Certificate Course on Correctional Psychology

Course Code: KLELC002A

Objectives: Human behaviour is so pervasive that it encompasses every activity of man. The subject, Psychology attempts to understand the nature of behaviour and the mental process of human beings. It becomes essential on the part of the law students to understand and apply the knowledge of Psychology in several aspects of legal implications. Hence the basic principles of Psychology are the contents of this course.

Course Content:

UNIT-I

 Nature of Psychology

  1. Psychology as part of philosophy
  2. Psychology as a separate discipline

Schools of Psychology

  1. Structuralism
  2. Functionalism
  3. Psychoanalysm
  4. Behaviourism
  5. Humanism
  6. Gestaltism
  7. Cognitive Psychology

Branches of Psychology

  1. Research Psychology
  2. Applied Psychology

Methods of Psychology

  1. Naturalistic Observation
  2. Introspection
  3. Experimental method
  4. Asking questions
  5. Case study method

UNIT-II

 

Criminal Psychology

  1. Brief History of Correctional Psychology
  2. Types of Deviance and Crime
  3. Role of a Prison Psychologist
  4. Functions of Psychologists
  5. Principles of Psychological and Psychiatric Theories
  6. Policy and Treatment Implications

Need for Classification

  1. Classification
  2. Crime Centered Classification
  3. Farr and Gibbon’s Classification
  4. Criminal Centered Classification
  5. Gibbon’s role-career typology
  6. Interpersonal maturity level Warren (1983) Palmer (1974)

UNIT-III

Correctional Philosophy

  1. Major goals of sentencing
  2. History of Punishment
  3. Punishment Perspectives
  4. Corrections in the Twentieth Century
  5. Corrections in the Modern times
  6. Behavioural, cultural, and social changes impinging on corrections

Correction strategies

  1. Restorative Justice
  2. Rehabilitation
  3. Cognitive Skills Training
  4. Cognitive Behavioral Intervention

UNIT-IV

Types of Offenders

  1. Sex Offenders
  2. Women Offenders
  3. Elderly Group
  4. Juveniles

Economic Crimes

  1. Primary
  2. Secondary
  3. Tertiary
  4. Measures to reduce economic crimes

UNIT-V

Challenges for Rehabilitation in India

  1. Over crowding
  2. Human Rights violation
  3. Disparity in sentencing
  4. High rate of Recidivism
  5. Retributive approach
  6. High cost