Working with Special Offender Populations

Singapore University of Social Sciences

Working with Special Offender Populations (PSY521)

Synopsis

PSY521 Working with Special Offender Populations focuses on working with special offender populations of adult and youth offenders with drug misuse issues and those who have committed violent offences. Students learn the basic approaches to working individually with offenders and with offenders in a group setting. Students will learn about Singapore’s policy on drug issues and the implications for the rehabilitation of drug offenders. The course will also cover the assessment, rehabilitation and management of drug and violent offenders.

Level: 5
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY JULY

Topics

Individual work with offenders 1
Individual work with offenders 2
Group work with adult offenders 1
Group work with adult offenders 2
Policy aspects of drug misuse and SG Harm Prevention
Psychological approaches to drug rehabilitation
Working with drug offenders
Psychology of violent offending
Assessment of violence
Intervention and management of violent offenders
Youth violence
Person-specific violence – intimate partner, family violence, and stalking

Learning Outcome

Appraise the use of individual and group therapy modalities with offenders.
Predict issues and challenges in working with drug and violent offender populations.
Evaluate Singapore’s approach to the rehabilitation of drug offenders.
Compare the differentiated approaches in assessing drug and violent offenders.
Demonstrate basic skills in initiating an individual session with offenders.
Formulate assessments and interventions for drug and violent offenders.
Draw upon psychological principles in working with offenders in a multi-stakeholder environment.