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UNICRI is launching an International Postgraduate Expert Programme in Investigative and Legal Psychology (60 ECTS credits) in June 2015

For further information please visit the Programme section

A new Postgraduate Expert Programme in Investigative and Legal Psychology has been organized by UNICRI in collaboration with the Åbo Akademi University (ÅAU), Finland, and with the support of the Salesian University Institute of Turin, Italy, and its CRIMELAB.

The Programme will focus on investigative and legal psychology through an engaging instructional approach. Most of the activities will revolve around trial simulations, where participants will perform the roles of lawyers, psychological experts as well as judicial decision-makers. The cases for the simulations include homicides, cases of rape and child sexual abuse as well as terrorism.

This instructional format will enable participants to acquire specific psychological and legal knowledge and skills, as well as cross-cutting proficiencies (i.e. search for scientific information and its application to specific cases, conducting empirical experiments to resolve evidentiary issues, elaboration of psychological reports, acting as expert witnesses, and cross-examination tactics).

Students with a Bachelor degree in psychology, law or equivalent are eligible to apply. The Programme will last six months, from 25 May until 12 December 2015, and will take place in Turin, Italy. Classes will be held at the Salesian University Institute and at UNICRI, in the United Nations Campus. Participants will be enrolled as students at the ÅAU and awarded a Diploma upon successful completion of the course (60 ECTS credits).

Among the topics that will be covered through the simulations:

  • Reducing and preventing crime: policy and programs
  • The etiology of the criminal conduct
  • Introduction to forensic science
  • Criminal profiling
  • Crime mapping
  • Eyewitness testimony
  • Investigative interviewing techniques with adults and children, witnesses and victims
  • Detecting signs of deception
  • Evaluation of the criminal responsibility for adult and minors
  • Psychological testing in a forensic context
  • Forensic neuropsychology and neuroscience
  • Genetic defenses
  • How to write a forensic psychological evaluation
  • Cross examination of the expert witnesses
  • Decision making processes
  • The evaluation of evidence
  • Treatment of accused persons/offenders
  • Offender risk assessment