The Psychology of Criminal Justice from edX

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to identify some of the myths about how the criminal justice system works from a psychological perspective
The empirical evidence that can inform our understanding of criminal justice

How to improve how justice is administered

How to identify some of the myths about how the criminal justice system works from a psychological perspective
The empirical evidence that can inform our understanding of criminal justice
How to improve how justice is administered

Syllabus

EPISODE 1: INVESTIGATING THE CRIME SCENEA murder has been committed. In this episode, find out about criminal profiling and how this might be used in investigating the crime. EPISODE 2:

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores common misconceptions about the criminal justice system, which is valuable for students pursuing careers in law, law enforcement, or related fields

Examines the reliability of eyewitness testimony, which is a critical aspect of understanding the complexities of legal proceedings and the potential for error

Taught by The University of Queensland, which is known for its research in psychology and criminology

Presents a fictional case study, which allows learners to apply psychological principles to a real-world scenario and deepen their understanding of the subject matter

Investigates the psychology of jury selection and deliberation, which is useful for those interested in the legal system and the factors that influence jury decisions

Requires learners to understand empirical evidence, which may require some learners to seek out additional resources to fully grasp the concepts presented

Reviews summary

Psychology and justice system explored

Due to the lack of review data provided, a summary cannot be generated based on actual student feedback. This placeholder text demonstrates the expected format. When data is available, this section will synthesize student opinions, highlighting course strengths and weaknesses, and wrapping key terms and phrases like engaging content, lacks depth, or episodic structure based on sentiment analysis of the reviews. The summary will adhere to the character limit and start with phrases like 'According to learners...'. This text serves as a structural placeholder only.

High quality content from UQ.

"Content feels academically sound and evidence-based."

"Appreciate that it challenges myths with empirical evidence."

"Expected quality from University of Queensland."

Offers useful insights for understanding justice.

"Helped me understand common misconceptions about the justice system."

"Gave me new ways to think about witness reliability and profiling."

"The info on jury selection was particularly insightful."

Good overview of key psychology topics.

"Provides a great foundation in forensic psychology concepts related to law."

"Learned a lot about eyewitness testimony and confessions."

"Good for someone new to the field."

Uses a compelling fictional case.

"Following the fictional case made the material really come alive."

"The episodic approach and the case study kept me engaged throughout."

"It was like watching a mini-series, but educational!"

Can be too basic for experienced learners.

"Found some topics covered quite superficially."

"Wish there was more detail on the research methodologies discussed."

"Felt it was a bit basic compared to my prior psychology knowledge."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Psychology of Criminal Justice with these activities:

Read 'Eyewitness Testimony: Psychological Perspectives'

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of eyewitness testimony and memory distortion.

View Eyewitness Testimony on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of the book.
Read the chapters on memory encoding and retrieval.
Take notes on key concepts and studies.
Relate the concepts to the course's episode on eyewitnesses.

Read 'Criminal Profiling: An Introduction to Behavioral Evidence Analysis'

Show steps

Gain a deeper understanding of criminal profiling techniques and their limitations.

View Criminal Profiling on Amazon

Show steps

Acquire a copy of the book.
Read the sections on crime scene analysis.
Summarize the different profiling methods.
Compare the book's content to the course's profiling episode.

Create a presentation on jury selection biases

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of jury selection and potential biases by researching and presenting your findings.

Show steps

Research different types of jury selection biases.
Create a presentation outline.
Develop slides with key information and visuals.
Practice your presentation.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Write a blog post on false confessions

Show steps

Reinforce your knowledge of interrogation techniques and the psychology of false confessions by writing a blog post.

Show steps

Research the causes of false confessions.
Outline the structure of your blog post.
Write the blog post with clear examples.
Edit and publish your blog post.

Design a mock crime scene investigation

Show steps

Apply your knowledge of crime scene investigation techniques by designing a realistic mock crime scene.

Show steps

Choose a type of crime to simulate.
Plan the layout and evidence placement.
Gather materials and set up the scene.
Document the scene with photos and notes.

