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University of Pennsylvania
School of Nursing
Department of Family and Community
Title: Nursing 331 Forensic Mental Health
Credit: 1 cu
Catalogue Description:
Forensic mental health is a term used to describe the interface between the criminal
justice system and mental health. This course examines components of human behavior
that bring people into a judicial setting. This course also examines mental health
evaluations of people who are arrested, mental health treatment in prisons and jails, and
issues related to rehabilitation and re-entry into the community. Forensic mental health is
a cross-discipline concept. Sociology, psychology, psychiatry, criminology, nursing, and
law enforcement perspectives on forensic mental health will be explored.
Placement: Fall 2015
Faculty:
Kathleen Brown, PhD, RN, CRNP
Associate Practice Professor of Nursing
School of Nursing-Office 412
Telephone: 215-898-6679
E-mail: brownkm@nursing.upenn.edu
Office Hours:
Monday: 12-3
Tuesday: 12-5
and by appt.
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There is strong evidence in the scientific literature that mental health disorders and
problems are more prevalent in the prison population and that these disorders influence
engagement in criminal activity. The prison system is not equipped, nor charged with
resolving mental health problems. Mental health disorders are seen in disproportionate
numbers among youth engaged in crime and contribute to the poor outcomes seen in
young offenders. In this course, we will examine the interface between mental health
disorders and criminal activity including sustained criminal activity, incarceration and
potential for rehabilitation. Learning will occur through thoughtful examination of the
scientific literature; discussion of the realities of incarceration, its purpose and outcomes;
and strategies needed for successful rehabilitation. Students will engage with actual
offenders whose contact with the criminal justice system has been longstanding as well as
experts from the prison systems. Students will participate in analysis of the offenders
rehabilitation potential and help develop plans for re-entry into the community.
Required Text: None; Class Materials: Course materials are available via the class
Canvas site (syllabus, reading assignments, reading material, handouts, Power Point
presentations). The Canvas site is housed by the University of Pennsylvania Libraries.
Scientific forensic mental health focused articles comprise weekly readings that provide
foundational knowledge to complement classroom presentations and discussions.
Course Objectives:
Identify mental health related factors that predispose to and are consequences of crime
and contact with the criminal justice system
Discuss the relationship between mental health issues and motivations for criminal
activity
Identify the components of psychiatric and psychological forensic mental health
evaluations
Discuss criminal cases in which suspects are diagnosed with a psychiatric illness
Describe the effects of incarceration on mental health
Discuss the effects of mental health-related incarceration on families and communities
Discuss the psychiatric and psychological treatment of offenders in prisons
Analyze the intersections between addictions, mental illness and criminal activities
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Analyze mental health factors that influence arrest, detainment, judicial proceedings and
outcomes
Analyze mental health factors that influence discharge from prison and re-entry into the
community
Discuss confinement of persons with mental health issues in jails and prisons as a human
rights issue.
Teaching Format:
Each class period focuses on a topic related to forensic mental health and is organized in
a three tier format. The first hour each week is devoted to a state of the science lecture,
followed in the second hour by in-person or live video streamed dialogue with a guest
speaker who brings expert analysis and real world experience to the discussion. Also,
actual offenders who are currently in prison will engage with students in dialogue via
video streaming. These currently incarcerated individuals will expand the students
understanding of the scientific literature and provide the basis for classroom and
recitation activities and course assignments. The third hour is a mandatory online
recitation that will count toward the required student contact hours.
Recitation: In large lecture courses during which interaction is limited, a recitation can
allow for greater student involvement, higher order thinking and beginning problem
solving in course content areas. The goal is to integrate the lecture material with readings
and videos that enhance student learning. The content for recitation is posted in Canvas
with a page of information that correlates with each lecture and guest speaker.
Recitation serves as an important resource for student learning and complements other
assignments in the course. The masters and PhD prepared recitation leaders, who are
experts (nurses, psychologists, and a law enforcement officer) in an area relevant to
forensic mental health, lead groups of 20 students in weekly asynchronous on-line
discussions. Leaders will pose questions, lead discussions, and link the material to
overall course content with the goal of promoting knowledge synthesis. We will build on
the capabilities of our students who come with a wide variety of interests, writing skills
and learning styles. Active recitation participation enables faculty to build on each
students prior knowledge, clarify misconceptions, promote dialogue and expression of
different points of view, facilitate problem solving and engage students in dealing with
reactions to what can be very emotionally charged material.
Students are required to contribute to the recitation discussion each week, by responding
to faculty discussion questions and reacting to threads that include other students in the
group and the recitation leader. Asynchronous discussions enable students to post on the
group discussion board anytime during the week, but before the next class period. Since
recitation is mandatory, the recitation leader will not grade a students assignments
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until s/he has posted discussion on the group discussion site each week within their
Canvas group. The quality of these postings must reflect engagement in course content
and the readings and areas needing clarification. While recitation participation is not
graded independently, failure to participate in recitation will result in a failing grade
for the assignments that are associated with that recitation topic.
Objectives for recitation:
1. Provide students opportunities to explore topics in forensic
mental health
2. Provide a format for students to synthesize the material
3. Stimulate interest and engagement in course material
4. Provide feed-back to students
5. Support diverse student learning
6. Successfully integrate lecture, speakers and readings.
Attendance:
Attendance on time for lecture is expected in Nursing 331. Attendance will be taken at
random.
Participation in recitation is required. Students are responsible for any missed
lectures.
Grading Criteria:
Assignment 1: Analysis of mental illness, incarceration and human rights 30%
Assignment 2: Analysis of offender rehabilitation and the pardon system
30%
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Topic
Speakers
8/31
Introduction:
Mental health and
incarceration
Brown
Introduction to the
Criminal Justice
System in
Pennsylvania
Cronin
Introduction to
class project
9/14
9/21
Important
Brown/Cronin
intersections in the
legal system for
mentally ill
persons
Tyrone Werts,
former lifer
Life sentence
Life on a cell
commuted by
block
former Governor
Rendell
9/28
Mental Health
Diagnosis and
Nick Scharff MD
Assignments
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Treatment in Jails
and Prisons
Oct 5
Oct 12
Addictions and
Mental Health
Brown/Cronin
Drug Courts
Drug Court
Members
Taking
Responsibility
Video interview
Rehabilitation in
prison
Oct 19
Taking
Responsibility
Video interview
Rehabilitation in
prison
Oct 26
Re-entry
Cronin/Brown
Robert Rosa,
Director, New
Leash on Life
Mental Health,
Incarceration,
Human Rights,
due
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November 2
Nov 9
Nov 16
Re-entry for
persons with
mental illness
Rehabiltation
Neuroimaging
Brown/Cronin
Mental Health
And Incarceration
Video Interview
Mental Health
Court Members
Adrian Raine
University of
Pennsylvania
Analysis of
offender
rehabilitation
and the pardons
system due
Nov 23
Mental Health And Video Interview
Incarceration
Nov 30
Effects of
incarceration on
families and
communities
Dec 7
Gangs
Inmates
Research paper
due
Final exam
questions
distributed
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