SYLLABUS
PSYC461-B Criminal Profiling: What We Can Learn From the Victim’s Perspectives
Instructor:
Rebecca S. Morse, PhD
Class Hours & Location: TBD
Office Hours: Online via Skype at dr.morsereb Wednesdays 9AM to 10AM.
Phone: 240-446-1022
Email: Rebecca@nullpointer.net
*You must put the course name, and your name in the subject line.
REQUIRED TEXT: Wallace, H., & Roberson, C. (2015). Victimology: Legal, Psychological,
and Social Perspectives, 4/E ISBN-10: 0133495523 • ISBN-13: 9780133495522
Publisher: Prentice Hall
*** It is absolutely imperative that you have your textbook for this class to do the homework and the
quizzes, and you will need the 4th edition, as this one has new chapters that are not included in previous
editions. I do supply power points, but those are more of a study guide, and do not contain the details, just
the broader topic areas.
COURSE OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS:
This course is a unique approach to criminal profiling. Unlike the other forensic
psychology courses offered, this course focuses on the victims of crime, and what we can learn
about crime, and surviving crime, from those who have been victimized. The overall objective of
this course is for the student to become familiar with the field of Victimology through
an introduction to traditional Victimology crime theories, the measurement of crime, and both
civil and criminal processes. Additionally, the student will learn about responses to
victimization, including techniques for empowering victims, and special types of victims,
including but not limited to, homicide, the elderly, the disabled, victims of hate crimes, bullying,
school shootings, workplace violence, and terrorism. Finally, we will briefly review the civil
remedies available to crime victims.
We will explore not only theories, but also practical applications in the field: such as effective
treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Child Protective Services, FBI victim advocacy,
and even online resources! You will have the opportunity to design a mock intervention to
help victims, compare different types of services for victims, consider the role of the media in
apprehending criminals or covering traumatic events, and even debate whether or not capital
punishment or attending a trial can help, or hurt, the recovery process.
This course is designed to perfectly complement the other forensic psychology and criminology
courses offered at UMD-USG, and the format will allow students to have the flexibility they
need to succeed during a fast-paced semester!
TECHNOLOGY:
*Students will be expected to access and use Canvas on a regular basis. Important class
information, such as the syllabus and weekly readings will be posted here. To access Canvas,
students should use their UMD email ID and password. www.elms.umd.edu
*In addition, students should check their UMD email account regularly. Be sure to check that
new messages can be received and that you are not over the message limit. You also have the
option for your UMD account to be forwarded to another email address.
.
ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION:
You are expected to come to class prepared to discuss and apply the material. In order to make
the most out of your learning experience, it is imperative that you are not only present at each
class meeting, but are alert, attentive, and ready to learn.
Throughout the semester we will have class discussions. You are responsible for being prepared
to discuss the material, and are expected to actively participate in discussion with your
classmates about the material. I do not grade strictly on attendance; however, if you miss more
than a couple of classes, you will lose points accordingly. Similarly, if you are on your laptops or
phones for non-class purposes, you will also risk losing points.
**Missing a class to participate in a religious observance or to seek medical care constitutes an
excused absence. Please inform me in advance, if possible, if you will need to miss a class for
such reasons. It remains your responsibility to check with fellow students for class notes.
New: PER UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND POLICY FOR A STUDENT’S MEDICALLY
NECESSITATED ABSENCE FROM CLASS, students shall now make a reasonable
attempt to inform the instructor of his/her illness prior to the class; and, upon returning to
class, present their instructor with a self-signed note attesting to the date of their illness.
Each note must also contain an acknowledgment by the student that the information
provided is true and correct. Providing false information to University officials is
prohibited under Part 9 (h) of the Code of Student Conduct (V-1.00(B) UNIVERSITY OF
MARYLAND CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT) and may result in disciplinary action.
QUIZZES:
There will three quizzes for this course and each will be non-cumulative. Each exam will
be worth 10 points, for a total of 30 points. Exams will be posted IN-CLASS, closed book,
closed note.
