Psychology and Criminal Justice - Assignment Example

Portoflio Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Name Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Course Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Instructor Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Date Psychology and criminal justice is a unit that has brought tremendous changes in the ways I used to perceive about crimes and criminals at large. It has made me grow as a person in the way to take those involved in such cases and how to handle them. In this journal, it is a connotation of my experience within the unit, what have gained the benefits I have acquired and the overall understanding that I have gained as result of going through each and every unit outlined in my second level of studying Forensic Science. I was actually very eager to accumulate more knowledge and understanding of the unit that I like most, psychology. This is attributed to the fact that, it equips me with an understanding of the criminal mind and mostly with the reason behind and leading to criminal behavior. Through it all, I was given chance to develop a wide range of analytical, problem solving, communication and even commendable interpersonal skills. Getting started with the second level was one of my ambitions and they were met when I was introduced into the units I was to cover and what was expected of me. In this case, I got a breakdown of the important dates of each and every topic, assessments and this was very essential for it helped me have my time well planned. However, the units about psychology and criminal justice were sort of challenging in grasping what they all entail and how they work hand in hand, but with time, there was a free flow and I did catch up with everything as expected. I worked close with my friends in the university, who we helped each other understand the units and this made my journey easy and enjoyable. Psychology and Criminal Justice In connection with psychology and the criminal justice system, I was able to have a clear understanding that it there are much more requirements, than just profiling offenders. In other words, I came to learn that, I was equipped with ways to enhance my decision making and leadership skills, have improved methods of interviewing witnesses and victims, have an accurate way of recording, collating and analyzing data on pre-convictions of offenders and having a well prioritized system which are collated to empirical research and the use of informants (Howitt 2006). This has realy equiped me with ways of handling a case and getting the best from a crime suspect. I come to undertsand that, psychology is a very crucial aspect when it comes to policy making. This I acquired when I cover psychology and policy making unit. I can acknowledge that,psychology contributes to policy making through providing knowledge creation. In criminal justice, generating large scale behavior change is essential in addressing social problems. This is due to the fact that, it all deals with criminality, substance abuse, just to mention but a few and on actual interventions to avert such behaviors. For example, psychology helps policy makers to answer questions like whether threat to punishment deter people from criminal behaviors o even the best policies and programs best fit to divert first offenders and therefore reduce the likelihood of criminality (Eci & Bjork 2000). I have therefore gained experience on how to handle cases with the psychological aspect of a person in mind and in applying the best policy for the best results. Investigative interviews, eyewitness and false witnesses It was quite a challenge to grasp what investigative interviewing entail, handling the witnesses and most importantly the eye witness ones. I have for a long time had a perception that, one requires the best of skills so as to get the best results when it comes to interviewing and I thought it was complicated. However, my worry subsidized when I went through units that covered about, interviewing, witnesses and confessions. I now understand that, most information comes from people. This being the case, having the required proficiency in interviewing for all available witnesses and potential suspects are of great importance. Moreover, I have come to run about the ethics and the integrity that goes hand in hand with this processes and therefore I am better positioned than I was before I studied all these. Forensic science is my passion, and therefore gaining more experience on how to handle false confessions was a better platform for my career. I am now aware that, false confessions are very common in criminal justice systems and having ways to detect them is therefore an added advantage. Having gained all this, I am in a better position to discharge the duties of my career with no fear of causing wrongful convictions which culminate from false witnesses and eyewitnesses testimonies. Pre-court disposal and Vulnerable witnesses The most challenging part is the one dealing with courts and witnesses. I grew up with awareness that, a small miscalculation in matters pertaining the court and the vulnerability of witnesses can be very detrimental to the criminal justice. However my ancient was calmed when I came to understand that there is enough information to cater for all this, which I gained in these units and therefore I can boost of having what it takes to avoid any predicament associated with courts and witness vulnerability. I am now aware that, witnesses are entitled to a right of quality services from the judicial systems and their needs should be amicably met. I was happy to know that, a witness can confess and give the bit of his/her witness, without necessarily having to appear face to face with the accused. This I understand is to cater for the safety of witnesses incase they are vulnerable. This exposed me to many aspects that I will apply practically throughout my career. I was particularly happy to learn how to handle witnesses especially when the case involved is very sensitive. Moreover, having learned about the pre trial assessment and court disposal equipped me with much information, which I will be able to implement in my future endeavors and make my career a success. Rehabilitation, recidivism and revenge since my career involves crimes and criminals in most cases, I always asked myself what could be done to elleviate the occurrence of these vices. However, I had not got a comprehensive answer until I was exposed to Rehabilitation, recidivism and revenge. When criminals are convicted, they can be rehabilitated to help them avoid what was compelling them to doing criminal activities such as being drug adicts. I came to run that, criminals can be prepared to cope with the society when they are released from prisons and be self reliance. On the other hand, with the rise of sex offences, I was well equipped with preventions of recidivism as a way to curb the recurrence of sex offences. In other words, I have now been substantially aware of the notion that, there can be a reversion of an individual to criminal behavior after he/she has been convicted of an offence and be corrected. Criminals can live as per the society’s expectations if they are rehabilitated and trained to be self reliant. I can comfortably discharge all this information in the future, to the common good of the society. Offenders Intervention There before, I was not quite aware of any steps that can be taken so as to help diminish the rates of offences. In each and every offence, I learnt that intervention can be a better solution that can be directed at alleviating their reoccurrence. It is a matter of fact that, I have gained a lot from this topic and I am well equipped for a take off in my career. For instance, I have ample information on how to gather, analyze and disseminate data on the outcome of interventions to allow a more systematic approach so as to improve the mix and quality of services. Field Trip The trip to the court gave me a practical experience of some of the issues we had tackled in class. I grasped what to expect and how to carry out some specific duties which pertains a case in court; moreover, I am now aware of some duties of certain departments in courts. I came to understand that, in a murder case; the jury must make a decision or even make findings of specific facts which will then be applied by a judge. I also understood that a jury does not determine guilt or even innocence un less there is a probable cause to believe that a person had committed that crime. The trip also made me know that, lawyers ague the case before a jury in the court. To my understanding, lawyers do have ample information about the courts and are familiar with the court customs and procedures, making the legal system more efficient for all the persons in the case. The defense team in this case, was out to defend the case of the accused. Theirs was to ague their case, so as to evade any imprisonment of the accused. I therefore come to understand that, what matters most is the evidence in a case, for all parties ague their case to favor their clients. I am therefore impressed by then fact that, my course in Forensic Science, will play a very important role in determining many cases and therefore all that I have learnt in these units have been an aiding power towards the realization of my dream career. Conclusively, I have experienced a lot in psychology and criminal justice unit and my expectations are therefore met. I personally, I have gained fabulous experience in issues related to psychology/ however, this is not the end, I am charged to continuing with more research and practical experiences in order to have vast experience in this field. Bibliography eci SJ & Bjork RA. ( 2000). Psychological science in the public interest: the case for juried analysis. Psychol. Sci. 11: , 177–78. Howitt, D. (2006). What is forensic and criminal psychology? In D. Howitt Forensic and criminal psychology, 2nd edn, pp. , 1–16. Read More