“According to the National Registry of Exonerations, over 3,300 individuals have been exonerated of a wrongful conviction since 1989. In a recent study published in Law and Human Behavior, Kyle C. Scherr and Christopher J. Normile analyzed data from murder related cases that were cataloged in the National Registry of Exonerations and found that false confession evidence was associated with a meaningful delay between when the wrongly convicted individual was released from prison and when they were officially exonerated.”

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Confessions and Police Interrogations

Not everyone in police psychology focuses on law enforcement officers' mental health and stability. Instead, some psychologists specialize in interrogation, help interview, and interpret the interviews of suspects and victims.

Public perception is severely skewed by the media’s portrayal of police investigations through television shows and movies. Viewers believe there will always be clear and damning evidence pointing to a suspect’s guilt in these media outlets. Unfortunately, crime scenes often lack these “necessary” pieces of evidence. Therefore, police must conduct interviews and interrogations to narrow a suspect list and arrest and charge an individual or individuals with a crime.

Read full blog here.

UPCOMING LIVE PROGRAMS

• Trauma-informed Ethical Decision-Making | April 27th | 4 Hours, 4 CEs: Participants will learn a two-part framework for addressing ethical dilemmas with client survivors of trauma. This live training program reviews key concepts associated with trauma-informed practice and ethical decision-making, and explores the impact of trauma on survivors' health and mental health outcomes and physiological and neurological processes.

• Emerging from the Pandemic: The Ongoing Importance of Counselor Self-Care | May 3rd | 2 Hours, 2 CEs: Counselors must take care of themselves at all stages of their careers – from trainee to seasoned professional. Not doing so makes you vulnerable to compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout. Knowing how to recognize, address, and practice skills to prevent mental and physical exhaustion will enable you to have a long, productive, and fulfilling career as a professional counselor.

• Juvenile Sexual Offender Evaluation | May 5th | 4 Hours, 4 CEs: Participants will review the standard of practice for conducting a juvenile sexual offender risk assessment, taking into account cultural and gender differences as well as overall limitations when testifying in Court. This program will examine relevant risk assessment tools, their application and limitation, recidivism base rate, report writing, and cognitive biases impacting overall opinions.

• Behavioral Health Aspects of Screen Time Misuse | May 10th | 1 Hour, 1 CE: This training is designed for professionals interested in learning how excessive screen time exposure affects mood, behavior, cognition, physical health, and criminality. Risk factors, warning signs, and other contributing factors of excessive screen time exposure with also be discussed.

• Poverty, Homelessness, and Poor Health Outcomes | May 12th | 3 Hours, 3 CEs: This training will discuss how poverty and homelessness affect health and well-being, along with the negative impacts on mental health. This training is designed to increase understanding of the causes, consequences, and interventions for persons experiencing poverty and homelessness who are impacted by poor health.
  > Early registration discount available through April 28th

Wishing you well, 

Patricia A. Zapf, PhD
VP, Continuing & Professional Studies
Palo Alto University
pzapf@paloaltou.edu
concept.PaloAltoU.edu

CONCEPT Professional Training
Engaging in Your Continued Professional Development | Practice Lifelong Excellence!

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