* If you anticipate conflict with an exam date, it is the student’s responsibility to provide
justification, but scheduling an alternate date is at the discretion of the instructor. Similarly,
emergency exceptions are at the discretion of the instructor (in the hospital; car accident =
emergency; alarm clock did not ring; bad hair day = not an emergency). Basically, what this
means is that unless you are in the hospital, jail, or morgue, you do not get a make-up exam.
ARTICLES:
Relevant journal articles to supplement the text may be assigned throughout the course. It
is expected that students will come to class prepared to discuss the articles and have questions
and comments on the topics in the articles. You will be responsible for the material from the
articles and discussion for the exam. Articles will be available on blackboard or the information
will be given for students to find it through the Library website.
In-Class Group Work
For some classes, I will provide discussion questions. You are required to respond in full to all
questions/prompts within pairs or small groups. Each week is slightly different. Specific
directions (what you need to answer, and if you need to address classmates) will be provided.
Any thoughtful answer will receive full credit, for a total of 15 points. These assignments are
pass /fail. One page per group, listing names of group members should be submitted at the end
of that class period.
Victims’ Resource Handbook
We will be compiling a resource compendium for victims throughout the semester. You will selfselect into groups based on the type of victim you wish to research, and you will work together
to make a handbook with resources at the Federal, State, and County level, complete with
websites, how-tos, and phone numbers for advocates. These are worth 15 points. Work will be
done primarily in-class, and submitted online.
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:
(1) Outline
You will select one aspect of victimization to study more in-depth per the questions below (child
abuse, incest, hate crimes, gang violence, etc.) in a formal research paper. An outline prior to
submission of the final paper is required to ensure that all students are well organized and
prepared to cover the chosen victim typology. The outline will be graded on the following
(worth 5 points, 1 point per requirement):
• Appropriate topic area selection (e.g., what type of victim/crime are you studying?)
• Clarity of organization
• Ability to demonstrate the research questions I posed below are incorporated
• Brief narration, not just bulleted headings
• Reference section with a minimum of 10 peer-reviewed sources
• APA formatting
(2) Psychological Health, Victims, & The Criminal Profile
Spelling and grammar do count, and citations should be in APA 6th format. Please see
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ for a helpful formatting resource.
Paper Guidelines:
•
•
•
12-15 content pages double spaced
A minimum of 10 peer-reviewed sources must be utilized (other sources, such as victim support
books/websites, are permitted, but do not count toward the 10)
A cover page, abstract, and APA formatted reference section are all required, but do not count
toward the page-length requirement
Research Paper Questions to Answer:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
What does the research say about the type of crime/offense perpetrated against the victim?
Are there corresponding forms of victimization for this crime? For example, elders who are
physically abused by family members may also be the victim of financial crime (e.g. taking
money from the elder’s bank accounts or using their social security number to secure credit
cards, etc.)
What does the research say about the criminal who perpetrates that type of crime?
Is there a link between the profile of the criminal, and the profile of the victim?
What are the primary concerns that need to be addressed to assist the victim legally?
What are the primary concerns that need to be addressed to assist the victim
medically/psychologically?
What types of intervention or supports are best suited to help victims of the type of crime you
selected?
GRADES:
In-class activities and participation: 15 points
Handbook Activity: 15 points
3 Quizzes: 30 points (10 points each)
Outline: 5 points
Research Paper: 35 points
Total Possible Points: 100 points
GRADE CALCULATION:
For simplicity, the points have been assigned such that a student can track their own grade
without any confusing arithmetic acrobatics. If you earn 97 points you will have a class grade of
97%, which according to the below chart, is an A. I round to the second decimal, so a grade of
91.49 is considered a 92 (A-), and a grade of 96.03 is a 96 (A).
Grade Breakdown:
A+ 100+
A 99 – 93
A- 92 – 90
B+ 89 – 87
B 86 – 83
B- 82 – 80
C+ 79 – 77
C 76 – 73
C- 72 – 70
D 69 - 60
F 59 and below
**Late Exams and Assignments will be accepted on a per student/situation basis; however, if the
student does not have supporting documentation, grades are subject to a point-deduction.
