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Study graduate certificate online with Griffith University through Open Universities Australia. Explore all degrees, subjects and short courses now.

This degree is delivered in collaboration with Queensland Health&#39;s Forensic Mental Health Service to provide students with a broad knowledge base of forensic mental health.  The target audience for this program are those with little professional knowledge of forensic mental health.  Students will leave the program with a broad understanding of research-based knowledge in forensic mental health and how it is applied in practice.

Gain a broad knowledge of forensic mental health and its overlap with the criminal justice system and mental health services. For psychologists, social workers, nurses and psychiatrists to be able to practice at an advanced level.

Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health

Understanding Victims and Offenders

Risk Assessment and Management in Forensic Mental Health

Psychology and Policing

Psychology of Investigative and Legal Processes

Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour

Mental Health, Psychology and the Criminal Justice System

Neurocriminology

This subject provides an overview of the various areas within the criminal justice system in which frontline workers come across people with mental disorders. It examines the way in which the criminal justice system (including police, court, and correctional staff) deals with individuals with mental disorders. In particular, the subject focuses on the identification and treatment of individuals with mental disorders; relevant processes and decision-making in different elements of the criminal justice system; examining contemporary approaches to definitions, diagnostic tools, notions of criminal responsibility and fitness to stand trial; and the use of psychological knowledge, theory, and research to guide reflective practice and build personal, professional resilience.

Investigate how police, courts, and corrections interact with people with mental disorders. You’ll use psychological theory to explore mental health issues that youth, Indigenous people, and women face in the system. Learn the symptoms. Build resilience.

This subject introduces the emerging research field of neurocriminology, which integrates the disciplines of neuroscience, biology, psychology and criminology to understand criminal behaviour. Students will learn how principles and methods drawn from neuroscience (e.g., neuroimaging techniques, neuropsychological assessment) can be applied to study the neurobiological foundations of crime. Contemporary and cutting-edge findings from neurocriminology research will provide insight into how criminal behaviour can be influenced by brain structures and functioning, biochemical abnormalities, genetics and psychophysiology. The subject will review the application of neurocriminology methods and findings at various levels of the criminal justice process (e.g., prevention, investigation, assessment, prosecution, intervention), including the limitations of these applications.

Previously named &quot;Psychology of Crime&quot;, this subject is designed to complement Crime, Society and Justice. The subject focuses on individual-level explanations of criminal behaviour. The contributions of evolutionary, genetic, bio-behavioural and trait theories, social learning, developmental and social psychological theories are examined. Implications of these theories for the criminal justice system and crime prevention are examined.This subject addresses the question &quot;What is it about individuals and their experiences that produce criminal behaviour?&quot;. Psychologists are concerned with how an individual’s biological make-up, personality, upbringing, current circumstances and so forth produce criminal behaviour. The unit examines criminal behaviour in terms of nine theoretical perspectives: evolutionary theories, genetic theories, biobehavioural theories, psychodynamic theories, trait theories, behavioural theories, social learning theories, development theories, and environmental theories. The subject also examines the implications of these theories for three areas criminology: the functioning of the criminal justice system, crime prevention, and the rehabilitation of offenders.

Delve into scientific theories that explain why people become criminals. You’ll explore links between criminal behaviour and personality, upbringing, and more. Use this knowledge in crime prevention and offender rehabilitation.

This subject examines strategies for changing criminal behaviour. The interventions explored in the subject are most frequently observed within the correctional system in both custodial and community settings; however, programs utilised in other sectors of the criminal justice system (i.e. police, courts) and in affiliated social service organisations are also included in the course where forensic populations are their target treatment group. The subject draws on psychological principles and research evidence, linking theories of crime causation to foundations of behaviour modification and propensity-reducing interventions. A review of specific programs is presented, although the focus of the subject is on the overarching design principles associated with positive client outcomes.Assessment details will be advised at the beginning of the subject offering.

Draw on psychological principles and research to identify strategies to change behaviour within the correctional system. Probe specific rehabilitation programs used in both in community and institutional settings to question the rehabilitation ideal.

