In this episode we briefly examine the link between Forensic Psychology and Juries. We talk about the The Supreme Court of Canada’s two fundamental characteristics of juries: Representativeness & Impartiality. - We explore the subject of NCRMD (In 1992, Bill C-30 was enacted and the term “not guilty by reason of insanity” was changed to “not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder” (NCRMD). - We also discuss the 1843 case of Daniel NcNaughton.

Eyewitness studies are counterintuitive and contradict the common sense beliefs of those in the community. This week’s topic focus on eye-witness testimony, one of the oldest and most widely studied topics in forensic psychology as it is one of the most compelling types of evidence that the police and the courts rely on.

Law enforcement attempt to detect whether or not someone is telling them the truth, psychologists have participated in the development and testing of a variety of techniques to detect deception.

Forensic Psychology - Is a field of psychology that deals with all aspects of the human behaviour as it relates to the law or legal systems. In this episode we examine psychology's role in criminal investigations. Many people are aware that psychology is used in criminal investigations. Psychologists have identified a number of key investigative tasks where psychology is particularly relevant. One of these tasks relate to the collection and evaluation of investigative information, information that is often obtained from suspects. Investigative decision-making, especially decisions that require an in-depth understanding of criminal behavior is particularly relevant to this discussion.

Forensic Psychology - Is a field of psychology that deals with all aspects of the human behaviour as it relates to the law or legal systems. This necessarily must include those employed by the justice system and interacting with it. The list could include a range of fields that directly or indirectly relates to the administration of justice, in this episode we will specifically look at front line law enforcement officers, as they are often the earliest point of contact with the justice system. Law-enforcement is a complex, demanding, stressful, and potentially dangerous occupation. It requires intelligent, creative, patient, ethical, and hard-working individuals. The job may not be for everyone and, therefore, it is important for all those involved to ensure that the individuals who are accepted for the job have the highest potential for success. It requires the use of valid selection procedures. These characteristics may relate to a variety of personal features, including, but not limited to, an applicant’s physical fitness, cognitive abilities, personality, and performance on various job related tasks.

Complexity Unpacked - Profiles in Justice - Women in Policing interview with Constable Sharon Peters of the RCMP. This is my second interview with Constable Peters, in the first interview we discussed her road to policing and this one focuses on her first nine years on the job. We unpack some of her experiences at Depot, her first posting in British Columbia and her current post in Brooks, Alberta. She offers advice to aspiring police officers and shares her journey with us.  

For the video version of this interview go to the Complexity Unpacked YouTube channel. For other links to content check out my website at www.ngonsalves.ca and follow me on Instagram @professorgonsalves  

Also check out Constable Peters social media connections: @safe_communities https://www.brooks.ca/311/Safe-Communities-Committee

Complexity Unpacked - Profiles in Justice Interview with Constable S. Peters of the RCMP in Alberta, Canada. In this episode, the first of two interviews with Constable Peters we discuss the work she did with IJM prior to entering policing. She was actively engaged in freeing people from bonded slave labour in India and she shares her experiences and perspectives on this issue. The work she did with IJM contributed to her ongoing desire to be a police officer and sheds some light on her road to policing.   The video version of this interview is available on my Complexity Unpacked YouTube channel. You can also find links to my content on my website www.ngonsalves.ca

S3-E2 - Continues our exploration of diversity in a Canadian context. I briefly go over the Multiculturalism Act of 1985 and other similar legal provisions. Share some differing diversity ideologies and then unpack some of the issues related to talking about the subject. 

For more student focused learning resources, check out my website at http://www.ngonsalves.ca and make sure you like and subscribe to the Complexity Unpacked Podcast to receive the latest episodes. 

The topic for the fourth series in our podcast is Forensic Psychology. An excellent book for an introduction to the subject is the one by Pozzulo, J., Bennell, C., & Forth, A. (2009). Forensic Psychology. - Forensic Psychology is a field of psychology that deals with all aspects of the human behaviour as it relates to the law or legal systems. It involves a variety of critical elements that relate to legal proceedings and the investigations of crimes, for example; profiling, jury selection and determining sanity, among other things. These are some of the topics that we will cover in this series. This first episode is meant as an introduction to the subject. 

Check out my website http://www.ngonsalves.ca for other learning material snacks resources. Remember to like and subscribe to the Complexity Unpacked Podcast for all the latests episodes and make sure to stop by my YouTube channel @ https://youtube.com/channel/UCtTiu2tToTDpEtP8fG6fhFQ 

We are back for 2022 with another series, this one unpacking the complexity of diversity. Join me as I discuss the history and evolution of various identities and experiences. The objective is to share diverse perspectives and showcase a variety of thoughts and opinions on the subject.

Complexity Unpacked - Profiles in Justice Series - In this episode Detective Marshall and I unpack some of the complexities inherent in responding to domestic violence calls for service by police. We draw on her 23 years of policing experience and chat about the evolution of mandatory charging policies, officer attitudes and the importance of maintaining balance in a policing career. She also offers advice to aspiring police officers. - Check out my website for more content www.ngonsalves.ca

In this episode I bring you a workshop on Essay Writing for College Students with my special guest Kristen Gonsalves. She has previously created and delivered many writing workshops for students in undergraduate and post-graduate university programs and shares tips that have assisted many with their essay writing process with us here on Complexity Unpacked. You can watch the video presentation and see the slideshow she refers to on my website at www.ngonsalves.ca Useful links she mentions in the video include: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_a...

This episode offers another Profile in Policing: Staff Sgt. John Romain (Ret.) and I take a look back at his 30 years with Toronto Police Service. We start with a discussion about his time at the Toronto Police College and then unpack his experiences and perspectives on his time within the Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy (TAVIS) Unit. He also offers advice to aspiring police officers.

Part 11 of the Ethics Unpacked Series. In this episode I provide a broad overview of the first half of the Ethics Unpacked course. It is based on the topic handouts and my classroom lectures. It is not meant to be comprehensive but rather a sweeping overview to highlight the key points.

Part 10 of the Ethics Unpacked Series. In this episode we will briefly unpack Social Contract Theory as presented by Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Rawls.

Part 9 of my Ethics Unpacked Series. In this episode we very briefly unpack the deontological theory of Immanuel Kant.

Part 8 of my Ethics Unpacked Series. In this episode we briefly unpack the most enduring of the consequentialist theories, Utilitarianism as posited by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mills.

Part 7 of my Ethics Unpacked Series. In this episode we unpack two views on Virtue Based Ethics, one by Aristotle and the other by Confucius.

Part 6 of my Ethics Unpacked Series. In this episode we briefly unpack Divine Command Theory and Natural Law as posited by Thomas Aquinas.

Part 5 of my Ethics Unpacked Series. In this episode we briefly unpack Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development. We also preview Sykes and Matza’s Drift Theory known more commonly as the Techniques of Neutralization.