FMH 2015

University of Pennsylvania
School of Nursing
Department of Family and Community
Title: Nursing 331 Forensic Mental Health
Credit: 1 cu

Catalogue Description:
Forensic mental health is a term used to describe the interface between the criminal
justice system and mental health. This course examines components of human behavior
that bring people into a judicial setting. This course also examines mental health
evaluations of people who are arrested, mental health treatment in prisons and jails, and
issues related to rehabilitation and re-entry into the community. Forensic mental health is
a cross-discipline concept. Sociology, psychology, psychiatry, criminology, nursing, and
law enforcement perspectives on forensic mental health will be explored.
Placement: Fall 2015

Faculty:
Kathleen Brown, PhD, RN, CRNP
Associate Practice Professor of Nursing
School of Nursing-Office 412
Telephone: 215-898-6679
E-mail: brownkm@nursing.upenn.edu

Office Hours:
Monday: 12-3
Tuesday: 12-5
and by appt.

George Cronin, MS Criminology, PhD

Retired Corporal, Pennsylvania State Police
E-mail: gcronin@nursing.upenn.edu or george.cronin@gmail.com
Teaching Assistant: Kelly E. Morrison-Faino
E-mail: morrke@nursing.upenn.edu

Pre-Requisite: None. Available to all undergraduate and graduate students in the

University.
Course Description:

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There is strong evidence in the scientific literature that mental health disorders and
problems are more prevalent in the prison population and that these disorders influence
engagement in criminal activity. The prison system is not equipped, nor charged with
resolving mental health problems. Mental health disorders are seen in disproportionate
numbers among youth engaged in crime and contribute to the poor outcomes seen in
young offenders. In this course, we will examine the interface between mental health
disorders and criminal activity including sustained criminal activity, incarceration and
potential for rehabilitation. Learning will occur through thoughtful examination of the
scientific literature; discussion of the realities of incarceration, its purpose and outcomes;
and strategies needed for successful rehabilitation. Students will engage with actual
offenders whose contact with the criminal justice system has been longstanding as well as
experts from the prison systems. Students will participate in analysis of the offenders
rehabilitation potential and help develop plans for re-entry into the community.
Required Text: None; Class Materials: Course materials are available via the class
Canvas site (syllabus, reading assignments, reading material, handouts, Power Point
presentations). The Canvas site is housed by the University of Pennsylvania Libraries.
Scientific forensic mental health focused articles comprise weekly readings that provide
foundational knowledge to complement classroom presentations and discussions.

Course Objectives:
Identify mental health related factors that predispose to and are consequences of crime
and contact with the criminal justice system
Discuss the relationship between mental health issues and motivations for criminal
activity
Identify the components of psychiatric and psychological forensic mental health
evaluations
Discuss criminal cases in which suspects are diagnosed with a psychiatric illness
Describe the effects of incarceration on mental health
Discuss the effects of mental health-related incarceration on families and communities
Discuss the psychiatric and psychological treatment of offenders in prisons
Analyze the intersections between addictions, mental illness and criminal activities

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Analyze mental health factors that influence arrest, detainment, judicial proceedings and
outcomes
Analyze mental health factors that influence discharge from prison and re-entry into the
community
Discuss confinement of persons with mental health issues in jails and prisons as a human
rights issue.

Teaching Format:
Each class period focuses on a topic related to forensic mental health and is organized in
a three tier format. The first hour each week is devoted to a state of the science lecture,
followed in the second hour by in-person or live video streamed dialogue with a guest
speaker who brings expert analysis and real world experience to the discussion. Also,
actual offenders who are currently in prison will engage with students in dialogue via
video streaming. These currently incarcerated individuals will expand the students
understanding of the scientific literature and provide the basis for classroom and
recitation activities and course assignments. The third hour is a mandatory online
recitation that will count toward the required student contact hours.
Recitation: In large lecture courses during which interaction is limited, a recitation can
allow for greater student involvement, higher order thinking and beginning problem
solving in course content areas. The goal is to integrate the lecture material with readings
and videos that enhance student learning. The content for recitation is posted in Canvas
with a page of information that correlates with each lecture and guest speaker.
Recitation serves as an important resource for student learning and complements other
assignments in the course. The masters and PhD prepared recitation leaders, who are
experts (nurses, psychologists, and a law enforcement officer) in an area relevant to
forensic mental health, lead groups of 20 students in weekly asynchronous on-line
discussions. Leaders will pose questions, lead discussions, and link the material to
overall course content with the goal of promoting knowledge synthesis. We will build on
the capabilities of our students who come with a wide variety of interests, writing skills
and learning styles. Active recitation participation enables faculty to build on each
students prior knowledge, clarify misconceptions, promote dialogue and expression of
different points of view, facilitate problem solving and engage students in dealing with
reactions to what can be very emotionally charged material.
Students are required to contribute to the recitation discussion each week, by responding
to faculty discussion questions and reacting to threads that include other students in the
group and the recitation leader. Asynchronous discussions enable students to post on the
group discussion board anytime during the week, but before the next class period. Since
recitation is mandatory, the recitation leader will not grade a students assignments

