Psychology and Law

Curt R. Bartol was a college professor for more than 30 years, teaching a wide variety of both undergraduate and graduate courses, including Biopsychology, Criminal Behavior, Juvenile Delinquency, Introduction to Forensic Psychology, Social Psychology, Profiling, and Psychology and Law. He earned his PhD in personality/social psychology from Northern Illinois University in 1972. He studied political science and law at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under a fellowship from the National Institute for the Humanities (NIH). He was instrumental in creating and launching Castleton State College’s graduate program in forensic psychology and served as its director for 6 years. As a licensed clinical psychologist, he has been a consulting police psychologist to local, municipal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for over 30 years. In addition to Introduction to Forensic Psychology, he has coauthored Criminal Behavior: A Psychosocial Approach (now in its 11th ed.), Juvenile Delinquency and Antisocial Behavior: A Developmental Perspective (3rd ed.), Criminal and Behavioral Profiling, and Psychology and Law: Theory, Research, and Application (3rd ed.). He served as editor of SAGE’s Criminal Justice and Behavior: An International Journal, for 17 years. He also co-edited Current Perspectives in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Behavior (3rd ed.). Anne M. Bartol earned an MA and a PhD in criminal justice from State University of New York at Albany. She also holds an MA in journalism from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She taught criminal justice, sociology, and journalism courses over a 20-year college teaching career and has worked as a journalist and a social worker in child and adolescent protective services. In addition to Introduction to Forensic Psychology, she has coauthored Juvenile Delinquency: A Systems Approach; Delinquency and Justice: A Psychosocial Approach; Psychology and Law: Theory, Research, and Application; Criminal Behavior; and Criminal and Behavioral Profiling. She co-edited Current Perspectives, has served as book review editor and managing editor of Criminal Justice and Behavior and has published articles on women and criminal justice, rural courts, and the history of forensic psychology.

• PrefaceAbout the AuthorsCHAPTER 1. IntroductionGoals and DefinitionsPsychology and Law: Three ApproachesWays of Knowing and the Methods of ScienceEthical GuidelinesPsychology and Law: A Challenging AllianceDefining and Classifying LawPsychology and Law: Some DifferencesSummary and ConclusionsKey ConceptsCHAPTER 2. Psychology and the Courts: An OverviewOrganization of the CourtsSpecialized Courts: Drug and Mental Health CourtsThe Judicial ProcessThe Psychologist as an Expert WitnessSummary and ConclusionsKey ConceptsCHAPTER 3. The Criminal Investigative ProcessOverview of ProfilingPaths to Admission of EvidenceInvestigative Interviewing and InterrogationDetection of DeceptionThe Interrogation ProcessThe Psychology of False ConfessionsSummary and ConclusionsKey ConceptsCHAPTER 4. Eyewitness EvidenceA Brief Word on Research MethodologyHuman Perception and MemoryEstimator and System VariablesEyewitness Estimator VariablesEyewitness System VariablesPreserving the Integrity of the SystemPretrial Identification MethodsSummary and ConclusionsKey ConceptsCHAPTER 5. The Trial JuryOverview of the Trial JuryJury ResearchJury SelectionJury Size and Decision RuleJury NullificationSummary and ConclusionsKey ConceptsCHAPTER 6. Jury and Judicial Decision MakingThe Jury Decision-Making ProcessInfluences on Jury Decision MakingDeciding on Death Sentence: A Special IssueDamage Awards in Civil Cases: Another Special IssueJudicial Decision MakingSummary and ConclusionsKey ConceptsCHAPTER 7. Competencies and Criminal ResponsibilityCompetency to Stand Trial (CST)Competency Assessment InstrumentsCompetency RestorationInsanityClinical Assessment of Criminal ResponsibilitySpecial Conditions and Unique DefensesSummary and ConclusionsKey ConceptsCHAPTER 8. Children, Adolescents, and the Criminal LawBrief History and Overview of the Juvenile CourtAdolescent Development as It Pertains to the LawAdolescent Competence and CulpabilityJuvenile CompetencyJuvenile Interrogation and False ConfessionsPlea BargainingChildren as WitnessesSummary and ConclusionsKey ConceptsCHAPTER 9. Psychology and Family LawThe Modern Family CourtChanges in Family Court in Recent YearsDivorce and Child CustodyThe Psychological Effects of Divorce and Custodial ArrangementsThe Roles of Mental Health Professionals in Child Custody CasesAlternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)Contemporary Special Issues in Custody Decision MakingSummary and ConclusionsKey ConceptsCHAPTER 10. Involuntary Civil CommitmentA Brief HistoryModern Commitment StatutesCivil Commitment ProceedingsDuty to Warn or ProtectResearch on DangerousnessInvoluntary Outpatient CommitmentVoluntary CommitmentsInformed Consent and the Right to Refuse TreatmentCivil Commitment of Sex OffendersSummary and ConclusionsKey ConceptsCHAPTER 11. Psychology in Civil LitigationCivil CapacitiesEnd-of-Life IssuesPsychology in the Employment SphereWrongful Death and Personal Injury SuitsPsychology in the Educational SphereSummary and ConclusionsKey ConceptsCHAPTER 12. Psychological Assessment and the LawForensic Assessment in Civil CasesPsychological Assessment in Criminal CasesForensic Classifications of Assessment and TestingClinical Measures and Assessment TechniquesForensically Relevant Instruments (FRIs)Forensic Assessment Instruments (FAIs)Forensic Evaluations in Delinquency CasesSummary and ConclusionsKey ConceptsGlossaryCases CitedReferencesAuthor IndexSubject Index

"The text provides a comprehensive overview of clinical and non-clinical aspects of psychology and the legal system. It is easy to read and clearly illustrates how we can apply psychological principles to the criminal justice system."