Nuevas aproximaciones en detección de mentiras II. Estrategias activas de entrevista e información contextual / New approaches in deception detection ii. Active interviewing strategies and contextual information

La evidencia meta-analítica muestra que los indicadores conductuales de la mentira son escasos, poco diagnósticos y cambiantes. Esto ha propiciado un cambio de orientación en la investigación sobre detección de mentiras: ya no se trata de escudriñar atenta pero pasivamente al emisor de la comunicación en busca de indicadores conductuales reveladores de mentira; por el contrario, es necesario (a) adoptar un rol activo, empleando modalidades de entrevista diseñadas específicamente para detectar mentiras, o (b) atender a indicios contextuales (en lugar de conductuales) del engaño. En el artículo anterior (Masip y Herrero, 2015a) revisamos los antecedentes de este cambio de orientación, así como el trasfondo teórico de las nuevas aproximaciones. Aquí describimos estrategias concretas de entrevista para detectar mentiras, así como la (aún escasa) investigación sobre indicios contextuales del engaño. Con ello, esperamos ofrecer al lector una panorámica detallada de los desarrollos recientes en esta parcela concreta de la Psicología Jurídica

Meta-analytical evidence shows that behavioural indicators of deception are scant, poorly diagnostic and inconsistent. This has yielded a shift in deception detection research. Rather than passively scrutinising the communication sender to find tell-tale behavioural indicators of deception, the deception judge needs to (a) adopt an active role by using interviewing techniques specifically designed to detect deception, or (b) focus on contextual (rather than behavioural) deception cues. In the previous paper (Masip & Herrero, 2015a), we reviewed the antecedents of this change in focus, as well as the theoretical grounding of the new approaches. Here we describe specific interviewing strategies for detecting deception, as well as the (still scant) research on contextual deception indicia. In doing this, we hope to offer the reader a detailed perspective on the recent developments in this specific area of psychology and law

La psicología criminalista en España: Presente y futuro / Criminal psychology in Spain: present and future

En el marco de la Psicología Jurídica, tal como se entiende en España, cabe distinguir las aplicaciones de los conocimientos de la ciencia psicológica según los diferentes momentos del proceso penal: en las dependencias policiales durante las investigaciones criminales, en los Juzgados cuando ya se han identificado y detenido a los autores de delitos, y en los Establecimientos Penitenciarios cuando resultan finalmente condenados. En este trabajo se argumenta que cuando la psicología ayuda a la investigación criminal en los primeros de los momentos del proceso judicial, las actuaciones policiales, estaremos hablando de Psicología Criminalista a dos niveles: operativo (el más propio) y estratégico (en el que pueden participar otros profesionales). Tras describir sus peculiaridades y ámbitos concretos, en analogía con los apoyos que también prestan otras ciencias criminalísticas, se explica que en España esta especialidad se desarrolla profesionalmente desde dentro de las propias instituciones policiales, con un perfil muy distinto al de la más tradicional Psicología Policial, y en estrecha colaboración con el entorno académico en lo que se refiere al desarrollo científico de sus técnicas y procedimientos

As part of legal psychology, as it is understood in Spain, we can distinguish between the applications of psychology in the different steps of the judicial process: in police stations during criminal investigations, in court when the perpetrators have already been identified and arrested, and in prisons where they are eventually sent after being convicted. This paper argues that when psychology assists the criminal investigation in the first step of the judicial process - the police activities-, we are talking about criminal psychology, at two levels: the operational level (mostly pertaining to criminal psychology) and the strategic level (shared with other areas of expertise). After describing its peculiarities and specific areas, in analogy with the support provided by other forensic sciences, here we explain that in Spain this specialty is professionally developed from within our own police forces, with a profile which is very different from the more traditional police psychology, and in close collaboration with the academic environment regarding the scientific development of techniques and procedures

Análisis del expediente judicial: Evaluación de la validez de la prueba testifical / Analysis of the judicial file: assessing the validity of testimony

En el marco del enfoque holístico para la evaluación de la prueba testifical (HELPT), el presente trabajo describe un protocolo para el análisis de toda aquella información susceptible de ser extraída de un expediente judicial, a la luz de los conocimientos del procesamiento heurístico de la información, y del análisis de los factores de influencia de las declaraciones desde la Psicología del Testimonio. El objetivo es brindar una sistematización de los tópicos que pudieran explorarse en un expediente, ya sea como parte de un peritaje directo o como un metaperitaje, extrayendo el máximo de información no sesgada a fin de establecer las hipótesis relevantes del caso y valorar los posibles factores de influencia

