How to Earn an Online High School Diploma as an Adult

How to Earn an Online High School Diploma as an Adult Adults who didnt graduate high school realize that getting a high school diploma can improve their employment prospects and make them eligible for workplace promotions. But most don’t have the leisure of spending seven hours a day on a school campus. Online high school diploma programs offer adults the chance to schedule school work at their convenience and complete courses at their own pace. Why Degrees Are Important Before enrolling in an adult online high school diploma program, think about your needs. Completing a high school diploma can give bring personal satisfaction and can make you more competitive for some jobs. You may need a high school diploma to join the military or be hired at some entry-level jobs. And there are other options for adult education. If you have the skills and are willing to spend a couple of years in class, you may be able to go straight to a community college and complete an associate’s degree. This may be the best choice for advanced students who plan on attending college anyway. Alternatively, you may decide to take an exam and earn a GED. This choice appeals to students who have several years of remaining high school credits and would prefer a quick fix. Make sure to weigh all your options before you make a choice. Online School With Adult Programs If you decide that earning an online diploma is the best choice, the next step is to choose an online high school program. Make sure the school you select is accredited by the proper organization. Schools that are regionally accredited are the most widely accepted by employers and colleges. Many employers and colleges also accept credits from schools accredited by the Distance Education Training Council. However, a diploma from these schools will not be as commonly accepted. Make a list of questions to ask each online high school you consider. Find out: Whether the high school has an accelerated program for adults.Whether it provides support for students who need help.How much work you will need to complete. Tuition and Financial Aid If you are in your late teens or early 20s, you may qualify to finish your education at an online charter high school for free (depending on your state law.) Otherwise, you will need to pay for your classes. Ask the online high school you select whether there are any tuition assistance or financial aid programs. Many online high schools offer adult students a tuition payment program that allows payments to be spread out over a semester instead of a lump sum due at the beginning of classes. If tuition is still too steep, you may be able to qualify for an educational loan. Talk to your school and your bank. Complete the Required Courses Finishing your online high school courses may take several years or just a few weeks. As an adult, it can be difficult to manage school responsibilities in addition to a busy life. But know that your sacrifices will be worth it. Once you’ve earned your online high school diploma, take the time to celebrate. Hang your new diploma on the wall. You now qualify for a greater number of jobs and are eligible for more workplace promotions. Plus, you have the personal satisfaction of knowing you completed a worthwhile goal.

Domestic violence Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Domestic violence - Research Paper Example I would also use movement exercise in which the members would make a circle and run jump around in unison around while holding hands; this is useful since it helps them develop trust as well as remember the activities and discussions that are held on that day owing to the excitement of movement. As a leader, my effectiveness will be judged consciously and unconsciously by the members of the group depending on my ability to conduct this exercise effectively. Thus I must ensure that I am firm but gentle and so that all the members respect my instructions and follow them, that way I will establish my role as the director of activities to all the members. Furthermore, as a leader, the manner in which the members perform their activities will give me invaluable insight into their characters and emotional stability thus I will have a good understanding of the different members which is key if one is to successfully manage a group. For a group to be effective the leader must steer clear of certain common mistakes that; when made in the middle stage can undermine the overall purpose of the group and its objectives, these mistakes include: Overloading or underleading the group; this is when the leader either focus too much on uninteresting material and ends up boring the group or when they literally turns it over to the members in an attempt at democracy undermining the leadership role (Jacobs et al., 2010). Another common mistake is organizing too few exercises; this may go wrong if the excitement meant to be generated by the planned exercise does not materialize and they had no back up. Other mistakes include choosing boring speakers or letting focus on the main objective stray for too long and this often results in the members, either losing interest or the objective of the meeting being overlooked. In my group I would ensure to I avoid these mistakes and use my knowledge in counseling psychology as well the various activities to ensure I remain focused on the object ive; which is to help them help each other cope with their problems while at the same time making the sessions fun enough for