Develop a presentation on improving eyewitness testimony

Show steps

Synthesize your learning by creating a presentation that outlines strategies for improving the reliability of eyewitness testimony.

Show steps

Research best practices for interviewing witnesses.
Create a presentation outline.
Design slides with clear recommendations.
Practice delivering the presentation.

Participate in a mock trial

Show steps

Enhance your understanding of the trial process by participating in a mock trial with other students.

Show steps

Form a group with other students.
Assign roles (lawyers, witnesses, jury).
Prepare arguments and evidence.
Conduct the mock trial.

Career center

Learners who complete The Psychology of Criminal Justice will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Forensic Psychologist

A forensic psychologist applies psychological principles to legal and criminal justice issues, conducting evaluations, providing expert testimony, and consulting with attorneys and law enforcement agencies. This role typically requires a doctoral degree. The psychology of criminal justice provides a foundation for understanding the intersection of psychology and the law. The episodes on eyewitness testimony, suspect identification, and trial processes are all directly relevant to the work of a forensic psychologist. Studying the law and justice system from a psychological perspective may help one learn more about this discipline.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Psychologist

Detective

A detective investigates crimes, gathers evidence, and interviews witnesses to solve cases. Detectives often specialize in particular types of crime, such as homicide, robbery, or fraud. The psychology of criminal justice helps detectives understand criminal behavior and develop effective interrogation techniques. The episodes on interviewing witnesses, identifying suspects, and questioning suspects are particularly relevant to the daily work of a detective. The study of the effectiveness of the law and justice system helps detectives apprehend suspects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Detective

Jury Consultant

A jury consultant advises attorneys on jury selection and trial strategy, using psychological principles to help them choose jurors who are more likely to be sympathetic to their client's case. The psychology of criminal justice helps a jury consultant understand how jurors perceive evidence and deliberate. The episodes on jury selection, judicial instructions, and jury deliberations are directly relevant to the work of a jury consultant. This course enables a deeper understanding of the dynamics within a jury and how to influence their decision-making process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Jury Consultant

Criminal Investigator

A criminal investigator gathers evidence and investigates crimes, working to identify and apprehend suspects. Criminal investigators may work for law enforcement agencies, government organizations, or private investigation firms. The psychology of criminal justice provides insights into criminal behavior, interviewing techniques, and the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Specifically, the episodes on investigating the crime scene, interviewing witnesses, identifying suspects, and questioning suspects are particularly relevant to the work of a criminal investigator.

See salaries and explore the career path for Criminal Investigator

Criminologist

A criminologist studies the causes and consequences of crime, developing theories and conducting research to understand criminal behavior and improve the criminal justice system. This role typically requires an advanced degree. The psychology of criminal justice provides insights into the psychological factors that contribute to crime, helping criminologists develop more comprehensive theories. The systematic exploration of the effectiveness of the law and justice system helps criminologists improve how justice is administered. The episodes exploring the trial are also helpful for developing new theories.

See salaries and explore the career path for Criminologist

Victim Advocate

A victim advocate provides support and resources to individuals who have experienced trauma or crime. Victim advocates often work within the criminal justice system, offering assistance during legal proceedings, connecting victims with counseling services, and ensuring their rights are protected. Exploring the effectiveness of the law and justice system from a psychological perspective helps you understand the challenges faced by victims navigating the criminal justice process. The episodes in this course that focus on interviewing witnesses, identifying suspects, and preparing for trial are particularly relevant to understanding how the criminal justice system affects victims.

See salaries and explore the career path for Victim Advocate

Police Officer

A police officer is responsible for maintaining law and order, responding to emergencies, and investigating crimes. They often interact with individuals involved in the criminal justice system, including victims, witnesses, and suspects. By experiencing a fictional case first hand, a course on the psychology of criminal justice provides insights into the psychological factors that influence criminal behavior and the reliability of evidence. The episodes on interviewing witnesses, identifying suspects, and questioning suspects help anyone in law enforcement evaluate eyewitness testimony and interrogate suspects effectively. The course may also help police officers understand biases and how to mitigate them during investigations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Police Officer

