Forensic Psychology

1. Core Areas of Practice
   1. Criminal Behavior Analysis
      1. Understanding Criminal Mindsets
         1. Psychological Theories of Crime
         2. Social and Environmental Influences
         3. Biological and Genetic Factors
      2. Behavioral Pattern Recognition
         1. Identifying Predictive Patterns
         2. Profiling Potential Suspects
      3. Applications in Case Formulation
         1. Integrating Behavioral Evidence
         2. Supporting Investigative Processes
   2. Competency Evaluations
      1. Competency to Stand Trial
         1. Mental Health Assessments
         2. Cognitive and Psychological Functioning
         3. Standardized Testing and Interviews
      2. Competency to Waive Rights
         1. Evaluating Understanding of Legal Rights
         2. Decision-making Capacity
         3. Influences of External Factors (e.g., coercion)
      3. Competency for Execution
         1. Ethical and Legal Considerations
         2. Assessing Mental Health at Time of Execution
   3. Insanity Defense Assessments
      1. Standards for Insanity Pleas
         1. Legal Criteria and Models (e.g., M'Naghten Rule)
         2. Historical Context and Development
         3. Differences in State and Federal Standards
      2. Psychological Evaluation Techniques
         1. Clinical Interviews and History Taking
         2. Assessments of Mental State at Time of Crime
      3. Post-trial Commitment Evaluations
         1. Ongoing Assessments for Mental Health Facilities
         2. Treatment and Rehabilitation Plans
   4. Custody and Family Law Evaluations
      1. Best Interests of the Child
         1. Attachment and Bonding Assessments
         2. Risk and Protective Factors in Family Dynamics
      2. Parental Fitness Assessments
         1. Psychological Screening and Evaluations
         2. History of Parenting and Child Care Practices
      3. Child Abuse and Neglect Assessments
         1. Identifying and Reporting Abuse
         2. Court-ordered Evaluations and Reports
   5. Risk Assessment of Offenders
      1. Violence Risk Assessment
         1. Tools and Instruments (e.g., HCR-20, VRAG)
         2. Evaluation of Static and Dynamic Factors
      2. Sexual Offender Risk Assessment
         1. Specialized Instruments (e.g., Static-99)
         2. Role of Empathy and Remorse in Recidivism
      3. Risk Prediction Models
         1. Integrating Data for Predictive Analytics
         2. Longitudinal Studies on Offender Outcomes
      4. Mitigation Planning and Risk Reduction Strategies
         1. Designing and Monitoring Treatment Programs
         2. Collaboration with Rehabilitation Services