Course Syllabus

Instructor:

Dr. Patricia Zapf, 2444 North Hall, 237-8775

Email: pzapf@jjay.cuny.edu

Class Meetings:

Thursdays 10:00 - 12:00 in Room 2437 North Hall

Office Hours:

Wednesday 11:00 - 12:00 or by appointment

Course Readings:

A compilation of articles and chapters will serve as the readings for this course.

Lecture Outlines:

From time to time I may put lecture outlines on the website for your use in note taking. Please do not distrubute these to others who are not in the class.

Course Description:

This course addresses general and specific topics in criminal forensic assessment. Students will be required to read a series of articles dealing with a specific topic in forensic assessment each week. Students will be required come to seminar having read the required materials and able to actively participate in the seminar. Each student will be responsible for giving a presentation/training session on a particular forensic assessment instrument. In addition, each student will score and interpret two different test protocols. Finally, each student will be responsible for writing a comprehensive forensic report that encompasses numerous information sources.

Course Objectives:

The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with relevant issues in criminal forensic assessment and to introduce the student to current forensic assessment instruments. Upon completion of the course, the conscientious student should have acquired knowledge in the major topic areas of forensic assessment, including the assessment of risk, criminal competencies, mental state at the time of the offense, psychopathy, and malingering. Additionally, the student should be able to appropriately administer, score, and interpret selected forensic assessment instruments. Finally, the student should be able to examine interview data, test protocols, and collateral information and write a forensic report that encompasses this information.

Grading:

25% - Class Presentation and Training Session

30% - Scoring and Interpreting Test Protocols

35% - Written Forensic Report

10% - Class Attendance and Participation

Presentation/Training Session:

Test Protocols:

Forensic Report:

Class Participation:

Each student will be responsible for holding a training session on one forensic assessment instrument. The student should prepare handouts for the class on how to administer, score, and interpret the forensic assessment instrument. In addition, handouts should include a summary of relevant research articles and normative, reliability, and validity data. The student should plan both didactic and interactive activities.

The goal of these training sessions is to demonstrate the administration, scoring, and interpretation of a particular forensic assessment instrument. The hope is that by the end of the course each student will have a package of materials that will be useful when beginning to practice as an independent professional.

I will hand out an un-scored test protocol and the student will have one week to score and interpret the particular protocol. There will be two of these throughout the semester. There is a possibility that each of you will be able to observe a forensic evaluation throughout the semester. If this materializes then you may write up a brief summary of the issues evaluated and/or score the forensic assessment instruments administered in lieu of one of the test protocols. I will keep you informed of these opportunities throughout the semester.

I will hand out an information packet and the student will be required to compile the various data sources into a comprehensive forensic report. This will be due at the end of the semester.

Each student is expected to come to class prepared (having read the weeks' assigned readings) to participate. A significant proportion of your final grade in the course will depend upon your class attendance and participation. Please inform the instructor ahead of time (via telephone or email) if you are unable to attend a class.

No Classes:

November 24 (Thanksgiving)

Academic Misconduct:

All acts of dishonesty in any work constitute academic misconduct. You are required to do your own work on all class assignments, papers, and exams. Papers are to be the product of your own thinking and writing. Plagiarism of all forms is to be avoided at all cost. If you are in doubt as to whether some act constitutes a violation of the misconduct policy, please ask me.

The College Policy on Plagiarism reads: "Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else's ideas, words, or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one's own creation. Using the ideas or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism. It is the student's responsibility to recognize the difference between statements that are common knowledge (which do not require documentation) and restatements of the ideas of others. Paraphrase, summary, and direct quotation are acceptable forms of restatement, as long as the source is cited. Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The Library has free guides designed to help students with problems of documentation." (John Jay College of Criminal Justice Graduate Bulletin: 2002-2004, p. 36)

The College Policy on Cheating reads: "Students are prohibited from using books, notes, and other reference materials during examinations except as specifically authorized by the instructor. Students may not copy other students' examination papers, have others take examinations for them, substitute examination booklets, submit papers written by others, or engage in other forms of academic dishonesty." (John Jay College of Criminal Justice Graduate Bulletin: 2002-2004, p. 36).

Special Needs/Disability Accommodation:

To request accommodations, please contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities at 237-8122 during the first weekof class. After initial arrangements with that office, please contact me within the first two weeks of classes.

