Introduction

The School of Psychology has a long tradition of research in the area of criminal justice and legal psychology. Currently, several members of the School are actively involved in research and consultancy, and several PhD students are currently conducting research under their supervision.

Undergraduate students in the School have for the past 15 years or so carried out projects in local prisons, Young Offender Institutions, Regional Secure Units (RSUs), Special Hospitals and police constabularies. Relations with practising forensic psychologists in the area are very good, largely as a consequence of the collaborative work our contacts have engendered.

The MSc in Forensic Psychology programme was introduced in October 1995, and teaching on the core forensic modules on the programme is enhanced by the contributions of several honorary teaching staff, all of whom are Chartered Forensic Psychologists working in applied settings (e.g. in Special Hospitals, RSUs and prisons). Recent research projects undertaken have included:

• an evaluation of the relapse prevention module of the Prison Service Sex Offender Treatment Programme
• an investigation of the incidence of sexual and physical abuse in the backgrounds of sex offenders with learning disabilities
• an investigation into non-verbal cues to lying in police interrogations
• an examination of organisational and psychological factors related to the treatment of offenders in a Maltese prison
• a study of the incidence of ADHD indicators in a young offender population
• a comparison of socio-demographic and psychological factors related to women who do, and do not, self-harm in a Special Hospital
• a study of the incidence of PTSD indicators in the prison population of the Channel Islands

We are particularly interested in receiving applications from suitably qualified graduates who have direct experience of the application of psychological principles in custodial or other forensic settings. As a significant element of the programme involves training in advanced methodological and statistical techniques, we are unable to consider applications from candidates who do not qualify for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS - Graduate Membership of the BPS is insufficient.