Forensic Psych Final Exam

Abusive Head Trauma (AHT)

a form of child abuse in which an adult shakes or otherwise injures an infant so badly that it causes significant brain damage or death

Accusatorial approach

in police interrogation, an aggressive questioning procedure that assumes the suspect is responsible for a criminal offense and has the goal of obtaining a confession

Active shooter

one or more individuals engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area

Acute dynamic factors

psychological characteristics that change rapidly (within days, hours, or even minutes) and include such things as mood swings, emotional arousal, and alcohol or other drug-induced effects

Adjudicative competence

the ability to participate in variety of legal proceeding, including plea bargaining and participating in a criminal trial

Administrative segregation

a form of custody exercised by prison administrators to isolate an inmate physically from the rest of the prison population for variety of reasons, including but not limited to protection of the inmate

Adolescent-Limited offenders (ALs)

individuals who usually demonstrate delinquent or antisocial behavior only during their teen years and then stop offending during their young adult years

Advance directive

documents that allow persons to make advance decisions about life-sustaining procedures in the event of a terminal condition or persistent vegetative state or any other later health care decision

Aftercare

in the juvenile justice system, this term is sometimes used for the equivalent of parole

Aggravating factors

circumstances surrounding a crime that heighten its seriousness for purposes of sentencing. An example would be an excessively heinous or cruel method of carrying out a crime, such as a torture murder

Aggression

behavior that is intended to cause harm or damage to another person

Allocution

the right to speak out during court proceedings, such as at the bail hearing, the sentencing hearing, or the parole board hearing. For example, victims are allowed to speak out at sentencing hearings in state and federal criminal courts

Amenability to rehabilitation

refers to the extent to which an offender, particularly a juvenile, is likely to benefit from programs or services available, within an institutional or community setting

American Psychological Association (APA)

the largest professional association for psychologists in the world, with over 117,000 members as of 2017

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

a federal law that guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in state and local government services, public accommodations, employment, transportation, and telecommunications

Amicus curiae briefs

document submitted to appellate courts by outside parties to call attention to research or issues that might otherwise escape the courts' attention

Antisocial behavior

any behavior that is considered a violation of social norms in society; antisocial behaviors may or may not be defined as crimes

Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD or ASP)

a disorder characterized by a history of continuous behavior in which the rights of others are violated

Appellate jurisdiction

a court's authority to hear appeals from decisions of lower courts

Approximation rule

in some jurisdictions, a judge looks at the amount of caretaking done by each parent before making a decision on child custody

Arraignment

Court proceeding during which criminal defendants are formally charged with an offense, informed of their rights, and asked to enter a plea

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT)

court-ordered mental health treatment in the community, on the condition that a person will be hospitalized or rehospitalized if not cooperative with treatment providers

Association for Psychological Science (APS)

an organization of psychologists dedicated to the advancement of science in psychology. After the APA, it is the next-largest psychological association in the United States

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

traditionally considered a chronic neurological condition characterized by developmentally poor attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. More contemporary perspectives also see the behavioral pattern as a deficiency in interpersonal skills

Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS)

a cluster of behavioral and psychological characteristics believed common to women who have been abused in relationships. Many researchers, clinicians, and legal scholars do not accept it as a valid syndrome

Battering

a term often reserved for PHYSICAL VIOLENCE experienced in intimate relationships, such as in a dating relationship, marriage or partnership, or separation and divorce

Bench trial/court trial

a civil or criminal trial in which the judge, rather than a jury, is the finder or fact, responsible for reviewing the evidence and rendering a verdict

Best Interest of the Child (BIC) standard

the legal doctrine that the parents' legal rights should be secondary to what is best for the child

Beyond a reasonable doubt

the burden of proof that must be met by the government in all criminal cases

Bias crimes

also called hate crimes, these are criminal offenses motivated by an offender's bias against a group to which the victim either belongs or is believed to belong

Biological/neurological perspective

the research perspective that biological, genetic, or neuropsychological factors make a significant contribution to aggression. Although this perspective does not suggest that these factors "cause" violent crime or delinquency, it does indicate that some individuals may be biologically or neurologically predisposed to committing violent acts

Blended sentencing

in the juvenile justice system, this refers to giving juveniles a mix of juvenile and adult sanctions, such as juvenile treatment program followed by adult parole supervision once juvenile has reached adulthood

Boldness dominance (fearless dominance)

interpersonal style characterized by fearlessness, calmness, and low stress level when confronted with crises or stress-inducting situations. Believed by some scholars to be a core factor in psychopathy

Bullying

a form of peer aggression in which one or more individuals physically, verbally, or psychologically harass a victim who is perceived to be weaker. Although primarily directed at children and adolescents, bullying also may be directed at adult peers

