1. PSY3204 Psychology & Law Introduction

2. PSY3204 Psychology & Law PSY3204: Psychology & Law Recommended texts: Howitt, (2002) Forensic & Criminal Psychology. Prentice-Hall: Harlow. Memon, Vrij & Bull (2003) Psychology & Law. Wiley: Chichester. McEwan (2003) The Verdict of the Court. Hart: Oxford. Innes (2003) Understanding Social Control. OUP: Maidenhead

3. PSY3204 Psychology & Law PSY3204: Psychology & Law 1.Introduction 2.Rule Breaking 3.The criminal personality 4.Testimony 5.Jury decision-making 6.Visit to Exeter Crown Court 7.Policing and Psychology 8.Forensic Psychology 9.Crime and gender 10.Reform of the Legal System

4. PSY3204 Psychology & Law What relevance has crime to Psychology? Developmental approach Trait and Type approaches Sociological approach Learning and social learning Cognitive Biological and evolutionary

5. PSY3204 Psychology & Law PSY3204: Psychology & Law Decision to commit a crime Decision to report crime by victim or witness Decision by police to investigate crime Decision to prosecute offender Organisation of evidence Presentation of evidence in court Judicial and jury decision-making Sentencing decisions

6. PSY3204 Psychology & Law Criminal Justice System (England & Wales) Based on unwritten constitution defined by: –Magna Carta (1215 AD) –Bill of Rights (1688 AD) –Act of Settlement (1700 AD) Adversarial legal system Prosecution must disclose relevant information to defence Defence may keep certain evidence confidential until trial

7. PSY3204 Psychology & Law Criminal Justice System (England & Wales) Common Law system Evolves according to decisions made in individual cases Originates in 5th century Formalised after 1066AD Norman invasion Judicial circuits “Circuit Judge” system still in place today Dissemination of decisions crucial to system First ‘Law Reports’ published and circulated in 1283

8. PSY3204 Psychology & Law Social Contract Government agrees to establish laws and regulations that are just and fair and to ensure that population abide by these rules Control crime using enforcement, imposition of penalties etc. Populace agree to abide by law, not to take law into own hands etc. If popular perception is that contract is broken, anarchy may result (e.g. Poll Tax riots, civil disobedience arising from Council Tax increases, hunting ban) Perceptions of fairness, legitimacy depend on a range of factors

9. PSY3204 Psychology & Law Recorded Crime: 1918-2000 17% fall 5.5% growth rate

10. PSY3204 Psychology & Law Who commits crime? Who has committed a crime? Opportunity 26% of active offenders (or 2% of population) commit approximately 82% of offences (BCJS, 2003) Recidivism ‘Real’ criminals

11. PSY3204 Psychology & Law Attrition within the Criminal Justice System

12. PSY3204 Psychology & Law Prevalence Rates for offending in Five Countries (%)