Diagnosing criminal defendants | CRJ308 | Ashford University

Prior to beginning this journal, review Chapters 2, 3, and 8 in the textbook, read the article, Allegiance Bias in Statement Reliability Evaluations Is not Eliminated by Falsification Instructions (Links to an external site.), and watch the film, The PCL-R Checklist: A Measure of Evil (Links to an external site.). Examine the subjective nature of forensic psychology concerning the evaluation of criminal defendants and the use of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) in forensic evaluations.

Your journal paper should be a minimum of 750 words in which you will reflect upon the following:

• 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.
• Discuss the process of diagnosing a defendant.
• Discuss the legal implications of a negative diagnosis.

Assess, based on your assigned readings, including the assigned film, whether you believe that such assessments as the PCL-R can provide accurate predictions of an individual’s behavior. Cite examples from your readings that support your analysis.