Forensic Assessment or Program Evaluation

Forensic Assessment or Program Evaluation Order Description Final Paper: Assignment Guide During Week 7, you will prepare and submit a Final Paper. This paper will represent the culmination of materials learned throughout the course. The purpose of the final project is to encourage you to think critically as well as to integrate material learned in class from readings, discussions, lectures, and class materials. Projects should demonstrate the capacity to appropriately integrate outside research and materials. For the final paper, you will take on the role of a forensic psychologist completing one of two potential tasks. You must choose one of two options for completing the final paper: a forensic assessment or a program evaluation. Below are some people that you can choose from if you pick option #1. Son of Sam (David Berkowitz) Henry Lee Lucas Gary Heidnik Ed Gein Ted Bundy John Wayne Gacy Mary Besnard Carol Wuornos – My favorite Jim Jones ( Jones Town ) Charles Manson – also my favorite Below are separate guidelines for each option. You should write your report as if you are writing either a clinical assessment or final report of program evaluation. All papers should be professionally crafted as if the final report submitted by a forensic psychologist. Be mindful that papers should be well articulated, organized, and supported by research and course material. OPTION 1: Forensic Assessment Develop an examination of psychopathology as it is presented in popular media. This should include: 1. An examination focusing on the criminal justice system in some form and, 2. An examination of mental illness or psychopathy. Choose a serial killer from history, recent or past. Provide an analysis of the individual. Discuss the popular media medium as it portrays mental illness/psychopathy. Is the portrayal accurate? You may choose any form of mental illness using the DSM-5 as a guide for potential diagnoses or psychopathy using the PCL-R. Diagnose the individual you have chosen. What role does mental illness/psychopathy play in criminal justice interactions for this individual? Is mental illness/psychopathy directly addressed in the media portrayal? Review of diagnosis in popular film/media should include: • A brief summary of the character and his/her history. • An explanation of why the chosen character is a good (or not so good) example of the specific mental illness or psychopathy diagnosis. For examinations of mental illness, the explanation should include diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5. For examinations of psychopathy, this explanation should address the 20 characteristics of a psychopath by Hare in the Psychopath Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). • Examples from the movie of why (or why not) the character meets the given criteria for each element of mental illness/psychopathy—this will constitute evidence supporting your diagnosis. • Final diagnosis or an overall PCL-R score. • A summary of how accurate a portrait of mental illness/psychopathy this character is. For example, were there characteristics that suggest that he or she is not a true psychopath (e.g. evidence of anxiety or guilt)? Your report should be written as if it were a case report written by a forensic psychologist. OPTION 2: Program Evaluation Choose an agency addressing mental health issues as they intersect with criminal justice and explore it. You may wish to visit agency sites, observe a court session, or interview agency employees. Examples of focus topics could include: reentry, prison mental health, drug courts, mental health courts, veterans courts, or university programs/agencies addressing mental health/criminal justice issues. Provide background research and discuss pros and cons of programming and implementation. In your opinion, is the program effective? What did you see that appeared to work well? Is there information you learned that surprises you? You may wish to present theoretical ideas for how you could address issues differently. Papers should incorporate critical evaluation as well as discussion of the literature and materials addressed in class. Program observation/evaluation should address the following objectives/questions: • Provide a brief summary of the program. • Discuss any related materials (articles, books, program curriculum, treatment strategy documents). • Does the program address assessment? Treatment? • Does the program address its target population's risks and needs? What needs are targeted? How does the program respond to a Risk-Need-Responsivity model? • Is the program community-based? Institutional? • Do you believe the program is effective? Does it operate efficiently? Does the program demonstrate responsivity? Does the program employ behavioral, social learning, and cognitive behavioral strategies? • What are the program's strengths? Weaknesses? Give evidence. • Does the program appear to be based on theory? Was the program developed based on empirical evidence? • Does the program reduce recidivism? • Further recommendations: your report should include recommendations for the agency based on your assessment and evaluation. Assignment Summary Due: At the end of Week 7. Citation Style: All citations should be in APA format. Digital Format: Microsoft Word Document. Double-spaced and 10-12 pages in length. Grading Weight: 40% of final grade.