them to remain interested throughout. Domestic abuse can be broadly described as when power is used by one adult in a relationship to control the other, it can take a variety of forms ranging from; physical sexual, emotional financial and psychological. This abuse is mostly common among women as they are victimized by their male partners and spouses; according to WHO, the frequency of sexual and physical violence by a partner rangers between 29 to 71 % (Kaur & Garg, 2008). The reason women have been on the receiving end of domestic violence for so long can be attributed to several factors; traditionally, many human societies viewed women as weak and vulnerable and it was the norm to brutalize them. Today, despite the radical changes in the perception of woman, certain social economic factors and in some parts of the world such as India cultural factors seem t o permit and encourage domestic abuse. Abuse in any form often has detrimental effects on women’s health this is because even if they are not physically harmed, they will suffer from a myriad of psychological

Forensic Computing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Forensic Computing - Case Study Example This involves data recoveries, retrievals, analysis, and tracing and decrypting of all the data that has been used in any deceitful activity. The word forensic is used in the context of legal argumentation. Forensic computing is also termed as digital forensics and cyber forensics. It is a branch of forensics related to computer and other digital media. It involves collection, preservation and analysis of the data available on the computer. The definition presented by Computer Forensic world: the field primarily involves â€Å"use of analytical and investigative techniques to identify, collect, examine, and preserve evidence /information which is magnetically stored or encoded† (1). In other words, forensic computing deals with retrieval of data, and events reconstruction that was performed over the digital media. The scope of forensic investigation involves audio examinations, signal interpretation, repairing the damaged media. Photogrammetry is another aspect of digital fore nsic tracking that includes measuring and monitoring the physical measures of an image by making use of geometric formulae and then making a comparison based on on-site observations. Several factors come as constraints along with computer forensics and the first being the costs since all the equipment used in these processes is high tech and state of the art, large investments are inducted into it. The second hurdle that could be faced by the forensic body is the approval and acceptance of all the proofs by the court. They must prove it to the court that no information is altered and all the legal responsibilities have been fulfilled while conducting the operations. The staff inducted in digital forensic must be knowledgeable and should be able to think about many possibilities and should have knowledge beyond the books. Potential clues and areas that the forensic team would target DNA samples Voice samples Any image used in the process The network used for performing the task ( usu ally in case of credit card and bank accounts forgery) Fingerprints on the electronic equipments Answering machines recordings Miscellaneous electronic equipment Introduction: The aim of forensic computing is to make online activities secure, stop illegal activities that are going on, identify and apprehend the guilty, avoid financial and personal damages to individuals and organizations that might be incurred by the online use. Standard procedures must be followed and all the evidence brought in front of the court must be in a formal pattern that can stand as evidence. In case of actions, warrants are obtained from the authorities for the areas and houses that are suspected of any wrongdoings. A giant step in the direction of forensic computing was taken in 1984 when the F.B.I Magnetic Media Program was created which was later converted into Computer Analysis and Response Team (C.A.R.T). F.B.I report for the year 2003 reported a total of $900,000 netted through computer crime (2). By 2003 F.B.I (C.A.R.T) were looking into 783 terabytes of data as a case of forensic evidence and cases handling. In 1997 G8 ordered training of individuals for looking into matters related to online counterfeit activities .C.A.R.T provides assistance to F.B.I in tracking e-evidence and accessing the accounts and provides other technical support needed by F.B.I in conducting forensic activities. Part of C.A.R.T job is to monitor live activities that are going online. Their task is to provide monitoring in business environment including the banks and government-owned organizations, insurance companies, personal accounts that contain the people’s private life and their safety concerned, corporate level that includes the annual reports, facts and data and institutes of any region whose data can be misused by any fraudulent activities performed online.     Ã‚  

CHILDHOOD OBESITY Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

