Forensic Psychology Study Guide Ch. 1-3 questions with
verified answers
actuarial prediction Ans✓✓✓ Violence risk appraisal guide (VRAG-R)
75% accuracy
Example: lived with biological parents until 16
No = +2 yes=-2
adversarial allegiance Ans✓✓✓ Tendency for forensic experts to be
biased towards those who hire them
aggravating factors Ans✓✓✓ Past violence
Future dangerousness
Impact of death on survivors
Heinousness of crime
Aims of punishment Ans✓✓✓ Retribution: assumes that the people
intentionally chose to commit a wrong act
Deterrence: specific/general
ALI standard (1985) Ans✓✓✓ American law institute
Combines both cognitive and volitional prong
Still used in WA
,if at the time of the crime the conduct is a result of mental disease or
defect he lacks substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality
of his conduct or to conform his his conduct to the requirement of the
law
Atkins v. Virginia Ans✓✓✓ capital punishment is not a suitable penalty
for mentally retarded defendants; such a penalty is excessive, when
involving mentally retarded defendants
Barefoot v Estelle Supreme Court ruling Ans✓✓✓ 6-3 decision
A difficult decision, doesn't mean it can't be done
Everyone makes such decisions - parole boards, judges, so why exclude
psychologists
Barefoot v. Estelle Ans✓✓✓ To sentence a capital defendant to death
in texas, the state must prove that there is a probability that the
defendant would commit criminal acts of violence that would
constitute a continuing threat to society
Black codes 1865-1866 Ans✓✓✓ Many crimes carried death penalty's
for blacks and not whites, same for whipping
Burden of proof of competence Ans✓✓✓ Competency is presumed,
defense must prove lack of competence by preponderance of the
evidence
, Capital punishment from 2000-2016 Ans✓✓✓ 759 people executed
Capital punishment in US Ans✓✓✓ One of few countries to have it
including China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia
Characteristics of most likely incompetent Ans✓✓✓ Unemployed,
unmarried, lower intelligence, mental illness, drug abuse, commit less
serious crimes
Characteristics of not guilty by reason of insanity defendants Ans✓✓✓
Male
No previous violent crime
No history of criminal offenses
History of hospitalization for SMI like psychosis, mood disorders,
intellectual disability
Majority with psychotic illness still found to be criminally responsible by
evaluators and legal system
civil commitment Ans✓✓✓ Involuntary civil commitment involves an
imminent risk to themselves or others
Person must be mentally ill and dangerous
Commitment ends when the person is no longer a danger
verified answers
actuarial prediction Ans✓✓✓ Violence risk appraisal guide (VRAG-R)
75% accuracy
Example: lived with biological parents until 16
No = +2 yes=-2
adversarial allegiance Ans✓✓✓ Tendency for forensic experts to be
biased towards those who hire them
aggravating factors Ans✓✓✓ Past violence
Future dangerousness
Impact of death on survivors
Heinousness of crime
Aims of punishment Ans✓✓✓ Retribution: assumes that the people
intentionally chose to commit a wrong act
Deterrence: specific/general
ALI standard (1985) Ans✓✓✓ American law institute
Combines both cognitive and volitional prong
Still used in WA
,if at the time of the crime the conduct is a result of mental disease or
defect he lacks substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality
of his conduct or to conform his his conduct to the requirement of the
law
Atkins v. Virginia Ans✓✓✓ capital punishment is not a suitable penalty
for mentally retarded defendants; such a penalty is excessive, when
involving mentally retarded defendants
Barefoot v Estelle Supreme Court ruling Ans✓✓✓ 6-3 decision
A difficult decision, doesn't mean it can't be done
Everyone makes such decisions - parole boards, judges, so why exclude
psychologists
Barefoot v. Estelle Ans✓✓✓ To sentence a capital defendant to death
in texas, the state must prove that there is a probability that the
defendant would commit criminal acts of violence that would
constitute a continuing threat to society
Black codes 1865-1866 Ans✓✓✓ Many crimes carried death penalty's
for blacks and not whites, same for whipping
Burden of proof of competence Ans✓✓✓ Competency is presumed,
defense must prove lack of competence by preponderance of the
evidence
, Capital punishment from 2000-2016 Ans✓✓✓ 759 people executed
Capital punishment in US Ans✓✓✓ One of few countries to have it
including China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia
Characteristics of most likely incompetent Ans✓✓✓ Unemployed,
unmarried, lower intelligence, mental illness, drug abuse, commit less
serious crimes
Characteristics of not guilty by reason of insanity defendants Ans✓✓✓
Male
No previous violent crime
No history of criminal offenses
History of hospitalization for SMI like psychosis, mood disorders,
intellectual disability
Majority with psychotic illness still found to be criminally responsible by
evaluators and legal system
civil commitment Ans✓✓✓ Involuntary civil commitment involves an
imminent risk to themselves or others
Person must be mentally ill and dangerous
Commitment ends when the person is no longer a danger
