Forensic Psychology L9 - 12

Question 1

Custodial sentencing:

Answer 1

Convicted offender spends time in closed institution

Question 2

4 aims of custodial sentencing:

Answer 2

1. Deterrence
2. Incapacitation
3. Retribution
4. Rehabilitation

Question 3

2 types of deterrence and what they are:

Answer 3

1. General deterrence –> sends broad message that crime will not be tolerated
2. Individual deterrence –> prevents individual from repeating same crime

Question 4

Why is incapacitation used?

Answer 4

• Prevent them from reoffending
• Protect them from public

Question 5

Retribution:

Answer 5

Enacting consequences (revenge) for crime by making offender suffer

Question 6

Why is rehabilitation used?

Answer 6

Prisoners can be reformed and better adjusted to return to society

Question 7

4 psychological effects of custodial sentencing:

Answer 7

1. Psychological disorders
2. Institutionalisation
3. Brutalisation
4. Labelling

Question 8

Give one study showing psychological disorders in prison and who conducted this:

Answer 8

• Prison Reform Trust (2014)
• 25% of women and 15% of men reported symptoms of psychosis

Question 9

Why is institutionalisation a psychological effect of being in prison?

Answer 9

• Lack of autonomy
• Dependency on prison culture

Question 10

Why is brutalisation a psychological effect of custodial sentencing and give one stat that shows this?

Answer 10

• Reinforces criminal lifestyle and norms
• High recidivism –> 70% of young offenders re-offend w/in 2 yrs

Question 11

In what way is labelling a psychological effect of prison?

Answer 11

May be harder to gain employment and gain friends due to labelling

Question 12

Strengths and weaknesses of custodial sentencing: (+1, -3)

Answer 12

+ Useful
- High suicide rates
- Need to be selective about who they send
- Crime prevention is more effective –> Harrower (2001)
- Is prison actually successful? –> David and Raymond (2000)

Question 13

In what 4 ways is custodial sentencing useful?

Answer 13

• Danger to public is reduced
• Justice achieved
• Treatment programmes to reform prisoners
• Education and training

Question 14

How much higher are suicides in prison pop than in general pop but what is an evaluation of this point?

Answer 14

• 15%
• Difficult to demonstrate that it is imprisonment causing the conditions (may have had problems before)

Question 15

Why do courts need to be selective about who they send to prison?

Answer 15

• 8 to 10% of criminals commit 50% of crimes
• Custodial sentencing is best for repeat offenders (Peterson, 1981)

Question 16

Why did Harrower say crime prevention is more effective than custodial sentencing?

Answer 16

• Avoids labelling
• Avoids negative consequences like prison
• Alternative sentences like community service are better

Question 17

What did David and Raymond do and how did this question the success of prison?

Answer 17

• Completed review of custodial sentencing and concluded gov minsiters often exaggerate benefits of prison to appear strict on crime
• In reality, prison does little to deter or rehabilitate, more to retribute

Question 18

Behaviour modification:

Answer 18

Behavioural therapy which uses operant conditioning techniques to encourage positive behaviours

Question 19

Token economy:

Answer 19

Example of behaviour modification using reward systems

Question 20

How do token economies work? (3)

Answer 20

• Tokens eg coloured discs given immediately to patients when they have carried out a desirable behaviour
• Desirable behaviours vary depending on the individual
• Tokens can later be exchanged for more tangible rewards

Question 21

Are tokens primary or secondary reinforcers and why?

Answer 21

• Secondary
• They only have value once a patient has learnt that they can be used for rewards (rewards are the priamry reinforcers)

Question 22

How do behaviour modification programmes deal with desirable behaviour and why?

Answer 22

• Broken into smaller increments
• So that they truly understand the purpose of their actions

Question 23

What type of reinforcement is this and what does it mean?

Answer 23

• Selective reinforcement
• A particular prisoner is rewarded for particular actions

Question 24

Strengths and weaknesses of token economy:

Answer 24

+ Easy to administer and cost-effective
- Requires consistency
- Only be used in controlled environment
- Unethical –> withdrawal of basic human rights
- Only deals w/ surface behaviour

Question 25

What type of therapy is anger management and how many stages does it have?

Answer 25

- CBT 1. Cognitive prep 2. Skill acquisition 3. Application practice

Question 26

What is cognitive preparation? (3)

Answer 26

- Learning to identify cues for anger - Reflecting on events where they got angry - Help redefine situation as non-threatening

Question 27

What is skill acquisition and what techniques could it include?

Answer 27

Offender learns skills to manage their own behaviour in anger-provoking situations 1. Cognitive --> positive self-talk 2. Behavioural --> assertive training to communicate more effectively 3. Physiological --> Methods of relaxation

Question 28

What is application practice?

Answer 28

- Offender role-plays opportunities to practice new skills and receive feedback/ past occasions leading to anger - Therapist attempts to anger the offender

Question 28

Strengths and weaknesses of anger management as a therapy:

Answer 28

+ Multidisciplinary approach (cognitive, behavioural, psychological) + Attempts to reach root cause of offending - Assumption that anger causes offending eg Harold Shipman - Expensive --> highly trained specialist - Dependant on commitment of pps

Question 29

How does Harold Shipman show that anger does not necessarily cause offending?

Answer 29

Shipman murdered over 215 of his patients, with the motivation to alleviate their suffering

Question 30

Restorative justice:

Answer 30

Process of managed collaboration between offender and victim based on principles of healing and empowerment

Question 31

What happens during the process of restorative justice?

Answer 31

1) Trained mediator facilitates a meeting between victim and offender 2) Victim is given chance to confront offender and explain how crime affected them 3) Offender is confronted w/ consequences of their actions, including emotional distress they have caused the victim

Question 32

What are the 4 key features that all restorative justice programs share?

Answer 32

- Focus on acceptance of responsibility and positive change for offenders - Not restricted to courtrooms (meet outside of this venue) - Active involvement of all parties - Positive outcomes for all

Question 33

Give one other form that restorative justice can come as:

Answer 33

Financial restitution

Question 34

Strengths and weaknesses of restorative justice:

Answer 34

+ Practical value --> Shapman et al (2007) - Relies on offender showing remorse - 'Women's Aid' called for end to use of restorative justice in DA cases as offender can exploit opportunity to convince victim to take them back - Unpopular --> regarded as 'soft option'

Question 35

What did Shapman et al find? (2)

Answer 35

- Conducted gov funded research project - Every pound spent on restorative justice would save justice system £8 by reducing recidivism

Question 36

What shows that remorse is not often shown in restorative justice programmes and why is this the case?

Answer 36

- High dropout rates in restorative justice - Might just sign up to avoid prison