Quick Fire basic legal facts

Forensic Psychology TAT – the Thematic Application Test (TAT). This is whereby the offender is shown a picture and they themselves make up a story to go with the picture. It is also known as picture interpretation technique (PIT) The most common form of this test was introduced by Professor Murray, it is often used in juvenile offenders. There are 32 cards and each card can be provocative yet appearing unobtrusive in their presentation. The subject looks at the photographs for a few moments, studies it in detail and answers the following in their own words. • what has led up to the event shown • what is happening at the moment • what the characters are feeling and thinking • what the outcome of the story was Personality tests are a way to describe the way a person is and what sort of characteristics they may hold. The TAT shows us how these characteristics may be hidden from the rest of the world, so as to present a normalized, stable front, but can also explain why we emulate certain behaviours. Below are ten of the 32 TAT pictures for you to look at and answer the above four questions.

Some of the (confirmed) reported missing women in Ireland;

Eva Brennan was reported missing and not seen since 25 July 1993 in Rathdown Park, Terenure Dublin.

Annie McCarrick disappeared in March 1993. McCarrick was from Long Island and had moved to Ireland only a couple of months before she went missing, last seen heading towards a location in the hills in Wicklow.

Ciara Breen has been missing since 13 Feb 1997, she was last seen leaving her home in Batchelors Walk, Dundalk Co Louth.

Deirdre Jacob Missing From Newbridge Co Kildare since 28 July 1998 after visiting her grandmother.

Fiona Pender was reported missing from Tullamore Co Offaly, missing since 22 Aug 1996, Fiona was 7 months pregnant at the time of her disappearance.

Imelda Keenan was reported missing and not seen since 3 January1994, last seen in Waterford City

Diana Schmeisch (German) living in Cork, last seen and reported missing on New Year’s eve,1999

Jo Jo (Josephine)Dollard has been reported missing, the last confirmed sighting of her being in Lombard Street, Waterford, not seen since 9th November 1995.

Kate Madigan missing since14th May 1998, Kate was from Kilkenny but was last seen in Dublin,

Michelle McCormick has not been seen since 9 July 1993, last seen at Owenahincha Holiday Park Cork, Tim ‘Tadhg’ O’Driscoll who is charged with the unlawful killing of his partner Michelle, wrapping her in a black bin-bag before driving to a high bridge to dump her remains in the sea, her body has never been found.

Sandra Collins last seen and reported missing from Killala, Co Mayo since 4 Dec 2000

Fiona Sinnott reported missing from Bridgetown Co Wexford, she has not been seen since 9 February 1998,

What is Geographical Profiling?

The geographic model can potentially be applied to all sorts of crime. It examines the distribution of a series of crimes, as was the case in Stuart Kind’s prediction of the Yorkshire Ripper’s base of action and David Canter’s
work in establishing the significance of location in the Railway Murderer (John Duffy) case. Geographic profiling, however, began in North America.

The North American approach Geographic profiling is an investigative tool developed by Kim Rossmo. He developed it whilst he was serving as a Detective Chief Inspector in the Vancouver City Police Department. Now Dr. Kim Rossmo, he has been a research professor in Texas State’s Department of Criminal Justice since
2003, and the University’s Endowed Chair in Criminology since 2007.

Although there have been a number of studies of offenders’ spatial patterns, it is Rossmo who is most widely connected with geographical profiling as an
investigative tool. He advocated its use in conjunction with, and as a complement to, crime linkage and investigative profiling.

In his address to the National Center for Intelligence Studies, Rossmo (1998) defined geographic profiling as:

‘An information management strategy to assist in serial, violent crime investigations, which facilitates the focus of investigative efforts. It is also a support service, a type of analysis and an investigative procedure. The whole
process is based on the intelligent collection, analysis and sharing of information. Suitable crimes for geographical profiling are those that are serial in nature, murder, rape, robbery, arson, bombings and predatory crimes such as sex murders or child molestation.’

Can a person be addicted to crime?

In a word, .... YES.

Crime addictions, like any addiction the addiction to crime has common characteristics (Peale. S, 1985) "addictive experiences are potent modifiers of mood and sensation".

There is a common theory that the following characteristics of addictions include:

...Tolerance - the need for more to produce the same effect.
...Withdrawal - distress after a period of non-engagement.
...Craving - distress associated with desire to re-engage.
...Salience - increasing importance of addiction in lifestyle.
...Conflict - increasing awareness of negative consequences.
...Relapse - reinstatement after a decision to stop or reduce.

Addicted to sexual crime

There are four main studies in the sexual offending literature which suggest that some sexual offending can be addictive. The first is that of McCulloch et al (1983) where the authors took a sample of sadistic sexual offenders in a British Special Hospital.

They found that of their sample of 16, 13 described elaborate and frequent masturbation fantasies. These fantasies showed tolerance in that for many subjects, they were being constantly revised in the direction of greater sadistic and violent content.