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until s/he has posted discussion on the group discussion site each week within their
Canvas group. The quality of these postings must reflect engagement in course content
and the readings and areas needing clarification. While recitation participation is not
graded independently, failure to participate in recitation will result in a failing grade
for the assignments that are associated with that recitation topic.
Objectives for recitation:
1. Provide students opportunities to explore topics in forensic
mental health
2. Provide a format for students to synthesize the material
3. Stimulate interest and engagement in course material
4. Provide feed-back to students
5. Support diverse student learning
6. Successfully integrate lecture, speakers and readings.

Attendance:
Attendance on time for lecture is expected in Nursing 331. Attendance will be taken at
random.
Participation in recitation is required. Students are responsible for any missed
lectures.

Grading Criteria:
Assignment 1: Analysis of mental illness, incarceration and human rights 30%
Assignment 2: Analysis of offender rehabilitation and the pardon system

30%

Research paper: 40% OR Final Examination 40%

Description of assignments:
Grading will be based on integration of scientific literature, class and recitation
discussions leading to synthesis of knowledge. Students are encouraged to relate course
content to their major course of study and reflect that analysis into the assignment;
however, the primary focus of each assignment must be forensic mental health.
Integration of scientific knowledge beyond the materials posted on the Canvas site is
required for a strong grade in this course. Critical thinking, analysis and synthesis are
expectations. All assignments must include appropriately sited references. Clarity of

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thought and logical presentation of arguments will be reflected in grading. Assignments

will be submitted via the students private portal on the course Canvas site.
Assignment 1: Analysis of mental illness, incarceration and human rights 30%
Identify one aspect of mental illness (e.g. severe addiction, schizophrenia, psychosis,
persistent anger, depression, bipolar disorder) and present an overview of that illness; its
causes and manifestations; diagnosis and treatment; and its relationship to a tendency to
commit crime. Explore how interactions with the criminal justice system (from intake to
incarceration) and the presence of mental health issues interact. This assignment must
reflect an understanding of the scientific literature, interpretation of class and recitation
content and include both the perspective of human rights and protection of the public.
Suggested length is length is 8-10 double spaced pages although longer papers be
accepted and an accepted academic referencing system must be used appropriately.
Assignment 2: Analysis of offender rehabilitation and the pardon system 20%
For this assignment, students will examine the concepts of remorse and reformation as
considered in the scientific forensic and mental health literature related to the in-class
interview with selected inmates, as well as analysis of the prison records provided by the
Department of Corrections. Students will analyze materials and draw conclusions about
the offenders involvement in the crime, authenticity of remorse, and the connections
between crime circumstances, remorse and efforts toward rehabilitation are required for
re-entry into the community. This synthesis will drive a realistic plan for the individuals
re-entry into the community that will be thoroughly described for this assignment.
The ultimate goal of this assignment is to contribute to production of a document that can
be submitted by an inmate to the Board of Pardons. Dr. Cronin and Dr. Brown will
synthesize the best students analyses and plans into a document for review by an inmate
as part of his Pardon appeal.
Suggested length for this essay is 8-10 double spaced pages although longer papers will
be accepted and an accepted academic referencing system must be used appropriately.
Confidentiality:
Penns libraries hold our Canvas site material very securely. Only students currently
enrolled in the course may enter the class site. Students in the class may NOT share
any documents placed on the site with anyone outside of our class. This is very
important to the privacy of our chosen inmates and any violation may be considered a
violation of the Universitys Code of Academic Integrity.

