Psychology and Law: Research and Practice

Written by two authors who have successfully reached and enlightened thousands of undergraduate and graduate students in criminal justice and psychology, Psychology and Law presents the key legal principles and psychological guidelines and research that impact criminal law in the United States. Supported by numerous examples from the proceedings in well-known criminal cases, photos, focusing on key court cases in special interest boxes, the book is readable and contemporary for today's students.

Chapter 1: Introduction Psychology and Law: Three Approaches Ways of Knowing and the Methods of Science Courts and the Method of Science Psychology and the Law: A Challenging Alliance Defining and Classifying Law Psychology and Law: Some Differences Chapter 2: Psychology and the Courts: An Overview Organization of the Courts The Judicial Process The Psychologist as an Expert Witness Chapter 3: The Investigative Process Legal Background Detection of Deception Forensic Interrogation The Psychology of False Confessions The Polygraph Chapter 4: Competencies and Criminal Responsibility Competency to Stand Trial Insanity Special Conditions and Unique Defenses Chapter 5: Eyewitness Evidence Human Perception and Memory Estimator and System Variables Eyewitness Estimator Variables System Variables in Eyewitness Testimony Children as Witnesses Elderly Witnesses Pretrial Identification Methods Chapter 6: The Trial Jury Overview of the Jury Jury Research Jury Selection Jury Size and Decision Rule Jury Instructions Death Sentencing The Death Qualification Process Death Qualified Excludables Clinical and Statistical Prediction in Capital Cases Capital Sentencing Instructions Jury Nullification Chapter 7: Jury and Judicial Decision Making The Jury Decision Making Process Judicial Decision Making Chapter 8: Controversial Psychological Topics in The Courtroom Overview of Profiling Criminal Scene Profiling The CSI Effect: Fact or Fiction? Paths to Admission of Evidence Standards for Admission of Profiling Testimony Profiling as Expert Evidence The Psychological Autopsy Forensic Hypothesis Chapter 9: Psychology and the Family Court The Modern Family Court Changes in Family Court in Recent Years Divorce and Child Custody Psychological Effects of Divorce and Custodial Arrangements Roles of Mental Health Profession in Child Custody Matters Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Contemporary Special Issues in Custody Decision Making Chapter 10: Involuntary Civil Commitment A Brief History Modern Commitment Statutes Civil Commitment Proceedings Duty to Warn and/or Protect Research on Dangerousness Involuntary Outpatient Commitments Voluntary Commitments Informed Consent and the Right to Refuse Treatment Civil Commitment of Sex Offenders Chapter 11: Psychology of Civil Litigation Civil Capacities End of Life Issues Psychology in the Employment Sphere Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Suits Psychology in the Educational Sphere Chapter 12: Psychological Assessement and the Law Forensic Classifications of Assessment and Testing Clinical Measures and Assessment Techniques Forensically Relevant Instruments Forensic Assessment Instruments Forensic Evaluations in Delinquency Cases