270092 Applying psychology for the assessment and treatment of offenders in forensic settings (BS) (WiSe 2011/2012)

The course will examine current issues relating to the assessment, manage¬ment and treatment of different types of offenders from a psychological perspective in the UK. An introduction into the role of forensic psychology within a maximum-security hospital will be provided. This will explore both general and specific issues related to working with dangerous mentally disordered and non disordered offenders currently in the United King¬dom. Issues relating to the assessment of mental disorder and offending behaviour and their relation¬ship will be raised throughout. The importance of assessment in understanding the function of offending, identifying treatment targets and measuring change will be high¬light¬ed along with difficulties associated. Some treatment models will be described and their appli¬cation to a variety of offences discussed. This will include the special hospital setting and criminal justice setting. Gender differences will be examined with particular attention to the manifestation of mental health problems in women who offend. Forensic cases will be used throughout to demonstrate the complexities associated with treating this population.
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will have:
1) a general understanding of the role of Forensic Psychologists in the assessment and treatment of offenders.
2) An understanding of issues related to the assessment, management and treatment of mentally disordered offenders.
3) An understanding of issues related to the assessment, management and treatment of non-mentally disordered offenders.
Session one: Brief Introduction to the Role of Psychologists in Secure Settings and Treatment of Personality Disorder
Session two: Assessment of Offending Behaviour and Use of Actuarial Tools
Session three: Working with Sexual Offenders and Relapse Prevention
Session four: Assessment and Treatment of Female Offenders and Gender Issues

Teilnahmevoraussetzungen, notwendige Vorkenntnisse

Seminarsprache ist Englisch. Gute Sprachkenntnisse und die Bereitschaft, in Englisch zu kommunizieren, werden daher vorausgesetzt.

A further requirement is an interest in Forensic Psychology, assessment methods and treatment of various offenders.

For students taking module R, the general requirements for participation in that module also apply (see "Modulhandbuch").

Interested students are required to express their intent to participate via e-mail to A.Pina@kent.ac.uk no later than 1 September 2011. They will then receive a confirmation of enrolment, and individual reading assignments will be agreed via e-mail by 15 September 2011.

Literaturangaben

Core readings:
Hollin, C. (2000). Handbook of offender assessment and treatment, Willey Blackwell.
Howitt, D. (2009). Assessment of risk, dangerousness and recidivism. In: Introduction to forensic and criminal psychology (3rd Edition), Essex: Pearson Educational.
Hollin, C.R. & Palmer, E.J. (eds.) (2006). Offending behaviour programmes: Development, application and controversies. Chicester: Wiley.
Dolan, M & Doyle, M. (2000). Violence risk prediction. British Journal of Psychiatry, 177, 303-311
Ireland, J.L. (2004). Compiling forensic risk assessment reports. Forensic Update, 77 (April), 15-22.
Taylor, J.L, Thorne, I., Robertson, A. and Avery, G. (2002). Evaluation of a group intervention for convicted arsonists with mild and borderline intellectual disabilities. Criminal Behavior and Mental Health, 12(4), 282-293.

Helpful links:

A review of current sex offender treatment programmes:
http://www.ramas.co.uk/report4.pdf

http://www.iatso.org/
http://www.nota.co.uk/
http://www.atsa.com/