional. Concluímos que a prática psicológica será judiciária quando ofertada sob a obrigação do objetivo de subsidiar uma decisão judicial, estando submetida ao princípio de imparcialidade, tendo como beneficiário o dever de julgar do juiz; será forense quando, por força de compromisso profissional, assumir o objetivo de influenciar uma decisão judicial em conformidade com os interesses do envolvido, sendo intrinsecamente parcial, tendo como beneficiária a pessoa atendida; será jurídica quando fundamentada na não jurisdicionalização dos conflitos e esquivar-se de subsidiar ou influenciar objetivos forenses, beneficiando o atendido / The Legal Psychology is presented as containing the Forensic Psychology, which contains the Judicial Psychology. These relationships of inclusion and their boundaries are established on the basis of legal expert and forensic assistant coach roles, as is provided for by law, from which it abstracted the discretion of the expert impartial enforcement and the condition of intrinsic bias to assistant coach, where also acknowledged differences in the performance objectives. Our method was to carry out extensive research in the relevant legislation, as well as resolutions, guidelines and references endorsed by the Psychology System Council, as well as in the literature of the last public concourse of the Court of São Paulo and in other publications that we had access . We conduct ourselves under the bias point out the inaccuracies that arise from the lack of recognition of the differences between these three areas of Legal Psychology. We based our research in the definition of psychological legal expertise as an obligation arising from the legislation and the regulatory profession by emphasizing the distinction between psychological skills and psychological diagnosis and differences between the work of the judicial psychologist and the psychologist forensic assistant coach; characterized as psychological technical assistance all the work done under the aegis of ethics of the professional relationship - client / public service user, and demonstrated to be irreconcilable with performing expertise. As a result, we define the field of Legal Psychology as the universal set of all these practices, it being inserted those carried out in organs which is based avoid jurisdictionalization conflicts (Public Defense and Child Protection Agency) and those geared to meet people in a situation of social vulnerability (CRAS) or at risk of disruption of family ties (CREAS), when psychologist insists on a genuinely psychological practice, that is, not again meet forensic objectives (adequacy of family life, mediation / conciliation conflicts, promotion of understanding, formalizing the agreement, decision making). Classified as Forensic Psychology the working in criminal enforcement when facing the social reintegration of the prisoner and when held in the Punishment and Alternative Measures Service and psychological service held in the Public Prosecutor and services created by the Maria da Penha Law and CREAS. We classify as Judicial Psychology practices conducted by psychologist employee of the Courts of Justice and all that they are equipped to carry out psychological study under judicial determination with involved in legal proceedings who have never had previous contact, and also conducting criminological examination the psychologist who works in the prison system. We conclude that psychological practice is judicial when performed under the obligation to support a judicial decision, being subject to the principle of impartiality, having as beneficiary the duty to decide to judge; Forensics will be when, for professional commitment to power, take in order to influence a court decision in accordance with the interests of involved, being intrinsically part, having as beneficiary the person served; It will be legal when to dodge influence court decisions and benefit the person served

Eyewitness recognition is acknowledged to be prone to error but there is less understanding of difficulty in discriminating unfamiliar faces. This thesis examined the effects of face perception on identification of facial composites, and on unfamiliar face image comparison. Facial composites depict face memories by reconstructing features and configurations to form a likeness. They are generally reconstructed from an unfamiliar face memory, and will be unavoidably flawed. Identification will require perception of any accurate features, by someone who is familiar with the suspect and performance is typically poor. In typical face perception, face images are processed efficiently as complete units of information. Chapter 2 explored the possibility that holistic processing of inaccurate composite configurations will impair identification of individual features. Composites were split below the eyes and misaligned to impair holistic analysis (cf. Young, Hellawell, & Jay, 1987); identification was significantly enhanced, indicating that perceptual expertise with inaccurate configurations exerts powerful effects that can be reduced by enabling featural analysis. Facial composite recognition is difficult, which means that perception and judgement will be influence by an affective recognition bias: smiles enhance perceived familiarity, while negative expressions produce the opposite effect. In applied use, facial composites are generally produced from unpleasant memories and will convey negative expression; affective bias will, therefore, be important for facial composite recognition. Chapter 3 explored the effect of positive expression on composite identification: composite expressions were enhanced, and positive affect significantly increased identification. Affective quality rather than expression strength mediated the effect, with subtle manipulations being very effective. Facial image comparison (FIC) involves discrimination of two or more face images. Accuracy in unfamiliar face matching is typically in the region of 70%, and as discrimination is difficult, may be influenced by affective bias. Chapter 4 explored the smiling face effect in unfamiliar face matching. When multiple items were compared, positive affect did not enhance performance and false positive identification increased. With a delayed matching procedure, identification was not enhanced but in contrast to face recognition and simultaneous matching, positive affect improved rejection of foil images. Distinctive faces are easier to discriminate. Chapter 5 evaluated a systematic caricature transformation as a means to increase distinctiveness and enhance discrimination of unfamiliar faces. Identification of matching face images did not improve, but successful rejection of non-matching items was significantly enhanced. Chapter 6 used face matching to explore the basis of own race bias in face perception. Other race faces were manipulated to show own race facial variation, and own race faces to show African American facial variation. When multiple face images were matched simultaneously, the transformation impaired performance for all of the images; but when images were individually matched, the transformation improved perception of other race faces and discrimination of own race faces declined. Transformation of Japanese faces to show own race dimensions produced the same pattern of effects but failed to reach significance. The results provide support for both perceptual expertise and featural processing theories of own race bias. Results are interpreted with reference to face perception theories; implications for application and future study are discussed.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Duquesne University, 2005. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p. 180-184) and index.