Under the holistic approach to the assessment of testimony (HELPT), this paper describes a protocol for the analysis of all the information that can be extracted from a judicial file, regarding the knowledge of heuristic principles and psychology of testimony. The aim is to provide a systematization for expert reports about the topics that could be explored in a file, extracting the maximum unbiased information to establish the relevant hypotheses of the case and evaluate possible factors of influence

The Spanish version of the Criminal Sentiment Scale Modified (CSS-M): factor structure, reliability, and validity / Versión española de la Criminal Sentiment Scale Modified (CSS-M): estructura factorial, fiabilidad y validez

The purpose of this study was to translate and validate the Criminal Sentiment Scale Modified (CSS-M), which measures the criminal attitudes into Spanish. Despite the large body of research proving their importance as one of the best predictors of criminal conduct, only a few measures have been psychometrically developed and validated, and none of them are available in the Spanish language. A sample of 153 male inmates from Penitentiary Brians I of the Catalan Prison Service (Spain) participated voluntarily in the study (73.9% of Spanish nationality, mean age = 37.3) completed the final version of the Spanish adaptation. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted with all the scales simultaneously, showing that the underlying structure of the CSS-M was best explained by a two-factor solution: Sentiments toward the establishment and Criminality self-benefits. Moreover, a set of analyses of variance (ANOVA) was also performed, validating the scale well. According to the results of the study, it was concluded that the Spanish version of the CSS-M has satisfactory psychometric properties, enabling its potential usefulness within the legal field of Spanish-speaking countries as a key element in crime prevention (AU)

El propósito de este estudio fue traducir y validar la Criminal Sentiment Scale Modified (CSS-M), que evalúa las actitudes criminales. A pesar de la cantidad de investigaciones señalando su importancia como uno de los mejores predictores de la conducta criminal, existen muy pocos instrumentos válidos y psicométricamente bien desarrollados, de los cuales ninguno está disponible en lengua española. Una muestra de 153 internos de la prisión Brians I de los Servicios Penitenciarios de Cataluña (España) participaron voluntariamente en el estudio (73.9% españoles, edad media = 37.3 años) cumplimentaron la versión final de la adaptación española. Se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio (AFE) y después un análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) con todas las subescalas de forma simultánea, siendo su mejor estructura subyacente representada por dos factores: sentimientos hacia los estamentos normativos y autobeneficios criminales. Además, se realizaron varias comparaciones de medias (ANOVA) mostrando una buena validez del instrumento. Según los resultados del estudio se concluye que la versión española del CSS-M tiene adecuadas propiedades psicométricas, potenciando su utilidad en el mundo jurídico-penal de países hispanohablantes como elemento esencial para la prevención de delitos (AU)

A contrastive analysis of the factorial structure of the PCL-R: which model fits best the data? / Análisis de contraste de la estructura factorial de la PCL-R: ¿qué modelo se ajusta mejor a los datos?

The aim of this study was to determine which of the factorial solutions proposed for the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) of two, three, four factors, and unidimensional fitted best the data. Two trained and experienced independent raters scored 197 prisoners from the Villabona Penitentiary (Asturias, Spain), age range 21 to 73 years (M = 36.0, SD = 9.7), of whom 60.12% were reoffenders and 73% had committed violent crimes. The results revealed that the two-factor correlational, three-factor hierarchical without testlets, four-factor correlational and hierarchical, and unidimensional models were a poor fit for the data (CFI ≤ .86), and the three-factor model with testlets was a reasonable fit for the data (CFI = .93). The scale resulting from the three-factor hierarchical model with testlets (13 items) classified psychopathy significantly higher than the original 20-item scale. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for theoretical models of psychopathy, decision-making, prison classification and intervention, and prevention (AU)

Se diseñó un estudio con el objetivo de conocer cuál de las soluciones factoriales propuestas para la Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) de dos, tres y cuatro factores y unidimensional era la que presentaba mejor ajuste a los datos. Para ello, dos evaluadores entrenados y con experiencia evaluaron de forma independiente a 197 internos en la prisión Villabona (Asturias, España), con edades comprendidas entre los 21 y los 73 años (M = 36.0, DT = 9.7), de los cuales el 60.12% eran reincidentes y el 73% había cometido delitos violentos. Los resultados mostraron que los modelos unidimensional, correlacional de 2 factores, jerárquico de 3 factores sin testlest y correlacional y jerárquico de 4 factores, presentaban un pobre ajuste con los datos (CFI ≤ .86) y un ajuste razonable del modelo jerárquico de tres factores con testlets (CFI = .93). La escala resultante del modelo de tres factores con testlets (13 ítems) mostró un poder de clasificación de la psicopatía significativamente superior al de la escala original (20 ítems). Se discuten las implicaciones de los resultados para los modelos teóricos de la psicopatía, la toma de decisiones, clasificación e intervención penitenciaria, y la prevención (AU)

