Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Introduction to Legal Psychology
Course Code
VPUPK_376
Branch of Science
Psychology; Social Psychology
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Psychology
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Sanita Šuriņa
Structure Unit Manager
Kristīne Mārtinsone
Structural Unit
Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, vppk@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To provide students with an opportunity to acquire the possibilities of application and integration of legal psychology in the field of psychological activity, which will promote the application of their theoretical and practical knowledge when starting the professional activity as a psychologist.
Preliminary Knowledge
General Psychology, Social Psychology, Personality Psychology.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Knows the general concepts of legal psychology and their connection with other fields; knows legal psychology, analyses its basic problems and facts; orientates in and knows the basic theories and processes of legal psychology.
Skills
1.Demonstrates the acquired theoretical and practical knowledge; is able, in accordance with professional ethics, to present the obtained information in the context of legal psychology – compares, critically evaluates and analyses it.
Competences
1.Demonstrates the ability to understand, compare, critically evaluate and analyse information in the context of legal psychology, including performing practical tasks individually and in groups.
Assessment
Individual work
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Individual work |
-
|
-
|
|
Independent preparation for seminars and exams, preparation of a report and presentation about it.
In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
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Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
-
|
10 points
|
|
Active participation in lectures (independent reading of the specified literature and active participation in discussions during seminars) – 20%; written independent work – 30%; group work (presentation) – 20%, written exam – 30%. |
||
Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
General review of legal Psychology.
Description
Definition of concepts of legal psychology. Courses of action of legal psychology. Professional activities of a psychologist in the field of professional activities of legal psychology. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Psychology of police work and public safety.
Description
Psychological evaluation of candidates for police posts and police officers. Psychological assistance for police officers. Practical psychological support in the provision of police functions. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Psychology of police work and public safety.
Description
Psychological evaluation of candidates for police posts and police officers. Psychological assistance for police officers. Practical psychological support in the provision of police functions. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Investigative Psychology.
Description
Offender profiling. Investigation interview and interrogation. Factors affecting the accuracy of testimony. Risk assessment. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Investigative Psychology.
Description
Offender profiling. Investigation interview and interrogation. Factors affecting the accuracy of testimony. Risk assessment. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Specifics of work in working with dangerous criminals. Working with a sex offender. Working with a person serving a life sentence. Working with a juvenile offender. Working with a female offender.
Description
Nature of forensic psychological expert-examination. Forensic psychological examinations in criminal and civil proceedings. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Psychology of victims. Victimology.
Description
Mechanisms for the formation of victimization. The victim and its mental health. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Psychology of victims. Victimology.
Description
Mechanisms for the formation of victimization. The victim and its mental health. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Psychology of criminal behaviour and psychological aspects of committing offences.
Description
Theories of criminal behaviour. Mechanisms for the formation of criminal behaviour. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Psychology of criminal behaviour and psychological aspects of committing offences.
Description
Theories of criminal behaviour. Mechanisms for the formation of criminal behaviour. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Correction psychology.
Description
Correction psychology. Risks assessment and management. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Correction psychology.
Description
Correction psychology. Risks assessment and management. |
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
24 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam
PART-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
General review of legal Psychology.
Description
Definition of concepts of legal psychology. Courses of action of legal psychology. Professional activities of a psychologist in the field of professional activities of legal psychology. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Psychology of police work and public safety.
Description
Psychological evaluation of candidates for police posts and police officers. Psychological assistance for police officers. Practical psychological support in the provision of police functions. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Investigative Psychology.
Description
Offender profiling. Investigation interview and interrogation. Factors affecting the accuracy of testimony. Risk assessment. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Investigative Psychology.
Description
Offender profiling. Investigation interview and interrogation. Factors affecting the accuracy of testimony. Risk assessment. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Specifics of work in working with dangerous criminals. Working with a sex offender. Working with a person serving a life sentence. Working with a juvenile offender. Working with a female offender.
Description
Nature of forensic psychological expert-examination. Forensic psychological examinations in criminal and civil proceedings. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Psychology of victims. Victimology.
Description
Mechanisms for the formation of victimization. The victim and its mental health. |
|
Psychology of criminal behaviour and psychological aspects of committing offences.
Description
Theories of criminal behaviour. Mechanisms for the formation of criminal behaviour. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Correction psychology.
Description
Correction psychology. Risks assessment and management. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Correction psychology.
Description
Correction psychology. Risks assessment and management. |
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
16 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Bartol, C.R. & Bartol, A.M. (2022). Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Research and Application (Sixth edition), SAGE Publications.