Interventions for Correctional Clients

This subject was previously known as CCJ741.Forensic mental health is an area of specialisation that involves the assessment and treatment of client&#39;s who are both mentally disordered and whose behaviour has led to or could possibly lead to offending. Forensic mental health as a field therefore represents the interface between community safety and client centred practice. The two key intervention targets in FMH are mental disorders and problem behaviours. This subject will address the first of these targets by providing students with knowledge of general mental health interventions and components of recovery/recovery processes. Students will also be provided with skills in the delivery of specific intervention strategies targeting the most common mental health presentations in FMH. Students will also be provided with the opportunity to practice the skill of treatment plan development and role play delivery of specific strategies.

Gain an overview of the role of mental health and offending in the forensic mental health client population. Examine and evaluate psychiatric interventions that are useful in a forensic mental health system. 

Interventions and Recovery in Forensic Mental Health (Clinical)

The subject considers the most widely accepted approaches, in Forensic Mental Health (FMH), to risk assessment. Subject content primarily focuses upon the prediction of an individual&#39;s likelihood of harming other or being harmed by others. Risk and protective factors are examined beyond that of a present based individual level to include an understanding of developmental and environmental factors. The utility and applicability of different risk assessment tools is also considered as a component of an effective functional analysis and more broadly risk management in Forensic Mental Health.

Research risk assessment approaches and evaluate their application. Gain the skills to articulate which tools and methods are appropriate for different situations. Learn how to use risk management strategies to inform decision your making.

It is conservatively estimated that 70% of forensic mental health (FMH) clients in Australia are males of functioning intelligence who have English as their preferred language and who align themselves with the dominant Australian culture. As they comprise such a large proportion of the FMH client group, the majority of resources and interventions are targeted towards them. This then means that there are a number of minority populations within FMH, who without our intentional investment and understanding would not receive effective assessment, intervention and management. This subject examines the special needs of these minority FMH groups, namely the specific needs of the elderly, adolescents, women, people with an intellectual disability, people of a different culture or language, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Assessment details will be advised at the beginning of the subject offering.

Delve into legal and ethical issues you’ll need to consider when working with people with special needs and minority groups. Appreciate the importance of inclusive practice, modified clinical applications, assessment and interventions with these groups.

Minority Populations in Forensic Mental Health

This subject will provide a practical understanding of how risk assessment and management is utilised within forensic mental health. This will include a foundation of the key principles for evaluating risk assessment tools, management processes and professional writing in forensic mental health. This subject will then build upon this foundation to provide students with an understanding of how these principles apply in the assessment and management of different offender populations. Students will follow and apply their learning to a number of client case studies across these population groups. They will follow these clients from assessment through to the development of reports which will communicate recommendations for risk management.Assessment details will be advised at the beginning of the subject offering.

Understand how risk assessment tools and management processes are applied to key offender populations. This subject focuses on the prediction of an individual's likelihood of being harmed or harming others due to developmental or environmental factors.

Advanced Risk Assessment and Management in Forensic Mental Health

This subject examines the areas in which the criminal justice system and psychological theories of behaviour interact. Topics include the reliability of eyewitness testimony, truthfulness and credibility of witnesses, questioning child victims of sexual assault, the social dynamics of juries and the role of expert testimony.In this subject, we study the roles of various actors that interact in the courtroom, such as judges, juries, expert witnesses, eyewitnesses, victims and defendants. The unit introduces interdisciplinary literatures: criminology, law and society/socio-legal studies, and psychology. Topics include the social dynamics of juries, judicial discretion, the validity of forensic science and the role of expert testimony, the reliability of eyewitness testimony, an examination of mental health courts and indigenous justice, and the prevalence of wrongful convictions.

Scrutinise the areas in which the criminal justice system and psychological theories of behaviour intersect. Study the roles of various actors in courts, such as judges, juries, expert witnesses, eyewitnesses, victims and defendants.

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