This reflection will focus on SLO 2, which is concerned with identifying approaches to dealing with people with mental illnesses in the system of justice. Mental illnesses are prevalent among the US population; for example, multiple substance use disorders (SUDs) among US adults taking prescription drugs increased from 1990 to 2000 (McCabe et al., 2017). Sometimes, mental disorders may hinder people from controlling their behavior or understanding the consequences of their actions, which is why they can commit actions that lead them to enter the criminal justice system. Forensic psychologists should be able to provide treatment to these individuals and assess the mental state of the defendants and victims of crime.
One approach to dealing with people with mental disorders is the assessment of criminal responsibility. This evaluation is vital because it helps the court define whether the insanity defense can be supported in a particular case (Bartol & Bartol, 2018). For example, the defendant may fake the symptoms of a mental disorder to try to avoid the guilty sentence, and it is the task of a forensic psychologist to identify whether an individual indeed has this condition. One approach to conducting such an assessment is the right and wrong test, which aims to understand whether the person knows the difference between right and wrong (Bartol & Bartol, 2018). However, during the course, I learned that forensic psychologists should not limit their sources of data only to psychological tests. They should also gain information from third parties and conduct interviews with defendants because the evaluation of an individual’s mental state is a complex issue.
If one is found not guilty due to insanity, one should undergo treatment. According to Brigham (1999), treatment in the legal context is also a responsibility of forensic psychologists. During the course, I learned to discern several approaches to the treatment of people with mental illnesses. First, treatment should be initiated only after the individuals’ mental disorders are documented and their dangerousness to themselves or others is established (Bartol & Bartol, 2018). Second, people found incompetent to stand trial should be treated only to the point of restoration of this competency. There is also a need to complete re-evaluations of the person’s mental state after being hospitalized to ensure that an individual is not treated longer than necessary.
Another area where forensic psychologists may need to deal with people with mental disorders is the work with victims of crime. For example, victims of intimate partner violence often present with symptoms of PTSD (Bartol & Bartol, 2018). When working with such individuals, forensic psychologists should understand the approaches to assessing and treating a particular mental disorder. For example, some methods of evaluating PTSD include PTSD Symptom Scale, the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire, or the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Stress Scale (Bartol & Bartol, 2018). It is also important to document the victim’s PTSD because it may help in prosecuting the abuser or defending the battered woman if she happens to kill her abuser (Bartol & Bartol, 2018). When dealing with victims of crime, it is also important to remember that various people can respond to traumatic experiences differently, which is why mental disorders, in their case, may manifest themselves with a wide range of symptoms. Therefore, I learned that thorough evaluation and documentation of an individual’s mental state is vital for the effective work of the criminal justice system.
In conclusion, I feel that I have met this outcome because I can identify certain approaches to assessing and treating people with mental disorders in the criminal justice system. For example, I know that while psychological tests are important for establishing a person’s mental status, the assessment approach should also include gathering data from other sources. Furthermore, the treatment of such individuals should be based on thorough documentation of their illnesses and should be regularly evaluated for progress. Finally, I learned about specific approaches to working with the victims of crime, who need to be carefully evaluated to detect their psychological needs and individual coping mechanisms.
References
Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2018). Introduction to forensic psychology: Research and application (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Brigham, J. C. (1999). What is forensic psychology, anyway? Law and Human Behavior, 23(3), 273-298.
McCabe, S. E., West, B. T., Jutkiewicz, E. M., & Boyd, C. J. (2017). Multiple DSM‐5 substance use disorders: A national study of US adults. Human Psychopharmacology, 32(5), 1-10.