Codes of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct
Students are required to uphold the Code of Academic Integrity and the Code of Student
Conduct. Students who violate either of these codes may receive a failing grade in the class.
Regarding assignments and exams, students should always observe the highest standards of
academic honesty and integrity. Your academic work should be the result of your efforts,
thoughts, and ideas. When writing papers or assignments, you should use an appropriate citation
style consistently, indicating exactly where you are quoting, or have been inspired by, the work
of others.
Cheating on any assignment or exam will result in the following disciplinary actions:
(1) “XF” (a cheating F) will be the grade earned for the course, and (2) possible expulsion
from the UMCP’s B.A. Program in Criminology & Criminal Justice at the Shady Grove
Center, effective the following semester. All cases of academic misconduct will be
referred to the Student Honor Council at UMCP.
(2) Examples of conduct meriting such disciplinary actions include, but are not limited to,
the following: (1) cheating on an exam, either with or without assistance of another
student or students, (2) submitting as your own work a paper that is either wholly or
partially plagiarized, such a purchasing a paper from an internet site or superficially
rewriting the work of others without proper citation, or (3) collaborating with fellow
students on assignments or take-home exams for which you were instructed to work
alone.
DISABILITY HELP:
Should a student need accommodations in the classroom or for assignments/exams due to a
verified, documented learning or physical disability, please inform me of your situation
immediately, so that proper UMCP documentation and accommodation procedures are followed.
Schedule of classes *Topics subject to change as needed to ensure that the majority of students
are comfortable with material covered prior to moving to the next topic. Additional dates, as
published in the academic schedule of classes and listed below, may be required as make-up days
for inclement weather. Closing information can be found
here: http://www.shadygrove.umd.edu/campus-services/public-safety/campus-alerts
Schedule of classes *Topics subject to change as needed to ensure that the majority of students
are comfortable with material covered prior to moving to the next topic.
Date
Topic
First day of
class
September 1st
Introduction to it all:
• What is this class?
• Who is this person?
• Why am I here?
• I have to do what?!
• What can I expect to get out of it?
Introduction and History of Victimology
Week 1
Aug 31- Sept 5
Week 2
Sept 6-12
Week 3
Sept 13-19
Week 4
Sept 20-26
Week 5
Sept 27-Oct 3
Week 6
Oct 4-10
Week 7
Oct 11-17
Week 8
Oct 18-24
Week 9
Oct 25-31
Week 10
Nov 1-7
Week 11
Nov 8-14
Week 12
Nov 15-21
Week 13
Nov 22-24
On Overview of the Justice System
Measurement of Crime & Its Effects
The Consequences of Victimization
*Victim Resource Handbooks Part 1: Federal
Victims Advocacy
Tentative GUEST Speaker: Network for Victim
Recover of DC (NVRDC)
Homicide Victims
Exam 1 In-Class
Sexual Victimization
Intimate Partner Abuse
Child Victims
Tentative GUEST Speaker: Child Protective Services
(CPS)
Elder Victims
Exam 2 In-Class
Hate Crimes
*Victim Resource Handbooks Part 2: State
Special Victim Populations
Bullying & Suicide
Outline
Negligence & Intentional Torts
Constitutional and Civil Rights of Victims
Compensation & Restitution of Victims
*Victim Resource Handbooks Part 3: County
Exam 3 In-Class
Readings (Chapters Are from the
Wallace & Roberson Textbook)
/Exams
Your syllabus.
Chapter 1
Chapters 2 & 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Exam 1 (chapters 1-5) 09/29
Chapters 7 & 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Exam 2 (chapters 6-10) 10/20
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Research Paper Outline Due 11/08
Chapters 13 & 14
Chapter 15
Exam 3 (chapters 11-15)
Tuesday 11/24
Week 14
Nov 29-Dec5
Week 15
Dec 6-12
Victim Impact Statements
Chapter 16
International Aspects of Victimology
Research Paper Due December 11
No Extensions.
Chapter 17