La psicología criminal en la policía de Franco / Criminal psychology in Franco’s police

Antecedentes: Francisco J. de Echalecu (1897-1957) fue un psiquiatra español que ocupó los cargos de profesor de Psicología en la Escuela General de Policía y neuropsiquiatra de la Dirección General de Seguridad. Método: en este trabajo se presenta una breve biografía del Dr. Echalecu y se analiza la transcripción de sus clases de Psicologia Criminal de 1942, su Psicología Criminal de 1947, así como su intervención en el caso de las torturas al líder comunista Heriberto Quiñones. Resultados: se presenta su proyecto de una Psicología criminal totalitaria y su propuesta de intervención social, en base tanto a métodos eugenésicos como de reclusión obligatoria de los clasificados como asociales. Se describe la adaptación en España del proyecto psicológico totalitario a la nueva realidad internacional creada tras la segunda Guerra Mundial. Conclusiones: en España se preparaba una «solución final» para la delincuencia y la disidencia política, inspirada en la política criminal nazi y promovida por el Dr. Echalecu desde la máxima instancia policial de España, la DGS. El proyecto se frustró por la derrota alemana en la Guerra Mundial, y del proyecto original solo quedó la aplicación arbitraria a los individuos considerados asociales de la Ley de Vagos y Maleantes (AU)

Francisco J. de Echalecu (1897-1957) was a Spanish psychiatrist who held important positions, such as Psychology Professor at the Academia General de Policía and Neuropsychiatrist at the Dirección General de Seguridad. Method: This work provides a brief biography of Echalecu and analyzes the transcriptions of his classes on Criminal Psychology of 1942, his Criminal Psychology from 1947 as well as his involvement in the case of the torture of Communist leader Heriberto Quiñones. Results: We describe his project of a totalitarian Psychology and his proposal of social intervention, including eugenic methodologies as well as forced reclusion for those labeled as asocial. The adaptation in Spain of the totalitarian psychological project to the new international reality after the Second World War is also described. Conclusions: In Spain a «final solution» for criminals and political dissidents has been prepared, which was inspired by the Nazi criminal policies and promoted by Dr. Echalecu from Spain’s higher police body, the DGS. This project was frustrated by the German defeat in the world war and the only thing left from the original project was the arbitrary application of the Ley de Vagos y Maleantes [an antivagrancy law] to those individuals labeled as «asocial» (AU)

Is Miss Sympathy a credible defendant allging intimate partner violence in a trial for murde

Current research has postulated that judicial inferencing and judgement-making are subject to biased appraisals. This study assessed the factors reported in the literature associated to the appraisal of criminality in a mock case of a battered woman standing trial for murdering her husband, and who pleaded legitimate selfdefence in response to an instance of intimate partner violence. A nationwide sample of 169 police officers from different cities in Spain freely volunteered to participate in the study. Using a mock trial design, the defendant's prototypicality (prototypical vs. nonprototypical), and physical attractiveness (attractive vs. unattractive) were manipulated. Participants were required to assess the criminality (credibility, responsibility, and controllability) of a battered woman accused of murdering her husband, and who alleged legitimate self-defence in response to an incident of intimate partner violence. The results showed that a defendant perceived as the prototype of a battered woman was judged as having less or no control of the situation; physical attractiveness increased the perception of the defendant's responsibility in committing the crime; and an interaction between prototypicality and attractiveness in assigning credibility to the defendant's testimony. Moreover, hostile sexism mediated the relationship between the defendant's prototypicality and controllability. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for judicial judgement making in cases of battered women who kill their aggressors(AU)

La investigación ha puesto de manifiesto que el proceso de inferencia y toma de decisiones, es sensible a múltiples sesgos que pueden afectar tales juicios o valoraciones. La presente investigación trata de analizar algunos de los posibles factores que la literatura ha relacionado con la valoración de la criminalidad, en un caso en que se juzga a una mujer que ha matado a su marido y que alega, en su defensa, haber sido víctima de violencia de género. Participaron en el estudio 169 policías procedentes de distintas ciudades españolas, de manera voluntaria y anónima. Mediante un diseño de escenarios en el que se presentaba un caso judicial ficticio, se manipuló la prototipicidad de la acusada (prototípica vs. no prototípica) y su atractivo físico (atractiva vs. no atractiva). Los participantes tenían que valorar la criminalidad (credibilidad, responsabilidad y controlabilidad) de una mujer, que alegaba haber sido víctima de violencia de género, acusada de haber matado a su marido. Los resultados mostraron que cuando se presenta a la acusada como prototipo de mujer maltratada, se le atribuía un menor control de la situación, que el atractivo físico aumentaba la percepción de responsabilidad de la acusada en el delito cometido; y una interacción entre el atractivo físico y la prototipicidad en la evaluación de la credibilidad de la acusada. Asimismo, el sexismo hostil de los participantes actuaba como variable mediadora en la relación entre prototipicidad y la percepción de controlabilidad de la acusada. Estos resultados tienen implicaciones para la formación de juicios sobre víctimas de violencia de género que asesinen a su agresor y para la atención a las denunciantes de violencia de género que son discutidos(AU)

