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26.04.2012 General News

Wisconsin Trains Crime Psychologists

26.04.2012 LISTEN
By Daily Guide

To deal with high rate of crime in the country, Wisconsin International University College (WIUC) has trained criminal investigative psychologists to help in crime prevention.

WIUC now offers a certificate course in forensic and investigative psychology.

The course is meant to create awareness and equip persons with the requisite knowledge and skills to assist legal professionals to understand the psychological findings of particular cases.

The college has graduated its second batch of 41 students drawn from various private and public security agencies, including the army, police, prison service and laboratory technicians.

The Registrar of the WIUC, Dr Akosua Eghan, said the course helps to enhance the skills of professionals in criminal justice or mental settings.

She said the students were taken through topics such as crisis intervention, legal psychology, professional and ethical issues and investigative psychology by facilitators such as lawyers, investigators and investigative psychologists who have excelled in their various professions.

'The programs generally focused on the fundamental principles of applied psychology and their relationship with the legal system and law enforcement,' she said.

Dr. Eghan disclosed that the courses provided an overview of human behavior from a variety of sociological and criminological perspectives.

'We also focused on identifying and interacting with criminals as well as recognizing the impact of crime on victims and the community,' she said.

Dr. Eghan urged participants to put what they learnt to good use at their various workplaces.

Charles Acheampong, Co-ordinator of Extra Moral Department in charge of the programme, said the introduction of the course was timely as security agencies 'have used the same old methods of investigations and in many cases failed to find answers to criminal cases.'

He said criminals are becoming very sophisticated and stressed the need for such courses to educate the security agencies and the public in the subject area.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Sergeant Victoria Akladzi Asigbeteey, thanked WIUC for offering them the opportunity to acquire knowledge and promised that they would put what they have learnt to good use.

She also urged the authorities to ensure a strict background check of prospective candidates.

 By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
 
 
 
 

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