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Research paper: 40%

A research paper based on analysis of scientific literature will enable the student to
develop depth of understanding in a key area of forensic mental health. Students will
present analyses of how the topic is reflected in the real world of the legal system; discuss
state versus federal laws; and effectiveness of resources. Successful papers will
synthesize the scientific literature with real world experiences of offenders and law
enforcement officials. Students will need to make arguments for the effectiveness or lack
thereof of the current system and make recommendations for improved systems. This
paper should be approximately 10 double spaced pages and must focus on one narrow
topic related to course material. Potential topics will be discussed in class and recitation.
A brief list of potential topics is listed below.
Scientific references, preferably from multiple disciplines, are required. Appropriate use
of a recognized reference system (e.g. APA, MLA) and a scholarly level of writing is
required.
Suggestions (just suggestions not mandates)
1. Mental health effects of incarceration on people with stable mental health at
intake
2. Mental health effects of segregation
3. The effects of incarceration on patients with serious mental illness
4. Pipeline to Prison
5. Community corrections as an alternative to incarceration
6. Job training inside prison and during re-entry
7. Insanity as a legal defense
8. Psychiatric evaluation in jails and prisons
9. Correctional psychiatry
10. Education inside prison and during re-entry
Take Home Final Examination: 40%
This will be a comprehensive examination: the questions require students to synthesize
overall course content and draw conclusions based on an understanding of forensic
mental health. At least three application questions requiring synthesis of course material
will be given to students during the last day of class with a due date set by the Course
Director, approximately one week following the end of classes. Students are expected to
work independently on the examination. Use of course materials is allowed in answering
the questions and should be referenced in the document. Any evidence of collaboration
among students on the examination will be viewed as a violation of the Code of
Academic Integrity.

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Policies related to assignment submissions:

All assignments must be submitted electronically via the Canvas site by 5 PM on the
designated due date. Late assignments will receive a grade decrement of 10% per day
unless an extension is approved by the course director. Extensions will be granted without
impact on grade only for serious reasons (documented personal illness, family
emergencies). Extensions are possible for students needing to handle the normal demands
of other course work, extracurricular activities etc. but assignments will receive a grade
decrement of 10% (maximum grade on assignment therefore = 90%) Extensions for any
reason beyond one week past the due date are highly unusual. Recitation leaders, at their
discretion, will permit one re-write of the first assignment. If a re-write is permitted, the
student is given one week to turn in the re-written assignment. Maximum grade on the rewritten essay is 90%. Grading is guided by a grading rubric created by Dr. Brown and
shared with recitation leaders.
Academic Integrity: Faculty will enforce the University Code of Academic Integrity,
and students are expected to adhere fully and completely to this code. Violations will be
investigated and submitted to the Office of Student Conduct as appropriate as stipulated
in the Code. Cheating, plagiarism, academic dishonesty, and unprofessional/
inappropriate conduct are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. If indicated, disciplinary
procedures will be initiated as stipulated in the Penn student handbook. Additionally,
given the sensitive nature of the information shared by speakers attending the class,
students must pledge to respect the confidentiality and rights of each inmate and to not
share any information outside of class. Violation of this confidentiality will be treated
as a violation of the Universitys Code of Academic Integrity and treated accordingly.

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Weekly Content Outline

Date

Topic

Speakers

8/31

Introduction:
Mental health and
incarceration

Brown

Introduction to the
Criminal Justice
System in
Pennsylvania

Cronin

Introduction to
class project
9/14

Living with mental

Brown
illness
NAMI

9/21

Important
Brown/Cronin
intersections in the
legal system for
mentally ill
persons
Tyrone Werts,
former lifer
Life sentence
Life on a cell
commuted by
block
former Governor
Rendell

9/28

Mental Health
Diagnosis and

Nick Scharff MD

Assignments

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Treatment in Jails
and Prisons

Oct 5

Oct 12

Addictions and
Mental Health

Brown/Cronin

Drug Courts

Drug Court
Members

Taking
Responsibility

Video interview

Rehabilitation in
prison

Oct 19

Taking
Responsibility

Video interview

Rehabilitation in
prison
Oct 26

Re-entry

Cronin/Brown

Re-entry into the

community:
Rehabilitation

Robert Rosa,
Director, New
Leash on Life

Mental Health,
Incarceration,
Human Rights,
due

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November 2

Nov 9

Nov 16

Re-entry for
persons with
mental illness
Rehabiltation
Neuroimaging

Brown/Cronin

Mental Health
And Incarceration

Video Interview

Mental Health
Court Members
Adrian Raine
University of
Pennsylvania

Analysis of
offender
rehabilitation
and the pardons
system due

Nov 23
Mental Health And Video Interview
Incarceration

Nov 30

Effects of
incarceration on
families and
communities

Dec 7

Gangs

Inmates

Research paper
due
Final exam
questions
distributed

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