Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read the article, “Sentencing Advocates Enhance Reasoned Court Decisions
Part 1
Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read the article, “Sentencing Advocates Enhance Reasoned Court Decisions (http://track.smtpsendemail.com/9064971/c?p=Rl_VvuT7lG6pOCreP2AWMwBPfNebRsC_oFBjeomVQyTsFiDvh7y0No51tU2Q0xmb2YHWEbF7N6KkAjzizl4rZ4IOzs9rIHHv3oKqGYPjLdvDxrOMlgkb8cfAoYYWYz_pnX0R9mb8N_nKxV9RKG9ZX1uSXJAjGKwVOPzpdfRA-6Lzr7FJ6nptwxj86oV1P8a- then read the list of infamous murderers whose high profile crimes dominated headlines for many years. Choose one of these individuals to become your client for the remainder of the course. That is, this individual and case will be the topic of your final assignment in the course:
See the attached PDF “Killer Bios” for a list of these infamous murderers. In that PDF, you will find several University of Arizona Global Campus Library sources on each murderer. In addition, there are some starter links listed below under each name.
Imagine that you have been retained by the client’s defense attorney as a death penalty mitigation expert. Your role in this capacity is to work as a sentencing advocate on behalf of your client (the defendant). In Week 5, you will prepare a comprehensive case study report. This report will contain an analysis of the psychological factors that may have contributed to the commission of the crimes in the chosen case study and how these psychological factors should be considered as a basis for a prison sentence less than the death penalty. For the purpose of this discussion, we are proceeding as if the client is still alive and has not yet been sentenced (though all of these cases have already been resolved).
In your discussion of 300 words, please examine the following and address the questions below:
Tell us which client you chose and why. That is, what was it about the case that interested you?
Based upon your preliminary research on this case/client and your assigned textbook readings, what mental disorders might your client be suffering from that may have contributed to the crime?
Describe the disorder including its signs and symptoms. Connect those that you believe apply to your client’s behavior.
What does your textbook say about the likelihood that your client’s mental states contributed to the crime?
Discuss whether psychopathy, insanity, or competence to stand trial are potential issues in your client’s case based upon your preliminary research of the case and your assigned textbook readings.
Support your claims with examples from the required materials, other scholarly and/or credible sources, and properly cite any references.
Part 2
Prior to beginning this journal, read the article, “Are Forensic Experts Biased by the Side that Retained Them?,” and examine the subjective nature of forensic psychology concerning the evaluation of criminal defendants. In a 2-page journal entry:
Evaluate the influences that can contribute to differential diagnoses depending upon which side hires the psychologist to evaluate a criminal defendant.
Determine how to minimize cognitive bias.
As you reflect on the article for your journal, analyze the ethical considerations of:
Diagnosing a defendant.
Diagnosing the legal implications of a negative diagnosis.
Based on your assigned readings, including this article, do you believe that such assessments as the PCL-R Checklist can provide accurate predictions of an individual’s behavior? Cite examples from your readings that support your analysis.
Answer preview to prior to beginning work on this discussion, read the article, “Sentencing Advocates Enhance Reasoned Court Decisions
APA
616 words
