Monday, August 30, 2010

Evil Deeds

Evil Deeds

A Forensic Psychologist on Anger, Madness and Destructive Behavior
by Dr. Stephen Diamond

Follow Dr. Diamond's Blog, Evil Deeds: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evil-deeds
(I saw this movie last night, so thought it was a fitting post, from Dr. Diamond. Thoughts?)


Giving the Devil His Due: Exorcism, Psychotherapy, and the Possession SyndromeWhat is the public's fascination with possession and exorcism?
Published on August 27, 2010

"As summer starts to slowly fade, the new movie The Last Exorcism (directed by Daniel Stamm) opens in theaters today to the delight of horror fans. I haven't yet seen it, and probably won't till it comes to DVD. But I thought we might revisit some of my previous comments about possession and exorcism from one of my earliest postings here at Psychology Today more than two years ago.

Exorcism--the ritualistic expulsion of evil spirits inhabiting body, brain or place--has been practiced in some form throughout history, and is probably the prototype of modern psychotherapy. Hippocrates, the father of western medicine, was initially an exorcist. Jesus of Nazareth is reputed to have healed individuals suffering from mental and physical symptoms by casting out demons. Now, more than two millennia later, the Roman Catholic Church is secretly educating a new crop of exorcists to meet a rapidly rising demand for exorcisms in Italy, Australia, America and elsewhere around the globe."

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evil-deeds/201008/giving-the-devil-his-due-exorcism-psychotherapy-and-the-possession-syndrome

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Most-Cited Articles as of August 2010

Most-Cited CJB Articles as of August  2010
(Rankings based on citations to online articles from HighWire-hosted articles.)

1.GRANT T. HARRIS, MARNIE E. RICE, and VERNON L. QUINSEY
Violent Recidivism of Mentally Disordered Offenders: The Development of a Statistical Prediction Instrument
Criminal Justice and Behavior December 1993 20: 315-335, doi:10.1177/0093854893020004001
Abstract

2.D. A. ANDREWS, JAMES BONTA, and R. D. HOGE
Classification for Effective Rehabilitation: Rediscovering Psychology
Criminal Justice and Behavior March 1990 17: 19-52, doi:10.1177/0093854890017001004
Abstract

3.R. KARL HANSON andANDREW J. R. HARRIS
Where Should We Intervene?: Dynamic Predictors of Sexual Offense Recidivism
Criminal Justice and Behavior February 2000 27: 6-35, doi:10.1177/0093854800027001002
Abstract

4.Howard E. Barbaree, Michael C. Seto, Calvin M. Langton, and Edward J. Peacock
Evaluating the Predictive Accuracy of Six Risk Assessment Instruments for Adult Sex Offenders
Criminal Justice and Behavior August 2001 28: 490-521, doi:10.1177/009385480102800406
Abstract

5.ROBERT D. HARE
Psychopathy: A Clinical Construct Whose Time Has Come
Criminal Justice and Behavior March 1996 23: 25-54, doi:10.1177/0093854896023001004
Abstract

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Accused serial killer snared using controversial technique - CNN.com

Accused serial killer snared using controversial technique - CNN.com: "(CNN) -- Los Angeles police are saying they've arrested a serial killer known as the Grim Sleeper using familial DNA, or the comparison of one's unique genetic code with a relative's unique code.




Police say they found the man accused of killing 11 people -- in murders dating back to 1985 -- by comparing DNA found at some of the crime scenes with the DNA of the suspect's son, who was in a California lock-up. The son's DNA led them to the father, and police are sure they've solved the case."

L.A. jail tests 'intolerable heat' beam on brawling inmates – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs

L.A. jail tests 'intolerable heat' beam on brawling inmates – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs:

"Officials at a Los Angeles County jail plan to test out an invisible heat-beam weapon originally developed by the military as a way to subdue brawling inmates by making them feel 'intolerable heat.'

The technology, called an Assault Intervention Device, is a non lethal-weapon developed by Raytheon Company. It originally was scaled down for use at the jail.
The device 'emits a focused beam of wave energy that travels at the speed of light and produces an intolerable heating sensation that causes targeted individuals to flee. The sensation immediately ceases when the targeted individual moves away from the beam,' according to Raytheon's website."

Friday, August 20, 2010

Forensic Science Classes in America | Schools Offering Classes in Forensic Science

This blog came through on a list serv...thoughts?

Forensic Science Classes in America Schools Offering Classes in Forensic Science: "Forensic Science Classes for Students (a work-in-progress!)
Welcome! I'm trying to collect in one place all of the forensic science schools, degrees and certificate programs out there for new students looking to start their careers. It's the kind of thing I wish I had had back when I was just getting started. It can be tough choosing where to go to continue your education, what branch of forensics to study, or what kind of job to pursue once you're graduated. Fortunately, though, it's getting easier and easier to find a program because of the huge number springing up around the country. Hopefully you can take something useful from these pages to help you along the way."

