Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Psicopatología Forense en el Ámbito Penal y Penitenciario
Other languages of instruction: Catalan
Teaching staff
Introduction
With the program of the subject “Psychopathology in the Penal and Penitentiary Scope” it is intended that the student adequately understands the framework of intervention in which the professionals who practice before the Courts of Justice in criminal cases must develop.
The scientific-technical knowledge related to psychopathology in relation to the criminal process must be complemented with the necessary understanding of some legal categories on the capacity of guilt, free will, as well as the requirements concerning the exonerating factors (complete or incomplete) and mitigating factors that affect the reproach of guilt on the accused.
Those professionals who work in the forensic field, therefore, must have a minimum legal knowledge. Based on such knowledge, the staging of expert statements (whether it is a forensic doctor, a forensic psychologist or an expert from another specialty) must be oriented to the purposes of the criminal process, so that scientific-technical knowledge is put at the service of the procedural truth that is sought. In this sense, communication strategies and the understanding of the role played by each professional are essential for the purposes of the process, the practice of evidence and the subsequent resolution of the case by the Courts of Justice.
In short, the concept of imputability is addressed from a multidisciplinary perspective, analyzing the techniques and instruments of psychological and psychiatric evaluation of the same in relation to the objectives of the criminal process, as well as the mental disorders related to imputability.
Objectives
To understand the role played by each professional who practices before the Courts of Justice in relation to the relevant psychopathological aspects in the prosecution of a criminal case.
To know the legal-criminal regulation regarding guilt and the causes of exclusion of guilt contained in the Penal Code, as well as the jurisprudential developments in the matter.
To reflect on the way of intervening, whether from a psychological, medical or legal perspective, in the reports and statements regarding the guilt of an accused, defendant or convicted person, so that the scientific-technical aspects and the legal-criminal, treatment or penitentiary consequences in general are related.
Learning outcomes of the subject
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The graduate will be able to detail the concepts of psychopathology applied to the forensic and judicial field. The graduate will be able to assess the case study by using psychopathological concepts considering the what, how, when, where and why of the cases
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The graduate will be able to communicate in an understandable manner, orally or in writing, the scientific-technical psychopathological-forensic and/or legal knowledge in relation to psychopathological aspects in the legal field
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The graduate will be able to examine documents with legal-criminal relevance related to psychopathological aspects (sentences, orders, medical-forensic and expert reports)
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The graduate will be able to apply abstract legal categories to specific cases, so that scientific-technical and legal knowledge in the matter are adequately related
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The graduate will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the resolution of problems in new or little-known environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to his/her area of study
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The graduate will be able to integrate knowledge related to the formulation of judgments based on information (possibly incomplete or limited) that includes reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments
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The graduate will be able to prepare/interpret forensic expert reports in the Civil, Family, Criminal, Social, Labor, Contentious-Administrative and Canonical fields. The graduate will be able to carry out the defense and questioning of the psychopathological-forensic expert report in the Oral Trial before the Courtroom in the competent courts
Syllabus
The complete syllabus and teaching materials can be accessed in the subject guide on the Intranet.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Fully in-classroom modality.
In Teaching Materials the course schedule with the planned training activities has been posted.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Asistencia a clase. Se exige un mínimo del 80% de asistencia a clase (en global para sesiones In order to be assessed and successfully pass the course, the subject coordinator may require the student to carry out additional work or practice to be assessed. In no case may a student with an average attendance of less than 60% be assessed and must attend the second call. In the second call, no more than 5.0 may be obtained as a final grade.
Continuous assessment. The assessment of the Directed Case Studies (EDC) of the subject accounts for 30% of the grade for the subject (each of the 5 EDC assigned to Forensic Psychopathology in the criminal and penitentiary field accounts for 6% of the grade for the subject).
Final exam. The final exam (which will be done in writing) will be divided into two parts: multiple choice questions and practical cases to be developed. The final exam is worth 70% of the course grade (35% test grade + 35% case study grade).
The course does not require any additional work.
Bibliography and resources
General bibliography
Pantoja García, F. y Bueno Arús, F. (dirs.), Actual doctrina de la imputabilidad penal, Estudios de Derecho Judicial 110, Consejo General del Poder Judicial, Centro de Documentación, 2006.
Martínez Pérez, F. (dir.) Enfermo mental y proceso penal. Especial referencia a las medidas cautelares. Cuadernos de Derecho Judicial, CGPJ, Madrid, I-2006.
Martínez Arrieta, A. (dir.) Psiquiatría criminal y comportamientos violentos. Cuadernos de Derecho Judicial, CGPJ, Madrid, VIII-2005.
Soria Verde, M.A., Sáiz Roca, D. (coord.) Psicología criminal. Pearson, Prentice Hall, Madrid, 2011 (última reimpresión), especialmente pp. 59-121.
Recommended bibliography
Important: Bibliography for preparing group presentations: Molina Fernández, F. (coord.) Memento Penal 2015. Francis Lefebvre, Madrid, 2015. The teacher will provide the corresponding pages for each topic (to prepare class presentations). In view of the study of Topics 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, it will be interesting for each group to provide the summaries and/or Power Points that they have prepared based on reading the manual.
Puerta Luis, L.R., "Causas de inimputabilidad: anomalías y alteraciones psíquicas. Trastorno mental transitorio". En Pantoja García y Bueno Arús (dir.), Actual doctrina de la imputabilidad penal, Estudios de Derecho Judicial 110, Consejo General del Poder Judicial, Centro de Documentación, 2006.
Demetrio Crespo, E. y Maroto Calatayud, M. (dir) Neurociencias y Derecho penal. Nuevas perspectivas en el ámbito de la culpabilidad y tratamiento jurídico-penal de la peligrosidad. BdeF-Edisofer, Buenos Aires-Madrid, 2013.
Recommended bibliography (Dr. Martín Fumadó)
Medicina Legal y Toxicología. J.A. Gisbert Calabuig. Masson SA. 2005. Capítulo 78. Imputablidad. Páginas 1066-1084.
Valoración médico-legal del enfermo mental. Fernando Rodes Lloret / Juan Bautista Martí Lloret. Imp / Ed.: Alicante, España : Universidad de Alicante, 1997. Fundamentalmente Capítulo 3: Imputabilidad penal (páginas 13-21) y resto de capítulos para trastornos específicos.
Manual de Psiquiatría Legal y Forense. Juan José Carrasco Gómez. José Manuel Maza Martín. La Ley 3ª ed., 1ª imp.(06/2005). Tema 5. Modificaciones de la responsabilidad profesional criminal por causas psíquicas. Páginas II.5.1 hasta II.5.55.
Teaching materials
In addition, various bibliographical reference materials have been posted in the Teaching Materials section: academic articles and practical exercises, as well as the current Penal Code.