Fraud Investigator

A fraud investigator investigates allegations of fraud, often working for insurance companies, financial institutions, or government agencies. Fraud investigators analyze financial records, conduct interviews, and gather evidence to determine whether fraudulent activity has occurred. A course on the psychology of criminal justice may help fraud investigators understand the motivations behind fraudulent behavior and develop effective interview techniques. The episode on questioning the suspect may be valuable, discussing deception detection.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fraud Investigator

Parole Officer

A parole officer supervises individuals who have been released from prison on parole. Similar to probation officers, parole officers monitor compliance with parole conditions, provide support, and connect individuals with resources. By experiencing a fictional case first hand, you will learn the psychology of law and some of the misconceptions commonly held about criminal justice. This course helps future parole officers understand the challenges faced by individuals re-entering society after incarceration. The course could be helpful, as it touches on jury deliberation and the factors that can lead to wrongful convictions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Parole Officer

Probation Officer

A probation officer supervises individuals who have been convicted of crimes and are serving their sentence in the community. Probation Officers work to ensure compliance with court orders, provide support and guidance, and connect individuals with resources to facilitate rehabilitation. This course, focusing on the psychology of law and the misconceptions held about criminal justice, may help you understand the factors that contribute to criminal behavior and the challenges of reintegration into society. The episodes on the trial process and jury deliberations provide context for the legal framework within which probation officers operate.

See salaries and explore the career path for Probation Officer

Social Worker

A social worker helps individuals and families cope with a variety of challenges, including poverty, abuse, and mental illness. Social workers may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, and government agencies. A course on the psychology of criminal justice enhances one's understanding of the impact of crime on individuals and communities. Learning how justice is administered relates to social justice. This course may help social workers advocate for their clients within the criminal justice system.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Community Organizer

A community organizer works to empower residents to address local issues and advocate for change. Community organizers may work on issues such as crime prevention, affordable housing, and access to education. The psychology of criminal justice helps community organizers understand the root causes of crime and develop effective strategies for addressing them. The investigation of a murder helps improve how justice is administered. The episodes on jury selection and trial are particularly relevant to understanding the justice system.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Organizer

Court Reporter

A court reporter creates a verbatim record of legal proceedings, including trials, hearings, and depositions. Court reporters play a crucial role in ensuring that accurate transcripts are available for appeals and other legal processes. A course on the psychology of criminal justice helps court reporters understand the legal concepts and terminology used in court. The episodes on the trial process and expert evidence may be particularly relevant, as they provide context for the information being recorded.

See salaries and explore the career path for Court Reporter

Legal Assistant

A legal assistant provides administrative and clerical support to lawyers and paralegals. Legal assistants prepare legal documents, conduct research, and manage case files. A course on the psychology of criminal justice helps legal assistants understand the legal system and the psychological factors that can influence legal outcomes. Learning about the psychology of law may be useful in understanding the roles and responsibilities of legal professionals involved in criminal cases.

See salaries and explore the career path for Legal Assistant

Security Officer

A security officer protects property, assets, and people from theft, vandalism, and other security threats. Security officers may work in a variety of settings, including office buildings, retail stores, and residential communities. The study of the psychology of criminal justice may help security officers understand criminal behavior and develop effective security protocols. The episode on investigating the crime scene provides practical insights for security personnel tasked with securing and investigating incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Officer

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Psychology of Criminal Justice.

Eyewitness Testimony

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of the psychological factors affecting eyewitness testimony. It covers topics such as memory distortion, suggestibility, and the impact of stress on recall. Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of the challenges and complexities involved in obtaining accurate eyewitness accounts, which is directly relevant to Episode 2 of the course.

Criminal Profiling

Save

Offers a detailed introduction to the principles and practices of criminal profiling. It explores the methods used to analyze crime scene evidence and develop profiles of potential offenders. This book is particularly useful for understanding the complexities of criminal profiling, which is covered in Episode 1 of the course. It provides a more in-depth look at the techniques and limitations of this investigative tool.

Criminal Profiling

Hardcover

$$$

The Psychology of Criminal Justice

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Psychology and justice system explored

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses