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Forensic Psychology refers broadly to the production and application of psychological knowledge to the civil and criminal justice systems. It includes such areas as police psychology, psychology of crime and behavior, correctional psychology (including institutional and community corrections), psychology and law, victim services, and the delivery and evaluation of intervention and treatment programs for juvenile and adult offenders.
The Master's Program in Forensic Psychology at Castleton focuses on four major areas:
(1) Police Psychology
(2) Correctional Psychology
(3) Psychology and Law
(4) Criminal Behavior
The program is a research-based Master of Arts designed to prepare students for careers in the various organizations and agencies of the criminal and civil justice systems. Students graduating from the program should be able to analyze, interpret, organize, apply, and transmit existing knowledge in the field of forensic psychology. The overall mission of the forensic psychology program is to educate students to be highly knowledgeable about he various methodologies and statistical analyses critical in conducting well-designed research. The Castleton State College Psychology Department is currently the home of the professional periodical Criminal Justice and Behavior, an international journal that publishes cutting-edge research in forensic psychology. Graduate students may have considerable opportunity to participate in the scholarly and editorial process of the journal.The program will not provide training in mental health services, such as counseling, psychotherapy, clinical examinations, or independent clinical practice.
The goals of the program are to provide students with:
(1) a comprehensive knowledge of the criminal and civil justice systems;
(2) the research skills necessary to evaluate various issues and programs within these systems; and
(3) the communication skills necessary to express their findings effectively to diverse groups within the systems.
Objectives of the program are to prepare graduates, depending on the areas they choose to emphasize within the program, to complete such tasks as the following:
Evaluate the effectiveness of preschool intervention strategies designed to prevent violent behavior during adolescence;
Develop a behavioral profile in helping to identify a serial rapist for a law enforcement agency;
Help police departments determine optimal shift schedules for their employees;
Establish reliable and valid screening procedures for correctional officer positions at correctional facilities, or for law enforcement officer positions at various police and sheriff departments;
Assist attorneys in jury selection through community surveys and other research methods;
Evaluate the effectiveness of a variety of existing programs for juvenile and adult offenders, such as victim-offender reconciliation programs, teen courts, or health education programs;
Consult with attorneys and the courts concerning custody decisions, conflict resolution, and the validity of assessment procedures used in the evaluation of various psychological conditions;
Consult with legislators and governmental agencies as research policy advisers.
The program will also prepare students for acceptance into doctorate programs in psychology, criminal justice, and political science.
For further information contact Castleton State College, Castleton, Vermont.
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