Forensic Psychology in Criminal Proceedings

This interdisciplinary seminar examines the role of mental illness, intellectual disability, and other psychological phenomena (e.g., trauma) among criminal defendants, and examines ways criminal law and policies allow (or prohibit) consideration of these conditions. Seminar sessions examine the prevalence of mental illness among defendants, and consider key issues such as adjudicative competency, waiver of rights, criminal responsibility (legal sanity), sexual offending, violence risk assessment, and the role of mental illness and other psychological phenomena in sentencing. Although the seminar will focus on adult defendants, it will also address some of these issues among justice-involved youth as well. The course relies on the UVA Forensic Clinic so students can observe court-ordered forensic mental health evaluations related to course topics.