Forensic Psychology

1. Research and Theoretical Contributions
   1. Studies on Reliability of Eyewitness Testimony
      1. Examination of Memory Recall Processes
         1. The effects of stress on memory accuracy
         2. Impact of the passage of time on memory retention
         3. Differences between peripheral and central detail recall
      2. Factors Affecting Eyewitness Reliability
         1. The influence of leading questions and suggestion
         2. Cross-racial identification issues
         3. The role of lineup procedures in biased testimony
      3. Enhancing Eyewitness Testimony Accuracy
         1. The cognitive interview technique
         2. Best practices in lineup construction and administration
   2. Psychological Theories of Crime and Delinquency
      1. Developmental Theories
         1. The role of early childhood experiences
         2. Life-course persistent vs. adolescence-limited offending
      2. Biological and Genetic Factors
         1. Heritability and genetic predispositions
         2. Neurobiological influences on aggressive and antisocial behavior
      3. Sociocultural and Environmental Influences
         1. The impact of socioeconomic status and neighborhood ecology
         2. Media and technology influences on youth crime
   3. Development of Risk Assessment Tools
      1. Historical Overview of Risk Assessment
         1. Evolution from unstructured clinical judgments to structured tools
         2. The shift from prediction to prevention models
      2. Categories of Risk Assessment Tools
         1. Actuarial vs. clinical vs. structured professional judgment approaches
         2. Tools specific to violence, sexual offending, and general offending
      3. Validation and Reliability Studies
         1. Cross-validation in diverse populations
         2. Addressing tool bias and improving accuracy
      4. Application and Implications
         1. Integration in pre-trial, sentencing, and parole decisions
         2. Balancing risk prediction with rights and liberties
   4. Research on False Confessions and Interrogations
      1. Psychological Vulnerabilities Leading to False Confessions
         1. The role of age, cognitive ability, and psychological impairment
         2. Techniques that increase the likelihood of false admissions
      2. Interrogation Methods and Their Consequences
         1. The Reid technique and its criticisms
         2. Investigative interviewing as a less coercive alternative
      3. Legal and Policy Responses to Mitigate False Confessions
         1. Mandating the recording of interrogations
         2. Educating law enforcement on best practices
      4. Case Studies and Statistics
         1. High-profile exonerations linked to false confessions
         2. Prevalence and identifiable patterns in wrongful convictions
   5. Impact of Research on Legal Practices and Policies
      1. Influencing Legislation and Policy Reform
         1. Formation of policies focused on eyewitness identification
         2. Advances in protocols for interrogation and confession evidence
      2. Contribution to Legal Precedents
         1. Case law shaped by psychological research findings
         2. Incorporation of empirical evidence in court rulings
      3. Collaboration with Legal Professionals
         1. Educational outreach to judges, attorneys, and policymakers
         2. Research-driven guidance for legislative bodies