The Role of Forensic Psychology in Criminal Profiling: Techniques, Applications, and Ethical Considerations

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Overview

1. The overall purpose of the issue paper effort is to be able to concisely state an issue, explore its ramifications, identify collateral issues, propose alternative ways to deal with the issue, and anticipate consequences of the alternatives. This is not simply an informational report!
2. An issue in this context is a question about forensic psychology and the criminal justice system on which there is not consensus, normally starting with the word “should,” to which the answer may be “yes” or “no.”
• For example: “Should the insanity defense be allowed in criminal trials?”
3. In the issue paper, you detail arguments on both sides of the issue and, based upon those arguments, choose a position and defend it. The paper should be approximately ¾ devoted to presenting/explaining evidence supporting your position (including acknowledging opposing viewpoints and refuting them), and ¼ summarizing/ concluding your position on the issue selected and justification for that choice.
4. The topic for the final issue papers is selected by the student and must be approved by the instructor. This approval is obtained by submitting a one-paragraph statement detailing the proposed issue and its significance to forensic psychology along with the Week 9 assignment. The issue chosen must have relevance for forensic psychology, the criminal justice system, and the law.
5. Preparation of the issue paper requires considerable research and thought; it is not a document based uniquely upon personal opinions. The arguments made and the positions selected must be drawn from data, expert opinion, and other documented sources. This generally means peer-reviewed scholarly journals, NOT newspaper/ magazine articles.
6. The preparation of an issue paper is a six-step process.

1. State the issue succinctly and as a question, starting with the word “Should”.
2. Introduce your position on the issue and identify briefly the reasons that justify that position.
3. For each of your reasons justifying your position on the issue, prepare one paragraph that provides some detail about that reason. Each reason should be defended in a separate paragraph – that is, four arguments supporting your position should produce four paragraphs expanding on those arguments.
4. Acknowledge the opposing position on the issue and identify briefly the reasons that those holding this position use as justification.
5. As was the case in defending the opposing position, prepare one paragraph that provides some detail about that reason – again, each reason detailed in a separate paragraph.
6. Finally, prepare a discussion detailing your personal position on the issue and the reasons why you found the arguments compelling and not compelling in selecting either “yes” or “no” on the issue

Sources

Except as noted above, you are free to choose any article relating to behavioral scientific research in a peer-reviewed journal. To obtain an article, you may visit the university library or access one of its electronic databases. EBSCOhost and psychARTICLES are probably the best known (and easily found). General web sites are not the best source.

Submission of completed work

• You will submit your work through the Brightspace course room.
• All papers are subject to analysis by URKUND (Ouriginal) plagiarism service.
• Take care with your quotations and citations – papers that have unacceptably high percentage of unoriginal passages will be submitted to SUNY Empire administration for possible disciplinary action.

General Document Guidelines (all writing should follow the basics of APA style)

• Margins & Alignment: One inch top/bottom, 1″ left/right; Flush left (creating uneven right margin)
• Font Size and Type: 12-pt. font (Times Roman or Courier are acceptable typefaces)
• Spacing: Double-space throughout the paper, including the title page, body of the document, references.
• Title page: Include one with the statement: “I have read and am aware of the university requirements regarding academic honesty” Your paper will not be accepted without this statement.
• Paragraph Indentation: 5-7 spaces
• Pagination: The page number appears one inch from the right edge of the paper on the first line of every page beginning with the title page.
• In-text citation: APA style includes the last name of the author(s) and the date of publication (page numbers only if it is a direct quotation)
• References: APA style puts them on the last page (called “References”) and generally includes, Author(s) last name, first initial (Date of publication) Title of article. Name of journal, volume(#). Pages.
• Abstract: You do NOT need one for a paper of this size

Project Scoring Rubric

Points awarded on the following basis

• 95-100% – far exceeds expectations
• 85-94% – exceeds expectations
• 75-84% – meets expectations
• 65-74% – expectations nearly met
• 55-64% – doesn’t meet expectations
• < 55% – not completed