Working Memory: Implications for Criminal Justice, Forensic Mental Health, and Legal Professionals
Working Memory: Implications for Criminal Justice, Forensic Mental Health, and Legal Professionals is organized by CONCEPT Continuing and Professional Studies at PAU. This course has been approved for a maximum of 1 Hour | 1 CE.
Course Description:
Working memory can be defined as the ability to temporarily store information while this information is being actively processed. Working memory requires individuals to exhibit attentional control while managing and manipulating relevant information over the span of a few seconds. The capacity to perform this executive function is critical in everyday tasks such as linguistic comprehension, cognitive reasoning, problem-solving, decision-making, and learning in general. Common among individuals with learning (e.g., dyslexia) and behavioral (e.g., ADHD) disorders, deficits in working memory vary on an individual basis. When present, these working memory deficits often mean the individual can temporarily store and manipulate fewer pieces of information, resulting in a limited capacity to successfully complete complicated tasks. A primary consequence of working memory deficits is the temporary or permanent loss of information. Practically, this can make it difficult for individuals suffering from working memory deficits to comprehend and remember directions, respond to questions, execute tasks, and recall the sequence of events. Struggles with these capabilities can often result in proneness to frustration and bouts of inattention. The presence of such working memory deficits can be particularly dangerous in criminal justice settings where the memories of suspects, defendants, victims, and witnesses are often the basis of life-altering legal decisions. Despite the grave consequences of such decisions, there are few advanced education and training opportunities for professionals in criminal justice settings on working memory deficits.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this program, you will be able to:
• Describe working memory deficits including definitions and warning signs
• Describe the biological and environmental causes and risk factors of working memory deficits
• Describe the diverse consequences that working memory deficits can have in the criminal justice system from criminal investigations and trials to treatment and supervision
• Describe techniques to improve the screening and assessment of individuals with working memory deficits in criminal justice settings
• Describe treatment techniques, strategies, and programs that have been shown to improve working memory deficits
• Describe the current research literature and highlight existing knowledge gaps that can be addressed with future research