Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Issues and Controversies in Crime and Justice [Hardcover]

Bruce A. Arrigo (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0120643502 | ISBN-13: 978-0120643509 | Publication Date: January 26, 2000 | Edition: 1st

Introduction to Forensic Psychology is an original approach to understanding how psychologists impact the research, practice, and policy of crime, law, and justice. Written specifically for students, lay professionals, and practitioners, the text systematically examines police, court, and correctional aspects of forensic psychology. By further subdividing the text into the adult, juvenile, family, and civil components of forensic psychology, the author brings interdependence and overlap among these dimensions and the three broad thematic areas themselves into sharp, clear, and compelling focus. Contained within each of the 12 substantive chapters are series of timely issues or controversies that provocatively capture the significance of these relationships. Selected topics include incarceration of the mentally ill, the police as mediators in prison, competency to stand trial, treatment refusal rights, police stress and suicide, and sex offender treatment.
Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Issues and Controversies in Crime and Justice presents the debates about psychology, crime, law, and the intersections in an accessible, jargon-free fashion. It is a cross-disciplinary text relevant to the fields of psychology, law, criminal justice, social work, and public policy.

Key Features
* Integrative approach to the study of psychology, crime, and law
* Systematically focuses on police, court, and correctional dynamics of forensic psychology
* Canvasses the adult, juvenile, family, and civil aspects of forensic psychology with "cutting edge" issues or controversies
* A comprehensive sweep of important and provocative topics throughout the field, based on reader-friendly prose
* Relies heavily on case illustrations to guide the reader throughout each topic presented

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the text is very useful in that it presents the most compelling and urgent issues facing the criminal justice system, and the Forensic Psychologist who works within it today. Students (and others) who read this text will come away with a strong sense of what controversies grip the field and how difficult they are to resolve."
-CRIME, LAW, AND SOCIAL CHANGE

"Introduction to Forensic Psychology is very highly recommended reading for anyone studying pscyhology, law, the criminal justice system, or related public policy issues."
-WISCONSIN BOOKWATCH, October 2000

"The book is easy to read and needs little previous knowledge of psychology."
-SCIENCE & JUSTICE (Volume 41, Number 4, 2001)

Book Description

This book presents the debates about psychology, crime, law, and the intersections, in an accessible, jargon-free fashion --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 367 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press; 1st edition (January 26, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0120643502
• ISBN-13: 978-0120643509
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,133,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intro to Forensic Psych, July 29, 2001

By 

"rfnyle" (Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Issues and Controversies in Crime and Justice (Hardcover)

Intro to Forensic Psych was a rather enjoyable read for me. Although a textbook, I bought it out of curiousity of the subject and to read for my personal enjoyment. The grouping of the material was different from a usual textbook, and the author admits this in the introduction. His organization does not change the ease with which one can read the book, and it makes it so the reader may jump from topic to topic without having to worry about missing some piece of information that will be needed to understand the rest of the material.

Although the author briefly gives background needed to understand some aspects of psych testing or sociology theories, previous knowledge of this material (i.e. interpretation of MMPI results or specific knowledge of social psych or sociological explainations of deviance) served to make the material more relevant.

The only major fault I found with the book was the brevity and cursory discussion of each topic. However, this is an introduction book, and the author does point out that he could write an entire book on each individual section, had he the time. This "fault" was more because the information presented fascinated me, and I wanted to read as much as I could about it.

One thing that I would have liked to see more of was case histories, how forensic psych was applied and actual outcomes. Many of the vignettes given were ficticious and few, if any, clear solutions or outcomes were ever mentioned.

Were I to take a course with this book as the text, I would find it helpful mostly in introducing topics for dicussion or debate in smaller lectures, and a good place to explore the various aspects of forensic psych work that students might not have previously considered. It would also be useful as a starting point to find more information on any dicussed topic through the use of cited works. I enjoyed the book and the author's writing style as it wasn't overly dry, even for a textbook . I would consider buying other books written by this author as he demonstrated, to me at least, a mastery of the subject matter.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars pretty good, February 14, 2001

By 

NMK "QueenN85" (OC, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Issues and Controversies in Crime and Justice (Hardcover)

I had recieved this book as a gift. I had wanted it for a while, because I someday hope to make a profession outof forensic psychology. Overall, this book was both intresting and informative. It had, for every topic there was, a real life parallell. The way it is organized, it is very easy to skip around, so you can basically read about what you want and not feel completely lost. The only downside to this book is that it sort of seemed like a very detailed outline. Every section was split the same way and had about a paragraph or two under it - I had expected a little more detail, shall we say. Also, I had expected a book such as this to me MUCH bigger, especially for the price. But like I said - overall it was intresting and informative, and quite educational. I learned many things, and was generally satisfied. Hope this helps!!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Designed for the beginning student of forensic psychology, February 25, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Issues and Controversies in Crime and Justice (Hardcover)

Introduction To Forensic Psychology: Issues And Controversies In Crime And Justice is written and designed for the beginning student of forensic psychology and includes adult, juvenile, family, and civil components of this specialized discipline. Bruce Arrigo (California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno, California) presents an informative, "reader friendly" text covering the full spectrum of contemporary debate on crime, law, and psychology. Introduction To Forensic Psychology is very highly recommended reading for anyone studying psychology, law, the criminal justice system, or related public policy issues.