Patricia Hampshire, DHS, LISW-S, HS-BCP, Chair
Phone: (419) 995-8852
Email: hampshire.p@rhodesstate.edu
Office: TL 102L

The Forensic Mental Health certificate is designed to explore the dynamics of mental health as it relates to individuals involved in the criminal justice system. This certificate is an enhancement for students who are interested in the field of human services/social work within the realm of criminal justice. This certificate provides an advantage of knowledge to criminal justice or helping professionals who are looking to get a better understanding and influence of mental health by an individual’s involvement in the criminal justice system. 

The certificate focuses on areas including mental health/substance abuse diagnoses, ethical behavior whether in criminal justice or human services, the examination of race in the criminal justice system, crisis interventions, criminal behavior, and the psychology of the legal system.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, the student will be able to:

1. Explain why the study of ethics is important for criminal justice or human service professionals and how it relates to behaviors that might be subject to moral/ethical judgments.
2. Apply supportive techniques and de-escalation skills to deal with persons in crisis effectively, people at risk for crisis, assessing the degree of suicidal risk in a multitude of crises such as, but not limited to, family crisis, sexual assault, partner violence, bereavement/grief, mental health, and substance use.
3. Identify the symptoms, signs, and categories of mental health and substance abuse disorders, making use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
4. Analyze the relationship between mental health and criminal behavior and understand the law from a psychological perspective.
5. Understand the nature and extent of inequality in American society concerning racial and ethnic minorities and how it is related to mental health and the criminal justice system.

Technical Standards
See here for details.

Forensic Mental Health Certificate

First Year
Fall		Hours
LAW 2022    or HUM 2030	Criminal Minds    or Criminal Minds	3
HUM 2400	Crisis Management	3
LAW 2010    or HUM 2040	Psychology and the Legal System    or Psychology and the Legal System	2
	Term Hours	8
Spring
LAW 1980    or HUM 1980	The Color of Justice    or The Color of Justice	2
HUM 2170	Dynamics of Mental Health and Substance Use	3
HUM 2230    or LAW 1660	Issues and Ethics in Helping    or Ethics in Criminal Justice	3
	Term Hours	8
	Total Hours	16