FREE Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: Intersection of Psychology and Legal System Questions and Answers Flashcards
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Read the first 6 FREE Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: Intersection of Psychology and Legal System Questions and Answers flashcards as text
What is the legal standard most commonly used across U.S. states to determine a defendant's competency to stand trial?
Answer: The Dusky Standard
The Dusky Standard, from Dusky v. United States (1960), requires that a defendant has a rational and factual understanding of proceedings and can consult with their attorney.
Which type of psychological assessment would most likely be used to evaluate a defendant's risk of future violent behavior for a parole hearing?
Answer: A structured professional judgment tool such as the HCR-20
The HCR-20 is a structured professional judgment tool widely used in forensic settings to assess historical, clinical, and risk management factors related to future violence.
What role does an amicus curiae psychologist serve in a court proceeding?
Answer: They provide expert information to assist the court as a 'friend of the court'
An amicus curiae psychologist submits expert information or briefs to help the court understand psychological issues relevant to the case without representing either party.
What is the key psychological concept behind the use of victim impact statements during sentencing?
Answer: The therapeutic value of allowing victims to express harm and its effect on judicial decision-making
Victim impact statements allow victims to describe the psychological and emotional harm suffered, which can influence sentencing and provide a sense of closure.
Which psychological phenomenon poses the greatest threat to the reliability of eyewitness identification in criminal cases?
Answer: The misinformation effect
The misinformation effect occurs when post-event information distorts a witness's original memory, leading to inaccurate eyewitness identifications.
What is the primary distinction between a forensic psychologist serving as a treating clinician versus an expert witness?
Answer: Expert witnesses have a duty to the court for objective opinions, while treating clinicians have a duty to their patient's welfare
The key distinction is one of allegiance: treating clinicians prioritize the patient's therapeutic needs, while expert witnesses owe an obligation of objectivity to the court.