Mental Health and Counseling in the Legal System

COU MH531 - Mental Health and Counseling in the Legal System

Credits: 3

This course will focus on the relationship between law and psychology and the mental health system, mental illness, and criminal conduct with a more specific historical and procedural examination of the practice of psychology in the judicial forum. Essential issues related to ethics and the law, risk assessment screening, psychological principles applied to law enforcement and correctional functions, and standards of legal competence and insanity will be discussed, as well as the interface between children and family services and juvenile justice, and Probation–Department of Corrections systems. Topics also include the impact of diversity factors and the importance of following ethical principles and obtaining specialized supervision.