2.
Costanzo, M., Krauss, D., Schuller, R., & McLachlan, K. (2014). Forensic and Legal Psychology: Psychological Science Applied to Law (Canadian Edition).
3.
Kamerāde, D., Strika E., Rožcenkova, A., Damberga I., Vazne, Ž., Bisniece, M. (2015). Psiholoģija 3. Lietišķās jomas. Apgāds Zvaigzne ABC
4.
Kitaeff, J. (2011). Handbook of police psychology. New York: Routledge.
5.
Krūmiņa I. & Landmane D. (2012). Nepilngadīgo cietušo psiholoģiskā drošība atkārtotas pratināšanas gadījumos. I starptautiskā zinātniskā konference. Policijas koledžas rakstu krājums, 130 – 140.
6.
Landmane D., Rinkevics A. & Eināts K. (2019). Atkārtotu likumpārkāpumu novēršanas pamatprincipi, Valsts policija.
7.
Landmane D., Strika E., Eglītis R. & Skopeca, V. (2021) Metodiskais materiāls „NICHD izmeklēšanas intervijas protokola zinātniskais un praktiskais pamatojums, izmantošanai nepilngadīgo nopratināšanā Latvijā”, Labklājības ministrija.
8.
Landmane D., Strika E., Eglītis R. & Skopeca, V. (2021) Metodiskais materiāls „NICHD izmeklēšanas intervijas protokola vadlīnijas”, Labklājības ministrija.
9.
Latvijas juridiskās psiholoģijas asociācijas Tiesu psiholoģijas ekspertu darba grupa (2018). Vadlīnijas tiesu psiholoģiskās ekspertīzes noteikšanai.
10.
Roesch, R., Zapf, P.A., Hart, S.D., & Connolly, D. (2013). Forensic psychology and the law (Canadian Ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
11.
Rudzītis K., Landmane D., Krūmiņa I. & Strika E. (2012). Bērns Kriminālprocesā. Kriminālprocesam noderīgas informācijas iegūšana. Iespējas un izaicinājumi, Rīga.
12.
Canter, D. & Youngs, D. (2009). Investigative Psychology: Offender Profiling and the Analysis of Criminal Action. London: John Wiley & Sons.
Additional Reading
1.
Breuer, J. & Elson, M. (2017). Frustration–aggression theory. In P. H. Krahe (Ed.), The Wiley handbook of violence and aggression (pp. 1–12). Wiley.
2.
David, A., Crighton, A.D. & Graham J.T. (2015) Forensic Psychology (Edition, 2.), John Wiley & Sons.
3.
Eglitis R., & Landmane D. (2017). Peritraumatic factors and posttraumatic symptoms in child sexual abuse cases, Health Sciences in Eastern Europe. Tomas 27, Nr.4, p.64-68.
4.
Gudjonsson, G. H., & Haward, L. R. C. (1998). Forensic psychology: A guide to practice. Routledge.
5.
Hill, J.K. (2003). Victims’ Response to Trauma and Implications for Interventions: A Selected Review and Synthesis of the Literature. Department of Justice Canada.
6.
Hill, J.K. (2024). Working with victims of crime: A manual applying research to clinical practice. (Second Edition) Ottawa: Department of Justice Canada.
7.
Mooney, C. & Casteel, T. (2017). Terrorism: Violence, intimidation, and solutions for peace (1st ed.). Nomad Press.
8.
Strika, E. (2002). Psiholoģiskie traucējumi un to saistība ar likumpārkāpuma izdarīšanu. Kastiņš J. (red.) LU PPF Izglītības zinātnes un pedagoģija mūsdienu pasaulē, 655, 531-540
9.
Strika, E. (2002). Likumpārkāpēju personības īpatnības. Kastiņš J. (red.), LU PPF Izglītības zinātnes un pedagoģija mūsdienu pasaulē, 649, 511-523. Rīga.
10.
Williams, W.H., Chitsabesan, P., Fazel, S., McMillan, T., Hughes, N., Parsonage, M. & Tonks, J. (2018). Traumatic brain injury: A potential cause of violent crime? The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(10), 836–844.
Other Information Sources
1.
Psihologu likums: LV likums. Pieņemts: 30.03.2017. [30.03.2017. red.].
2.
Kriminālprocesa likums: LV likums. Pieņemts 21.04.2005. [22.10.2024. red.].
3.
Tiesu ekspertu likums: LV likums. Pieņemts 11.02.2016. [01.06.2025.red.].