CHILDHOOD OBESITY - Research Paper Example Furthermore, these children have an increased risk of having impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and may also have diabetes. Obese children are also prone to having breathing problems, and they may further develop asthma. Socially and psychologically, these obese children are likely to have problems such as being discriminated against and having low self-esteem, and these problems are likely to continue way into their adulthood. Obese children have a high likelihood of becoming obese adults, and this is associated with several serious health conditions which include heart disease and some types of cancers. Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition in children who have considerably more weight than is normal for their age and height. It is a very troubling problem because the extra weight often puts the children affected on a path that leads to health problems that one would expect to see only in adults, such as high blood pressure among others. ... w whether their child is obese or not, and it is always best to have a doctor measure the child’s weight in comparison with his or her height to determine whether he or she is in a healthy weight range. Childhood obesity, being a global problem, is increasingly affecting both the developing and the developed countries alike, although at different rates, depending on the economic conditions prevailing in such countries. The problem seems to be aggravated by the transitions in nutritional and physical activity that are currently taking place and are leading to an increase in the use of energy-saving devices, the availability of cheap high-calorie foods, and the limited participation of these children in physical activities both at home and at school. In some cultures in Africa and Asia, for example, the situation is further complicated due to the social and cultural beliefs that consider obesity and excess weight to be signs of wealth and prestige. One of the main reasons why mo re and more children are becoming obese is the fact that many of them spend more time in front of televisions, computers, or video games and, therefore, have less time for physical activity. The busy schedules and lifestyles which the families of today have result in their not having enough time to prepare home-cooked meals full of nutrients, and instead they have the tendency of ordering extremely unhealthy fast food. Bagchi (2010, p.233) states that childhood obesity may lead to some children being miserable about their weight, and these are more prone than those of regular weight to develop unhealthy eating habits and disorders such as anorexia. They are also more prone to depression and are at a great risk of getting involved in the abuse of addictive substances. There are many ways through

Exploring the contribution of forensic science

Exploring the contribution of forensic science Forensic psychology has proven itself to be a quite intriguing field of study. From serial killers to child custody cases, the work of a forensic psychologist is involved. Forensic psychology is the intersection between the field of psychology and the legal system (Huss, 2001). Or, as defined by the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP), [forensic psychology] is the application of the science and profession of psychology to questions and issues relating to law and the legal system (ABFP, 2010). This profession is not restricted to just one area of the legal system; in fact it contributes to the subspecialties of corrections, civil court, investigations, criminals, juveniles, and police. The purpose of this paper is to explain the roles and responsibilities a forensic psychologist has in each subspecialty, review court cases and research relative to the area, and discuss ethical dilemmas/ challenges and controversial issues forensic psychologists may encounter. Note: Throughout the text the terms forensic psychologist and psychologist are used interchangeably to describe the profession Introduction Criminal Criminal psychologists can be found in various settings with a wide array of roles and responsibilities. Aside from studying criminal behavior, criminal psychologists work with the police departments assisting with investigations, giving advice on how to conduct interviews with suspects and witnesses, they provide their services as an expert witness, aid in the process of rehabilitating an offender, and continuously research developments related to their field (Bull, Hatcher, Cooke et al, 2009). In the case of Jenkins v. U.S., 1962, it was ruled that a medical degree was no longer a requirement for an expert witness and that with the proper training and level of expertise a psychologist could now testify on issues relating to mental disorders. However in the role of an expert witness there are a couple challenges that appear which are attorney contracted psychological services and the admissibility of expert testimony in court proceedings. During a court proceeding a criminal psychologist may be called upon to give their expert opinion about a matter related to the case. The purpose of an expert testimony is either to explain or give information to help in either the jury or judges decision making and is related to the psychologists area of expertise (Shuman Greenburg, 2003). According to the Federal Rule of Evidence (Fed. R. Evid.) 702 If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise, if (1) the testimony is based upon sufficient facts or data, (2) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods, and (3) the witness has applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case. In cases when a psychologist is asked to be an expert witness by an attorney who is requesting information to defend his or her client, problems may arise. An attorney seeks out a psychologist to provide expert testimony and evidence that will benefit the case of their client, not the opposing