Some offenders reported that, after a time, their fantasies had become unsatisfying and had to be supplemented with their acting-out part of the fantasy for them to continue to achieve that state of arousal they were seeking.

For many, these “behavioural try-outs”
eventually led to the full index offence or offences for which they were convicted.

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The District Court deals with?

The District court deals with criminal law mostly and some civil law cases where claims are less than €15,000.

It has limited jurisdiction and deals with:

Damages
Family Law
Minor Offences
Landlord and Tenant Disputes
Licence applications

The District Court in Civil Law also deal with Small Claims less than €2,000.

The Circuit Court deals with?

The circuit court deals with claims between €15,000 and 75,000.

Also deals with tort up to €60,000.

It has limited jurisdiction and deals with:

Disputes over contracts
Land ownership
Non-minor offences except murder, rape or assault.
Family Law
Granting of licence applications

The Special Criminal Court deals with?

This court deals with high profile criminals and terrorist cases.

There is no jury but there are 3 Judges rather than 1.

The Court of Criminal Appeal deals with?

This court is an appellate court, it has no jury and normally 3 judges hearing the appeals from the lower courts.

The High Court deals with?

The High Court handles claims of more than €75,000. It has unlimited jurisdiction and hears more serious cases with larger contract or tort claims.

This court deals with:

Disputes over land
More serious Family Law (Custody and adoption cases)
Bankruptcy
Company law matters

The High court also operates a Commercial Court where a claim is no less than €1 million and will be resolved in 21 days.

The Supreme Court deals with?

This court is the final court, it hears the appeals of the lower courts. It has no jury and either 3, 5 or 7 judges sit depending on the case and each make their own judgements. Decisions are made on majority rulings.

The highest court in Ireland is known as the?

The Supreme Court

The second highest court in Ireland is known as the?

Court of Appeal

The lowest court in Ireland is known as the?

Small Claims Court

Criminal law involves?

Criminal Law – Public Law

It involves someone being prosecuted for an unlawful crime they carried out. The Prosecution is the side bringing the criminal to court who are seeking retribution or punishment to the Defendant and the Defendant is the criminal. Criminal offences range from minor such as driving without seatbelt or tax, to more serious offences such burglary, murder or rape. If found Guilty, the Defendant may be sanctioned for their crime, they may also be found Not Guilty.

Civil law involves?

Civil Law – Public Law

Civil Law is to resolve civil disputes between parties. The Plaintiff is suing the Defendant and this does not usually involve the State unless the State is being sued by the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff must prove on the balance of probabilities that the Defendant is Liable and seek compensation. The penalties in Civil law may be damages, court orders or injunctions. If not enough evidence is found to be enough than the Defendant will be found Not Liable.

What is the name of the lawyer who brings a criminal case to court?

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)

The Irish Constitution is known as?

The Irish Constitution is a legal document that states the principles and rights of Irish citizens. It is the primary source of law in Ireland.

Bunreacht na hEireann is?

The Irish Constitution

In Ireland, a law (which is also called a “Bill”) passed by the Oireachtas is called?

An “Act” which becomes law.

In Bunreacht na hEireann the numbered points are called?

Articles

A referendum is needed if the Government wants to change? Ture or False?

The Government needs a Referendum if they want to change or amend the Constitution. a referendum is a voe by plebiscite (vote of the common people)

Explain the following in EU law:

What are the main duties and responsibilities of the General Court?

This court is known as the “Court of First Instance”, it must implement the EU Law and consists of 28 judges who are a member of each state. This court hears cases by private persons or business or actions that are brought by member states to the Commission. Hearings from this court may be appealed to the European Court of Justice.

What are the main duties and responsibilities of the ECJ?

The European Court of Justice is the final court and is in charge of the legal work of the European Union. The main function are to hear cases brought by the member states national courts or by individual persons and in Commission, Parliament or Council. It is not possible to appeal a decision made by the ECJ.

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What is Criminology?

Criminology examines why people commit crime, these are the pivotal questions in the ongoing debate of how crime should be handled and prevented. It is an area of law that deals with victims of crime, theories explaining illegal and/or deviant behaviour, the social reaction to crime, the effectiveness of anti-crime policies and the broader political terrain of social control.

Areas of expertise of Criminologists(small example)

Anomie, Social Control Theories
Labelling Theory and Critical Criminology
White Collar Crime

What is Forensic Psychology?

(The science of Behaviour)

Forensic Psychology is used within the justice system to assess offenders, identify criminal capacity in young people and to characterise psychopaths. Identify fitness to stand trial and finally they can be used to determine the likelihood of future violence. Can be used to assess the future criminality of offending minors

Areas of expertise of Forensic Psychologists (small sample)

Criminal Responsibility and Psychiatric Defences
Mental Disorder as a Defence
Eyewitness Testimony