Bystanders

those individuals who are witnesses to a crime or have information about potential attack

Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits

group of personality characteristics believed to be associated with psychopathy, such as self-centeredness and lack of empathy

Capacity assessment

attempts to answer the question of whether a person has the ability to perform certain tasks or made specific decisions about their welfare and safety

Case Linkage Analysis (CLA)

method of identifying crimes that are likely to have been committed by the same offender because of similarities across the crimes

Challenge for cause

exercised by an attorney or judge whenever it can be demonstrated that a would-be juror does not satisfy the statutory or other requirements for jury duty

Child abduction

unlawfully leading, taking, enticing, or detaining a child under a specified age with intent to keep or conceal the child from the parent, guardian, or other person having lawful custody

Child Custody Evaluations (CCEs)

also called parenting evaluations or assessments, these are assessments prepared for courts by mental health professionals to help judges make decisions in disputed custody situations

Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome (CSAAS)

a term reserved for a cluster of behaviors that occur in children who have been victims of sexual abuse by a family member or an adult with whom the child has a trusting relationship. The syndrome is controversial and has little empirical support

Child sex trafficking

associated with child abduction of some children, this refers to their exploitation for sexual purposes, such as the production of child pornography or prostitution

Clear and convincing evidence

legal standard achieved when the truth of the facts asserted is highly probable but does not reach the standard of beyond of reasonable doubt

Coerced-compliant false confessions

admissions of guilt most likely to occur after prolonged and intense interrogation experiences, such as when sleep deprivation is a feature. The suspect, in desperation to avoid further discomfort, admits to the crime even knowing that they are innocent

Coerced-internalized false confessions

these occur when innocent persons-- who are tired, confused, and highly psychologically vulnerable-- come to believe that they actually committed the crime

Cognitive factors

the internal processes that enable humans to imagine, to gain knowledge, to reason, and to evaluate. Each person has their own cognitive version of the world.

Cognitive-behavioral approach

an approach to therapy that focuses on changing beliefs, fantasies, attitudes, and rationalizations that justify and perpetuate antisocial or other problematic behavior. Believed to be the most effective treatment approach for both adult and juvenile offenders

Cognitive flexibility

refers to the ability to think about something or action in multiple ways

Cognitive interview

method of interviewing that uses memory retrieval and various communication techniques aimed at increasing the amount of accurate information from witnesses and victims. Its goal is to make the interviewee aware of all events that happened in a situation

Cognitive lie detection

method of interviewing and interrogation that asks questions the suspect does not anticipate

Cognitive load

during police interviewing and interrogation, this refers to the cognitive demands placed on the interviewee, with the premise that this will make it more difficult for the interviewee to be deceptive. An example would be asking the person to recount events of the past day in reverse order of when they occurred

Commitment bias

the phenomenon that once a witness commits to a certain viewpoint, such as identification of a face, the witness is less likely to change their mind

Community corrections

the broad term for a wide variety of options that allow persons convicted of crime to be supervised in the community, such as being placed on probation. Term also applies to parole, the supervision of former prisoners in the community

Community-based facilities

correctional facilities that are not institutions and allow supervision of juveniles or adults within their own homes or in special community facilities, such as halfway houses

Community-Oriented Policing (COP)

an approach whereby citizens and police work as partners to prevent crime and improve the community

Compensatory damages

money awards given in civil suits to make up for the harm that the plaintiff has suffered

Competency restoration

the treatment given to someone found incompetent to stand trial for the specific purpose of rendering the person competent to be tried

Competency Screening Test (CST)

sentence-completion examination intended to provide a quick assessment of a defendant's competency to stand trial. The test taps the defendant's knowledge about the role of the lawyer and the rudiments of the court process

Competency to be executed

the legal requirement that a person convicted of a capital crime and sentenced to death must, at the time of execution, be emotionally stable or intellectually capable enough to understand the meaning of being put to death

Competency to stand trial

the legal standard that requires that criminal defendants be able to understand and appreciate criminal charges and help their attorneys in preparing a defense

Complex PTSD

refers to a more severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including problems with relationships, emotions, and thoughts

Composition bias

characteristic of a police lineup that unfairly encourages a witness to identify the suspect in custody (e.g., no lineup members approximate the suspect's age)

Concurrent validity

in psychological testing, validity measured by comparing one test with another, already established one

Conditional release

judicial or administrative release from an institutional setting (jail, prison, psychiatric hospital) on the condition that one demonstrates good behavior in the community or participants in mental health treatment

Conduct Disorder (CD)

a diagnostic label used to identify children who demonstrate habitual misbehavior

Confirmation bias

the tendency to look for evidence that confirms one's preexisting expectations or beliefs

Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS)

a measure used by researchers and clinicians to gauge the level of disruption and violence in interpersonal relationships

Control Question Technique/test (CQT)

the most preferred procedure by professional polygraphers in cases requiring the investigation of specific incidents, such as criminal acts

Correctional psychology

the branch of forensic psychology that interacts with prisons, jails, and other correctional facilities and programs, both in institutional and community settings. These psychologists often prefer that term rather than forensic psychologists

Co-victims

people close to the victim of a serious crime, such as a murder, who must deal with the medical examiner, the criminal or juvenile justice system, and the media in the aftermath of the crime. Term is often used to emphasize the depth of homicide''s emotional impact on the victim's survivors

Crime scene profiling

the development of a rough behavioral or psychological sketch of an offender based on clues identified at the crime scene. Also may be referred to as offender profiling

Criminal homicide

the unlawful and intentional killing of a human being. The term encompasses both murder and non-negligent homicide

Criminal responsibility evaluations

assessment designed to determine whether a defense of insanity can be supported. Also called "mental state at time of offense" evaluation or "insanity" evaluation

Criminogenic needs

those dynamic risk factors that have been empirically found to be related to criminal behavior, such as substance abuse or misogynistic attitudes

Crisis intervention

the intervention of mental health practitioners into emergency or crisis situations, such as suicide attempts, emotional agitation, or psychotic behavior displayed during confinement

Critical incidents

emergencies and disasters that are non-routine and unanticipated

Cross-race effect

research findings that people are more accurate in recognizing persons of their own race

Crossover offending

engaging in more than one type of sex-offending behavior or victimizing individuals from different relationship categories, genders, or age groups

Cyberstalking

threats or unwanted advances directed at another using the internet or other forms of online communication

Date or acquaintance rape

a sexual assault that occurs within the context of a dating or social relationship

Daubert standard

guide to help determine whether expert scientific testimony meets criteria established by the U.S. Supreme Court for reliability and relevance

Death notification

procedure or process used for informing family members of a death resulting from violent crime, accident, or some other incident

Death penalty mitigation

in capital cases, attempts by the defense team to reduce or avoid the sentence of death for their client based on factors that lessen the offender's culpability. Examples of factors are the offender's age and a history of child abuse

Decisional competency

ability to make decisions in one's own best interest. Research indicates that juveniles-- given their stage of development-- are unlikely to have the emotional sophistication and maturity to make such decisions when confronted with the criminal justice process

Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders (DSO)

mandate from the JJDPA that states receiving funds for juvenile justice programs must remove all juveniles from adult jails and must also remove status offenders from secure institutions

Delinquency hearing (or adjudicatory hearing)

the equivalent of criminal trial in adult courts. Juveniles have constitutional rights similar to adult offenders, including rights to an attorney, to confront and cross-examine their accusers, and to not testify against themselves. They do NOT have a constitutional right to a jury or to an open proceeding, though some states grant these rights

Delinquency petition

in juvenile courts, the prosecutor's document charging a juvenile with an offense that, if proven, would qualify the juvenile as a delinquent

Deposition

proceedings during which potential witnesses are questioned by attorneys for the opposing side, under oath and in the presence of a court recorder, although typically away from the courtroom

Detention centers

facilities where pretrial detainees are held. Jails serve as these as well as incarceration for persons sentenced to short terms, typically under 1 year

Developmental dual systems model

proposed by Laurence Steinberg, it refers to the difference in cognitive and emotional brain development in adolescents, making them more prone to sensation-seeking and risk-taking behaviors

Differential experience hypothesis

states that individuals will have greater familiarity or experience with member or their own race and will thus-- in identification procedures-- be better able to discern differences among members of their own race

Digital investigative analysis

forensic electronic data recovery, usually for legal purposes

Disciplinary segregation

punishment (physical isolation) for violation of rules. Also may be called solitary confinement

Discovery process

the pretrial procedure by which one party in a civil or criminal case discloses to the other party information vital for their defense

Disinhibition (externalizing proneness)

refers to poor self-regulation and impulsivity. Represents one of the key dimensions of the Triarchic Psychopathy Model (TriPM)

Disposition

the resolution of a legal matter. In criminal law, an example would be the sentence a defendant receives. In civil law, the disposition of a case may be a judgment in favor of the plaintiff. In juvenile law, disposition is the equivalent of a criminal sentence

Disproportionate Minority Confinement (DMC)

the observation that racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately detained and incarcerated

Diversion

any one of a number of programs used to steer someone away from formal or traditional court processing, such as diversion of juveniles to a substance abuse program or diversion of some defendants to mental health courts

Domestic Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (DVRAG)

one of the measures used to assess the extent of violence in a relationship and predict the likelihood of future occurrence