side. However, a psychologist is ethically responsible for providing an unbiased opinion or delivery of facts regardless of which attorney contracted their services. The pressure to be loyal to the attorney that has contracted the psychologists services causes a problem for those psychologists who uphold the integrity of the profession. When caught in a situation where the findings of the psychologist are not aligned with the goals of the attorney, the psychologist can either give a testimony that is altered to fit the requests of the attorney and risk civil liabilities and ethical complaints, or they can report the facts and risk not being called upon again. Although it is a true dilemma to de cide which direction to take as a professional, upholding individual integrity and that of the profession is vitally important. Based on the responsibilities outlined in the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists (1991), forensic psychologists should make a reasonable effort to provide their services in a manner that is responsible and forthright. When a the services of a psychologist are requested, they should be upfront about their position to be unbiased and only report the facts regardless of the outcome. Another challenge that surfaces with expert testimony given by a psychologist is its admissibility in court. As mentioned earlier in the Fed. R. Evid. 702, an expert testimony may be utilized if it is based on sufficient facts or data. The facts and data are what determine the reliability of the experts testimony. This becomes a factor when it must be determined whether the information presented should be admitted as evidence in the court proceeding. Prior to the case of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc.(1993) in order for an experts evidence to be admitted in court it must follow the rule of general acceptance, which meant the evidence must have been obtained using scientific techniques that were generally accepted in the scientific community (Bartol Bartol, 2008). With the ruling in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. it is now left to the discretion of the judge to determine whether experts evidence should be admitted. For a psychologists is becomes a challenge to convince the judge that the information they are presenting is both valid and reliable. As a safeguard, psychologists should disclose the sources of all of the information used to form their testimony (Committee on Ethical Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists, 1991). Aside from the challenges criminal psychologists face as an expert witness, they also must address the controversial issue of whether offenders can be rehabilitated. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported a study that looked at the level of recidivism of a group of prisoners released between 1983 and 1994. What they found was that a high percentage of these individuals were re-arrested (Beck Shipley, 1997; Langan Levin, 2002). With high numbers of released prisoners returning to the prison or criminal justice system, the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs is questionable. Research is still being done on what causes crime and what type of psychological effects do prisoners experience while incarcerated (Benson, 2003). Hopefully with a better look into what leads a person to commit a crime, better ways to rehabilitate them will be developed. Juvenile There are two themes that govern the juvenile justice system which are the welfare of the juvenile offender and public safety (MacArthur Foundation research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice). The forensic psychologist in this specialty adheres to these themes in their roles and responsibilities to conduct assessments, evaluate competence, and provide therapy (Bartol Bartol, 2008). Forensic psychologists may be called upon to assess a juveniles level of threat to society, whether they are competent to make certain decisions, and decide what type of treatment can be offered to them (Bartol Bartol, 2008). Working with juveniles is not the same as working with an adult population. One ethical dilemma that comes about when working with juveniles is whether the psychologist has sufficient competence for working with juveniles if they have only assessed adults. Outlined in the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists (1991) under competence, it states a forens ic psychologist should only provide services in areas that they either have specialized knowledge, education, experience or skill. Psychologists must be very careful when assessing juveniles because they do not present the same behaviors as adults; some of these behaviors may be misinterpreted by the assessor if they have no knowledge of juvenile assessments (Bartol Bartol, 2008). Assessment is a very important part of the juveniles dealings with criminal justice system, so a psychologist should make every effort to ensure they are competent in this area prior to providing services. When approached about providing services as a juvenile assessor, the forensic psychologist should be honest about their limitations in competence and either make an effort to become knowledgeable about the area, or decline the request (Committee on Ethical Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists, 1991). Dual relationships also pose an ethical challenge for forensic psychologists in this area of specialty. Forensic psychologists should avoid the role of both evaluator and treatment provider (Bartol Bartol, 2008). This is an issue because as an evaluator, the forensic psychologist is contracted with the court, who is the client. Which means the forensic psychologist must warn the individual of the limits to confidentiality. In the role of the therapist, the client is the individual patient and there is some protection of confidentiality under patient-therapist privilege. In the case of Jaffe v. Redmond (1996) the U.S. Supreme court supported confidentiality in federal courts. It is best practice to avoid dual roles. If the two roles must be combined, there should be an effort to avoid any negative effects to the individual client (Committee on Ethical Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists, 1991). Levels of juvenile cognitive skills and adjudicative competence are issues that are still being debated in the juvenile justice system. The MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice define competence as ones ability to understand the processes associated with the trial, aid the attorney, and make important decisions. However, research has found that a number of juveniles 15 and under have mental competency scores similar to adults with serious mental disorders (MacArthur Foundation). Which means juveniles are not capable of making reasonable decisions related to waiving their constitutional rights, confessions, and plea bargains (Mac Arthur Foundation)The goal of the juvenile justice system has been to rehabilitate offenders so that they can eventually lead healthy lives as adults, without much focus on their competency to understand the justice system (Viljoen Wingrove, 2007). The belief is that juveniles should be assessed based on their levels of development, not the standard of the justice system which is geared towards adults because some developmental issues may not be detected (Ryba, Cooper, Zapf, 2003). The decision whether a defendant should be transferred from juvenile court to criminal court is an issue that is still being worked out in the justice system. In the case of Kent v. United states (1966) where 16-year-old Morris Kent, after confessing to his crimes, was transferred to criminal court and found guilty of housebreaking and robbery, and not guilty by reason of insanity for rape. Kents attorney argued that Kents case should have remained in juvenile court because he would have had a better chance of rehabilitation than in criminal court where he was sentenced to 30 to 90 years in a mental institution (Kent v. United States, 1966). Even today research is still being done on whether juveniles have adjudicative competence and if they should be transferred to criminal courts. Civil The Civil Court is primarily designed to handle private disputes between individuals or organizations (Britannica Online Encyclopedia, 2010). The major roles of the forensic psychologist in the civil court setting are those of an assessor and evaluator. Forensic psychologists may be called upon to assess emotional factors related to traumatic or personal injury litigations; assessment of psychological factors in relation to harassment, discrimination, and workers compensation disability, as well as post-mortem assessments and competency evaluations (Franklin, 2006). Forensic psychologists are also called upon in family courts to complete child custody evaluations (Franklin, 2006). Child custody evaluations conducted by psychologists tend to bring up some ethical concerns. An unresolved controversial issue in this subspecialty is that there is currently no standard practice when conducting child custody evaluations (Bartol Bartol, 2008). Many psychologists choose to use several forms of psychological testing as means to determining child custody in response to the American Psychological Associations (APA) (1994), request that there should be several methods for collecting data (Bow Quinnell, 2001). The issue with the psychological tests used is that there is no empirical evidence to support it (Bow Quinnell, 2001). To ensure adherence to the APA guidelines, the psychologists should use several techniques to conduct evaluations such as interviews, self-report studies, and psychological testing (Bartol Bartol, 2008). If a forensic psychologist is called upon to conduct a mental evaluation of a victim in sexual harassment suit, it is important that the psychologist thoroughly explain the potential use of the information gained. Informed consent now becomes an issue in this case because the victim must reveal personal information regarding their past sexual history during the evaluation (Bartol Bartol, 2008). The APA state in the Ethical Principles Psychologists and Code of Conduct section 3.10(c) When psychological services are court ordered or otherwise mandated, psychologists inform the individual of the nature of the anticipated services, including whether the services are court ordered or mandated and any limits of confidentiality, before proceeding. This can become a challenge for a forensic psychologist if the victim does not fully understand the limits of confidentiality in this situation. The forensic psychologist should take special care to explain to the client, in language they underst and, that the information provided may be used in the courtroom. By doing this the psychologist is making an effort to reduce the potential for more harm to the client. One of the most controversial issues in this area of forensic psychology is physician-assisted suicide. Physician-assisted suicide takes place when a competent individual