What is forensic psychology? (1)

to attempt – пытаться to solve a crime — раскрыть преступление

to address – заниматься (чем-либо)

to prosecute – 1. обвинять, выступать в качестве обвинителя 2. prosecute a crime – преследовать за совершение преступления \ a victim – пострадавший, жертва

1. At the heart of all crimes are people. These people may be those who commit a crime, those who attempt to solve it, prosecute it, or help the victims. In other words, at every point in the criminal system are psychological processes that need to be addressed. An understanding of these processes is the basis for forensic psychology.

Interaction – взаимодействие \ of service to the courts – судебный

cover – охватывать, включать (как составную часть)

relevant – релевантный, относящийся к делу\ whole – весь, целый, полный

2. Forensic psychology addresses the interaction between psychology, crime, and the law. In the past the term ‘forensic’ originally meant ‘of service to the courts, these days the term “forensic psychology” is used to cover all aspects of psychology that are relevant to the whole legal and criminal process.

commit a crime – совершать преступление\expert testimony – показания эксперта

the offender – правонарушитель\ deal with – заниматься, иметь дело с (кем-либо)

Witnesses – свидетели \ Suspects – подозреваемые

Assess - оценивать \ mental disorder – психическое расстройство

malingering [mə'lɪŋg(ə)rɪŋ] симуляция\ psychosis [saɪ'kəusɪs] психоз

3. Forensic psychology

• explains why a person may commit a crime,

• provides expert testimony about the offender,

• studies the psychology of memory and its effect on the interviewing of the witnesses and suspects,

• assesses risk, especially of re-offending,

• studies the role of mental disorder in crime,

4. In most forensic cases the psychologist is called upon to answer questions regarding

- presence of psychosis or organicity,

- evidence of malingering,

- competency to stand trial,

- the relationship of a psychological disorder to a crime,

- need for treatment,

- potential for future dangerous behavior, and the like.

EX. 1 In each of these groups two words are synonyms. Decide which of the three words in each group is the odd one out.

1. Lawyers, suspects, defendants

2. an observer, a witness, an accused

3. Address, ignore, deal with

4. Focus, evaluate, assess

5. Take, provide, give

6. Offend, commit a crime, solve a crime

7. Health, disorder, illness

8. Defend, prosecute, take legal actions

9. Testimony, evidence, interviewing

10. a witness, an offender, a criminal

11. attempt, offending, effort

What is forensic psychology? (2)

Vocabulary

stand trial = be tried in a court of law

evaluation [ɪˌvælju'eɪʃ(əC)n], assessment - оценка, определение

evaluation = the making of a judgment about something; assessment

defendant [dɪ'fendənt] - ответчик; обвиняемый, подсудимый

insanity - невменяемость;

prosecute ['prɔsɪkjuːt] - (prosecute for) преследовать в судебном или уголовном порядке

impact [ɪm'pækt] сильно воздействовать

capacity [kə'pæsətɪ] способность (что-л. делать)

mental capacity умственные способности

defense [dɪ'fens] – защита

offender [ə'fendə] - преступник, правонарушитель

violence ['vaɪəl(ə)n(t)s] - жестокость, насилие, принуждение, применение силы

violent ['vaɪəl(ə)nt] насильственный

accurately ['ækjərətlɪ] / точно; безошибочно;

dangerousness - опасность

predict предсказывать

The role of psychology in the legal system is very important.

Forensic psychology include such topics as

(1) competency to stand trial,

(2) psychological tests and forensic evaluation instruments,

(3) violence risk assessment,

(4) forensic verdicts for mentally ill defendants (not guilty by reason of insanity)

(5) jury selection.

In order for a person to be prosecuted, the individual must be competent to stand trial.

What is the legal standard for competency to stand trial?

How do symptoms of mental illness impact legal functional capacities?

What role does psychiatric diagnosis play in a determination of competency to stand trial?

Both prosecuting and defense attorneys rely upon forensic experts with psychological assessment skills who can testify in court. Forensic tests provide information about the personality, intelligence, ability, and psychopathology of an offender.

One type of forensic evaluation is violence risk assessment. In short, the question posed is whether the defendant presents a risk for future violent behavior. How accurately do risk-assessment instruments predict future dangerousness?

Mentally ill defendants can be found guilty or not guilty. In addition, however, they can be found not guilty by reason of insanity or guilty but mentally ill. How does the legal system understand insanity and mental illness? What are the various tests or standards the court uses for insanity?

QUESTIONS

1. What psychological processes does forensic psychology address?

2. What are the main functions of forensic psychologists in the court system? (use the words: evaluation… , prediction…, assessment …)

3. Are questions asked by the court to a forensic psychologist primarily psychological or legal ones?

4. What is the difference between forensic and therapeutic evaluation?

5. What field should a forensic psychologist be trained in?

EX.2 Fill in the gaps

responsibility\ eyewitness\ jury\ application\

Forensic psychology deals with the interaction of psychology and the law, and with the _________ (1) of psychology to legal issues.

Forensic psychologists may become involved in such diverse areas as criminal competency and _________(2), treatment of offenders, __________ (3) identification, and _______ (4) selection.

.* identification [aɪˌdentɪfɪ'keɪʃ(ə)n] опознание;

EX. 3 Find the English equivalents of the following phrases:

1. наличие психоза или органической психопатологии,

2. доказательства симуляции

3. правоспособность отвечать перед судом,

4. связь психол. расстройства с аварией,

5. необходимость направления на лечение,

6. возможность опасного поведения в будущем

EX.4 Translate into Russian

The psychologist must also work with attorneys prior to the evaluation, to determine the questions to be addressed and to help them understand what the evaluation can and cannot do. For example, an attorney may incorrectly request that the evaluation answer the question whether the person is telling the truth regarding the commission of a crime. The attorney must also understand that the payment of a fee is for the evaluation only, and that there is no commitment on the part of the psychologist to testify on behalf of the client. Whether this occurs will depend on the findings of the evaluation.

EX.5 Translate into Russian