Interactions between factors related to the decision of sex offenders to confess during police interrogation: a classification-tree approach.

Most studies of confessions have looked at the influence of individual factors, neglecting the potential interactions between these factors and their impact on the decision to confess or not during an interrogation. Classification and regression tree analyses conducted on a sample of 624 convicted sex offenders showed that certain factors related to the offenders (e.g., personality, criminal career), victims (e.g., sex, relationship to offender), and case (e.g., time of day of the crime) were related to the decision to confess or not during the police interrogation. Several interactions were also observed between these factors. Results will be discussed in light of previous findings and interrogation strategies for sex offenders.

The role of forensic psychiatry in mental health systems in Europe.

BACKGROUND: Forensic psychiatry at first glance seems to differ from one country to another due to different historical developments, different legal systems and different mental health systems. In spite of that, forensic psychiatry has several goals shared across countries, principally: assurance of treatment for severely mentally ill people who become delinquent; giving evidence to courts in cases when the offender's mental responsibility is in question; working effectively at the interface of the law and psychiatry, and, in so doing, working well with other clinical and non-clinical professionals in the field; preventing relapse of offenders with mental disorder. In order to achieve these goals, special knowledge and skills must be developed, especially in assessment and management of violence and sexual deviance and of the risk of these behaviours, incorporating techniques developed in neighbouring disciplines. One of the greatest challenges in the development of forensic psychiatry lies in its relationship with general psychiatry. It is arguable that the specialization of psychiatry into sub-specialties has lead to loss of some skills in general psychiatry and to a 'forensification' of people who would previously have been treated as general psychiatry patients. AIMS: In partnership, however, general and forensic psychiatrists could potentially achieve more than either group on its own: they could better prevent people with mental illness from becoming offenders; prevent people with mental illness from becoming victims of crime; intervene in the vicious circle from victim to perpetrator; assess young people at risk for antisocial behaviour and protect them from becoming criminals. Clinical research on these topics is just beginning and this article argues for a close integration of forensic psychiatry into the wider mental health system and for a more intensive exchange of knowledge and skills from forensic psychiatry to general psychiatry and vice versa.

[Forensic psychiatry. Its relations to clinical psychiatry and criminology]. / Forensische Psychiatrie. Ihre Beziehungen zur klinischen Psychiatrie und zur Kriminologie.

A basic task of psychiatry is to identify and treat mentally disordered persons at risk of committing crimes. Psychiatry has an important function in preserving social peace, law, and order. How the psychiatric world handles this duty has changed with time. There have been very important changes from asylums to mental hospitals and from voluntary or involuntary inpatient treatment to outpatient care; but clinical psychiatry cannot give up forensic psychiatry. As a result of developments, inpatient care in mental hospitals often concentrates on crisis management, risk assessment, and risk management. On the other hand, forensic psychiatry has made great efforts in recent decades with special therapies for mentally disturbed criminals and collaborated closely with criminologists in developing instruments for risk assessment and prognosis of repeat offenses.

Pathological effects of the supermaximum prison.

The drawings of Todd (Hyung-Rae) Tarselli, a prisoner confined in a Pennsylvania "close-security" or "supermaximum" prison, tell a story--one that graphically portrays the devastating effects of a prison on the mental health of its inmates.

Clinical criminology: a bridge between forensic professionals.

In recent decades a new profession has developed--clinical criminology. The purpose of this article is to highlight its development. Criminology is defined as a interdisciplinary super-profession. We tend to view criminology as a basic profession with a number of specializations. Clinical criminology is one of these specializations. Forensic psychiatry and clinical criminology have common roots in psychiatry, law and behavioural sciences. They overlap in some fields. Members of both professions work in the same setting and share some of the tasks, but the formal and professional responsibilities differ significantly. We perceive clinical criminology and forensic psychiatry as complementary professions belonging to medicine. The multidisciplinary educated clinical criminologist is the only professional in the forensic system who is qualified to moderate between the mental health and legal expert.