requests that a physician prescribe a medication that will aid them in ending their life. The role of the psychologist is to determine whether or not the individual is competent to make such a decision. The state of Oregon, in 1997, enacted its Death with Dignity Act which allows for physician-assisted suicide (Oregon State). The debate on whether other states will join Oregon is ongoing, as well as the research on the responsibilities of the forensic psychologist in this role (Bartol Bartol, 2008). The case of Daubert v. Merrill Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc (1993) is pivotal in this subspeciality because of the forensic psychologists role as an expert witness in civil cases. Research is still being done on how the Daubert standard affects the admissibility of expert testimony given by forensic psychologists (bartol Bartol, 2008). Investigative The work of the investigative forensic psychologist may be the most popular because of the media hype over the role of criminal profiling. In the case of U.S. v. Sokolow (1989) a form of profiling was used to make an arrest based on the behavioral characteristics of drug dealers. Criminal profiling methods have been around long before the gained popularity in the media. Actually, forensic psychologists have a few other roles and responsibilities dealing with investigations besides criminal profiling. Forensic psychologists use a variety of techniques to link a suspect to a crime. They study the crime scene to get a better understanding of the physical and verbal behaviors of the suspect (Woodham, Hollin, Bull, 2007); they also use geographical profiling to determine the territory of a serial offender (Bartol Bartol, 2008). This information is then used to narrow down the list of possible suspects put of a larger population. Psychological autopsies are unique responsibility of inves tigative forensic psychologists because they are done to determine the mental state of an individual prior to their demise. Also an investigative psychologist may conduct a forensic hypnosis to aid in a witnesss or victims recall of a traumatic event. Much scrutiny surrounds the use of forensic hypnosis as well as criminal profiling. Despite the glamorous appeal profiling has shown on various TV shows and movies, it is not a widely accepted practice. There are several concerns that cause profiling to be a very controversial issue. From the lack of research supporting its reliability and validity (Mcgrath, 2000), to the belief that profilers are creating opinions based on gut feelings (Bartol Bartol, 2008), and its inability to meet the basic expert witness standards sought under the section of the Federal Rule of Evidence 702 that states the testimony [of an expert] is based upon sufficient facts or data, . . . is the product of reliable principles and methods, and the witness has applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case (Alison, Bennell, Ormerod, Mokros, 2002). This brings about ethical challenges because forensic psychologists are obligated to provide services that are consistent with the highest standards of the profession (Committee on Ethical Guidelines for Forensic Psychologist s, 1991, p. 657). As Alison, et al. (2002) assert, the methods used for profiling result from an understanding of personality and trait approach that is both naÑ-ve and outdated. Many researchers suggest that psychologists should be cautious about using profiling in criminal investigations (Bartol Bartol, 2008; Alison, et al., 2002), but if it must be done, appropriate steps should be taken to base their opinion on current empirical evidence that is available and not just on gut feelings (Torres, Boccaccini, Miller, 2006). As of today, there is still a need for research to support the use of profiling. Pretrial identification methods is another area of ethical concern for psychologists because of its vulnerability to bias and error. Many police agencies use lineups and photospreads to help witnesses identify a suspect. The issue of bias arises when either the investigator or administrator make suggestions or subtle innuendos about who the suspect is. In a study conducted by Greathouse Kovera (2009) it was found that in situations where the administrator of the lineup and photospread knew who the suspect was, the witness was more likely to correctly identify them as oppose to situations where neither the administrator nor the witness knew the suspect. To resolve an ethical dilemma of this type, it is recommended that those administering the lineup and photospread should not have knowledge of who the suspect is (Bartol Bartol, 2008). Correctional In 2005 nearly half of the inmate population in prisons and jails reported having a mental health problem (James Glaze, 2006). With such a rise in the number of mentally ill inmates, the prison system may now be the nations largest provider for this special population (Fellner, 2006). Rising numbers indicate there is an even greater need for forensic psychologists working in the prison systems today. The role of a forensic psychologist is that of assessor and treatment provider. Within these roles, forensic psychologists are responsible for coordinating and ensuring the mental health programs are running properly, supervising the employees assigned to these programs, and administering mental health services to the inmates that need it. The forensic psychologist also functions as a trainer for the staff and screens the staff that will be working with inmates in special