LASA: Assault in the City: Trial, Sentencing, and Appeal

Assignment 2: LASA: Assault in the City: Trial, Sentencing, and Appeal

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to study a vignette.

Tasks:

On the basis of the vignette you read, write a paper supported by appropriate, peer-reviewed sources and case law that responds to the following:

· Define risk of dangerousness and discuss the relevant landmark court cases relevant to this psycholegal issue.

· Discuss the relevance of the defendant’s age to a risk of dangerousness assessment.

· Describe the elements or issues that a mental health professional usually focuses on when assessing a person’s risk of dangerousness.

· On the basis of the information you have from the vignette, provide an opinion on the defendant’s risk of dangerousness.

· Define insanity and discuss the relevant landmark court cases relevant to this psycholegal issue.

· Discuss the relevance, if any, of the defendant’s age to a determination of mental status at the time of the offense.

· Describe the elements or issues that a mental health professional usually focuses on when assessing a person’s mental status at the time of the offense.

· Discuss the potential ethical concerns that may be encountered by a forensic professional in the evaluation and assessment of each of these psycholegal issues.

· Discuss the potential impact of an individual’s culture in the evaluation and assessment of each of these psycholegal issues.

· On the basis of the information you have from the vignette, provide an opinion on the defendant’s likelihood of using an insanity defense.

Use resources from professional literature to support your analysis. The professional literature may include the Argosy University online library resources; relevant textbooks; peer-reviewed journal articles; and websites created by professional organizations, agencies, or institutions (.edu, .org, and .gov).

All written assignments and responses should follow APA rules for attributing sources.

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Psychology and the Legal System

© 2013 Argosy University

Assault in the City

The defendant has been found guilty of three counts of sexual battery. The other witnesses were reluctant
to testify, and the assistant district attorney (ADA) felt that the three counts would suffice for a lengthy
prison sentence. However, the defendant is seventeen years old. Dr. Shayleigh Johnson has been asked to
evaluate him to assist in the sentencing. The defendant can be sentenced to adult prison or juvenile
corrections. Dr. Johnson is asked to evaluate his amenability to treatment, conduct a risk assessment, and
recommend what, if any, treatment should be pursued.