Link back to Homepage

Link back to PSYC 83300 Homepage

Instructor:	Dr. Patricia Zapf, 2444 North Hall, 237-8775 Email: pzapf@jjay.cuny.edu
Class Meetings:	Thursdays 10:00 - 12:00 in Room 2437 North Hall
Office Hours:	Wednesday 11:00 - 12:00 or by appointment
Course Readings:	A compilation of articles and chapters will serve as the readings for this course.
Lecture Outlines:	From time to time I may put lecture outlines on the website for your use in note taking. Please do not distrubute these to others who are not in the class.
Course Description:	This course addresses general and specific topics in criminal forensic assessment. Students will be required to read a series of articles dealing with a specific topic in forensic assessment each week. Students will be required come to seminar having read the required materials and able to actively participate in the seminar. Each student will be responsible for giving a presentation/training session on a particular forensic assessment instrument. In addition, each student will score and interpret two different test protocols. Finally, each student will be responsible for writing a comprehensive forensic report that encompasses numerous information sources.
Course Objectives:	The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with relevant issues in criminal forensic assessment and to introduce the student to current forensic assessment instruments. Upon completion of the course, the conscientious student should have acquired knowledge in the major topic areas of forensic assessment, including the assessment of risk, criminal competencies, mental state at the time of the offense, psychopathy, and malingering. Additionally, the student should be able to appropriately administer, score, and interpret selected forensic assessment instruments. Finally, the student should be able to examine interview data, test protocols, and collateral information and write a forensic report that encompasses this information.
Grading:	25% - Class Presentation and Training Session 30% - Scoring and Interpreting Test Protocols 35% - Written Forensic Report 10% - Class Attendance and Participation
Presentation/Training Session: Test Protocols: Forensic Report: Class Participation:	Each student will be responsible for holding a training session on one forensic assessment instrument. The student should prepare handouts for the class on how to administer, score, and interpret the forensic assessment instrument. In addition, handouts should include a summary of relevant research articles and normative, reliability, and validity data. The student should plan both didactic and interactive activities. The goal of these training sessions is to demonstrate the administration, scoring, and interpretation of a particular forensic assessment instrument. The hope is that by the end of the course each student will have a package of materials that will be useful when beginning to practice as an independent professional. I will hand out an un-scored test protocol and the student will have one week to score and interpret the particular protocol. There will be two of these throughout the semester. There is a possibility that each of you will be able to observe a forensic evaluation throughout the semester. If this materializes then you may write up a brief summary of the issues evaluated and/or score the forensic assessment instruments administered in lieu of one of the test protocols. I will keep you informed of these opportunities throughout the semester. I will hand out an information packet and the student will be required to compile the various data sources into a comprehensive forensic report. This will be due at the end of the semester. Each student is expected to come to class prepared (having read the weeks' assigned readings) to participate. A significant proportion of your final grade in the course will depend upon your class attendance and participation. Please inform the instructor ahead of time (via telephone or email) if you are unable to attend a class.
No Classes:	November 24 (Thanksgiving)
Academic Misconduct:	All acts of dishonesty in any work constitute academic misconduct. You are required to do your own work on all class assignments, papers, and exams. Papers are to be the product of your own thinking and writing. Plagiarism of all forms is to be avoided at all cost. If you are in doubt as to whether some act constitutes a violation of the misconduct policy, please ask me. The College Policy on Plagiarism reads: "Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else's ideas, words, or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one's own creation. Using the ideas or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism. It is the student's responsibility to recognize the difference between statements that are common knowledge (which do not require documentation) and restatements of the ideas of others. Paraphrase, summary, and direct quotation are acceptable forms of restatement, as long as the source is cited. Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The Library has free guides designed to help students with problems of documentation." (John Jay College of Criminal Justice Graduate Bulletin: 2002-2004, p. 36) The College Policy on Cheating reads: "Students are prohibited from using books, notes, and other reference materials during examinations except as specifically authorized by the instructor. Students may not copy other students' examination papers, have others take examinations for them, substitute examination booklets, submit papers written by others, or engage in other forms of academic dishonesty." (John Jay College of Criminal Justice Graduate Bulletin: 2002-2004, p. 36).
Special Needs/Disability Accommodation:	To request accommodations, please contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities at 237-8122 during the first weekof class. After initial arrangements with that office, please contact me within the first two weeks of classes.