mental health units and step up to help in crisis situations (Magaletta Verdeyen, 2005; International Association f or Correctional and Forensic Psychology, 2010). Working in correctional facilities can be very challenging for the forensic psychologists. The work environment is no way comparable to the application of psychology in the community or private setting. There are various risks and safety issues when dealing with criminals in this type of setting such as dual roles. The Standards for psychology services in jails, prisons, correctional facilities, and agencies address this issue by stating Mental health services staff do not assume a dual role that overlaps with other functions and services (e.g., security) of the correctional agency or facility that could result in unethical dual-role relationships that risk harm to their offender or inmate clients (International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology, 2010, p. 19). At times, a correctional psychologist may act in the role of evaluator and therapist, or even as the therapist and a stand-in correctional officer. In some correctional facilities the expectation is that a psychologist is a correctional officer before any other role, thereby making it a responsibility of the psychologist to aid in doing a count of the inmates, conducting searches of an inmates cell and person, supervise inmates, and escort inmates to segregated areas (Bonner Vandecreek, 2006). Dual roles of this type create mistrust between the inmate and the psychologist because the psychologist is now viewed as another correctional officer and not someone there for the interests of the inmate. In order to eliminate the potential of dual roles, the psychologist should request in writing that they should only be assigned to duties that align with their particular profession and ethical standards (Bonner Vandecreek, 2006). A second ethical challenge for psychologists is avoiding situations that would intentionally cause harm to their client. The conditions of prison are not necessarily adequate for those suffering from mental illness, and many times many of them go undertreated (Fellner, 2006). The prison walls are riddled with too many inmates, violence, and victimization by other inmates and the staff (Bartol Barto, 2008).It is the responsibility of the psychologist to maintain their position as an advocate for their client and not as an additional perpetrator of their rights but this is challenging when jail and prison conditions prevent effective treatment. The IACFP (2010) contend that Offenders are incarcerated as punishment, not for punishment (p. 759). Participating in or allowing the inhumane treatment of inmates, mentally ill or not, goes against the standards for psychologists in this subspecialty. Unfortunately, psychologists may be harming unintentionally causing harm by not provided the adequate treatment needed. The climate of the prison environment will take several steps in order to see a change, but there are things a psychologist can do to resolve some of these issues. It is important that the psychologist does not fall into the same mentality of a correctional officer and participate in activities that are intended to do harm. The IACFP (2010) suggest that psychologists should avoid any delays when a request has been made for mental health services; avoid imposing any biases or beliefs on or towards inmates; meet the requirements of due process; practice within ones personal scope of competency; and continuously advocate for better mental health services in jails and prison. One controversial issue that surrounds the treatment of mentally ill inmates is their segregation from the general population. In the case if Perri v. Coughlin (1999) a severely disordered inmate was kept in an observational where an inmate is stripped of their clothes and placed in a cell for their protectionfor a total of 108 days without any treatment. Another issue is although inmates have the right to refuse treatment, they can be forced to do so if it is determined that they are severely disordered and cause a threat to themselves and others which was argued in the case of Washington v. Harper (1990). Forced consent to treatment stirs up controversy for psychologists because inmates may only consent to treatment for fear of privileges being taken away, such as in the case of McKune v. Lile (2002). Despite the controversies that come about it the correctional system, the research focus has been on reducing recidivism and increasing rehabilitation. Police The final subspecialty of forensic psychology to be discussed is police psychology. Police psychology is the application of psychological principles to the profession of law enforcement and public safety (Bartol Bartol, 2008). As a police psychologist the primary role is to provide psychological services to law enforcement either through counseling, employee screenings, fitness-for-duty evaluations, assessment of incidents requiring deadly force, crisis counseling, and special unit evaluations (Bartol Bartol, 2008). Police psychologists assist with the special units of police agencies including, SWAT, hostage negotiations, and victims response. Just as with all the other areas forensic psychologists team up with, there are a few ethical issues that emerge. Conflicts between agency requirements and the ethical standards of the psychologist can pose a serious ethical dilemma when working with police agencies. Two ethical challenges in particular are the interrogation