Explain how AP-LS forensic psychology specialty guidelines and APA Ethical Guidelines pertain to the issue of the death penalty

To prepare

  • Review the Learning Resources.
  • Consider the ethical consequences of the death penalty as presented in the Learning Resources.
  • Consider that you are in charge of addressing a key issue: capital punishment involving a minor.

Post a response to the following:

  • Based on the principles of the forensic risk assessment, discuss the risks not only to the inmate, but the community at large.
  • Explain how AP-LS forensic psychology specialty guidelines and APA Ethical Guidelines pertain to the issue of the death penalty. How does this affect the forensic psychology professional’s assessment? (Consider the concept of no right to harm).
  • Explain whether there is a connection between capital punishment assessments involving a minor and society at large.

American Psychological Association (2002). APA guidelines on multicultural education, training, research, practice, and organizational change for psychologists. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/policy/multicultural-guideline.pdf
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

American Psychological Association. (2016c). Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/forensic-psychology.aspx
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Death Penalty Information Center. (2016a). Retrieved from http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/

Death Penalty Information Center. (2016b) Executions by year. Retrieved from http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/executions-year

Gillespie, L. K., Smith, M. D., Bjerregaard, B., & Fogel, S. J. (2014). Examining the impact of proximate culpability mitigation in capital punishment sentencing recommendations: The influence of mental health mitigators. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 39(4), 698–715. doi:10.1007/s12103-014-9255-5
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Nagin, D. (2014). Deterrence and the death penalty: Why the statistics should be ignored. Significance, 11(2), 9–13. doi:10.1111/j.1740-9713.2014.00733.x
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Richards, T. N., & Smith, M. D. (2015). Current issues and controversies in capital punishment. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 40(1), 199–203. doi:10.1007/s12103-014-9254-6
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Walsh, M. (2015). Death revisited: Will the Supreme Court ‘peck away at’ capital punishment? ABA Journal, 101(10), 19. Retrieved from http://www.abajournal.com/

Required Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (2016). Nowhere to hide: School shooter podcast [Audio file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.