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Software predicts criminal behavior - Technology & science - Science - DiscoveryNews.com - msnbc.com

Software predicts criminal behavior - Technology & science - Science - DiscoveryNews.com - msnbc.com:

"Software predicts criminal behavior

New crime prediction software being rolled out in the nation's capital should reduce not only the murder rate, but the rate of many other crimes as well."

After the jump...

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Press Release from Open Minds

Lenghtly post, but a worthwhile one. If you are a member of the Open Minds Circle, please click here: http://www.openminds.com/circlehome/eprint/omol/2010/080910soc2.htm

"OPEN MINDS Weekly News Wire
Social Services

New Correctional Psychology Practice Standards Propose Staffing Ratios Based on Setting & Jail Population Size

New correctional psychology practice standards released by the International Association for Forensic and Correctional Psychology (IAFCP) have proposed guidelines for staffing ratios for specific correctional settings and jail population sizes. The guidelines recommended that prisons have at least one full-time qualified mental health care professional for every 150 to 160 adult inmates. For specialized units providing drug treatment or care for inmates with mental illness, the guidelines recommended that correctional facilities have one full-time mental health care professional for every 50 to 75 inmates. For juvenile facilities, the guidelines recommended a minimum ratio of one full-time mental health professional for every 60 to 75 juvenile offenders in the general population and one full-time qualified mental health professional for every 20 to 25 juveniles in a special management unit.

Additionally, the standards proposed staffing ratios for jails based on the average daily population. The recommendation called for jails with average daily populations of more than 125 offenders to have at least one full-time licensed psychologist for each 125 inmates in the general population. The standards commended that jails with lower daily populations have a contract licensed psychologist available as follows:
  • At least 16 hours weekly for populations between 76 and 125
  • At least eight hours weekly for daily jail populations between 11 and 75
  • An on-call licensed psychologist was recommended for jails with fewer than 10 offenders per day
The staffing ratios were among guidelines for psychology services in jails, prisons, and correctional agencies released by the IAFCP in a revision of its standards for correctional psychology; it is the second revision since 1980. The revised standards have been updated to inform administrators and clinical professionals about issues relevant to providing optimal mental health services in jails, prisons, correctional facilities, and in other organizations serving offenders. The topics addressed organizational policies and ethical principles, intake screening, staffing rations, mental health services, suicide prevention and intervention, records, research, and references.

The revised standards, “Standards for Psychology Services in Jails, Prisons, Correctional Facilities, and Agencies” were released by the IAFCP Practice Standards Committee in July 2010 in a special issue of the journal Criminal Justice and Behavior. A key trigger for the revision was the realization that three large prisons—Riker's Island in New York, Cook County Jail in Chicago, and the Los Angeles County Jail—were the largest mental health institutions in the United States. Nearly 15% of the offenders in these facilities have been identified as a suicide risk or diagnosed with serious mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, psychosis, or severe depression. The committee, chaired by IAFCP President Richard Althouse, Ph.D., designed the revised standards to help correctional facilities maintain institutional security, increase the likelihood of successful re-entry, and reduce the likelihood of civil litigation that can result from providing inadequate correctional mental health services.

Founded in 1954, the IACFP has been seeking to promote and support the development of effective treatment approaches for offenders, psychological practice in criminal justice and law enforcement settings, and to stimulate research into the nature of criminal behavior. Its approximately 500 members include behavioral scientists and practitioners who are concerned with the delivery of high-quality mental health services to criminal offenders, and with promoting and disseminating research on the etiology, assessment and treatment of criminal behavior.

The full text of the revised standards may be accessed on-line at http://cjb.sagepub.com/content/37/7/749.full.pdf+html (accessed August 3, 2010).
For more information, contact: Richard Althouse, Ph.D., President, International Association for Forensic and Correctional Psychology, 548 Linden Street, Verona, Wisconsin 53593; E-mail: goldmine123.a@gmail.com; Website: www.ia4cfp.org.
New Correctional Psychology Practice Standards Propose Staffing Ratios Based on Setting & Jail Population Size. (2010, August 9). OPEN MINDS Weekly News Wire.
© Copyright 2010, OPEN MINDS"

Monday, August 9, 2010

The Associated Press: IG: FBI backlog is over 3,200 forensic DNA cases

The Associated Press: IG: FBI backlog is over 3,200 forensic DNA cases:

"IG: FBI backlog is over 3,200 forensic DNA cases
(AP) – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department's inspector general says the FBI laboratory has a backlog of more than 3,200 forensic DNA cases.
The IG says such backlogs can delay legal proceedings and prevent the timely capture of criminals.
The backlog has grown 130 percent in a single year to 276 cases for one type of DNA case; and has grown 40 percent to 757 cases for another type.
The FBI says it is bringing on board 17 additional forensic examiners. Hiring and training the new personnel could take significant time."