methods of some police agencies that lead to false confessions. Leo Ofshe (1998) assert that false confessions are a result overzealous police officers who are so eager to arrest a suspect that they tend to overlook evidence that may point towards the individuals innocence. Some tactics police may use to gain these confessions are deprivation, humiliation, or manipulation (Bartol Bartol, 2008). These actions cause problems for psychologists because they position is to advocate for human rights, when these actions can be viewed as violations of these rights. When psychologists are caught in situations that cause ethical conflicts they must abstain from taking part in those behaviors. It is at the discretion of the individual psychologist whether they wish to continue consul ting with police agencies that practice abusive interrogation techniques (APA, 2007). If they decide to continue their work, psychologist should consult with police on interrogation strategies that will not impede on an individuals human rights and decrease the likelihood of a false confession. Interrogation tactics have begun to come into the lime light with Americas War on Terrorism. But before then there was focus on another controversial issue, excessive force. Excessive force has been a controversial issue for decades. Many Civil Rights protesters can probably recount various incidents when they were victims of police excessive force. However the most striking case of our time dealing with police excessive force is that of Rodney King in 1991. Surrounding the issue of excessive force is also deadly force, although its occurrence is not frequent. With both of these issues, psychologists may be asked to conduct fitness-for-duty evaluations to determine the officers ability to carry out their required duties (Bartol Bartol, 2008). A plethora of research is available for the subspecialty of police psychology. Topics range from cultural competency, dealing with the mentally ill, on the job stress, excessive force, employment screening, and community relations. As the research in this area progresses, enhancements can be made to the types of treatment psychologists offer. Conclusion The field of forensic psychology encompasses a wide range of roles and responsibilities; with various contributions to the fields of law and psychology. In its short existence there have been tremendous gains in research and practical applications. As the profession of forensic psychology grows in popularity among the public, there is sure to be greater strides in the collaboration of psychology and law.

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Objective: We aimed to study the demographic Characteristics of the primary vasculitides in Northeast of Iran. Methods: We retrospectively studied the medical records of patients diagnosed with any kind of vasculitis at the Clinic and Department of Rheumatology of the Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2012. Patients were classified according to the American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria for the classification of vasculitis and the 2012 Revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature of Vasculitides. Results: A total of 721 patients (51.5% male, 48.5% female) with a diagnosis of primary vasculitis were identified. The frequency distributions of vasculitic disorders were as follows: Behcet’s disease, 63.6%; cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis, 8.2%; granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s), 6.8%; Takayasu’s arteritis. 6%; giant cell arteritis, 4%; polyarteritis nodosa, 2.1%; microscopic polyangiitis, 0.6%; eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss), 1.8%; cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, 0.3%; and...

Volcanoes: Volcano and Lava Acidic Lava

A volcano is an opening, or rupture, in a planet's surface or crust, which allows hot magma, volcanic ash and gases to escape from below the surface. The lifespan of a volcano can be about from a few months to a million years. A very popular way of classifying the volcanoes based on the frequency of their eruptions. Magma is molten rock within the earth’s crust. When magma erupts through the earth’s surface it is called lava. Lava can be thick and slow-moving or thin and fast-moving. Rocks also come from volcanoes in other forms, including ash (finely powdered rock that looks like dark smoke coming from the volcanoes), cinders (bits of fragmented lava), and pumice (light-weight rock that is full of air bubbles and is formed in explosive volcanic eruptions – this type of rock can float on water). The largest volcano on the earth is Mauna Loa located in Hawaii. This volcano is about 10,000m from the sea floor to the summit. It rises 4000m above sea level. The most active volcano is Mount St. Helens located in Washington state. TYPES OF VOLCANOES 1. Active volcanoes . Dormant volcanoes 3. Extinct volcanoes ACTIVE VOLCANOES Volcanoes which erupt frequently are called active volcanoes. Active volcanoes are those which erupted lava, gases, pumice, cinder etc in the recent historic periods. Presently there are about 500 active volcanoes around the earth of which most of them are located in the pacific ring of fire. E: g Mauna Loa which erupted recently in Hawaii in the year 1984. Augustine volcano which is located in Alaska and erupted in the year 1991. Mount St. Helens in Washington which erupted from 1980-1986 and again in the year 2004. PACIFIC RING OF FIRE WHERE MAJORITY OF THE EARTH’S VOLCANOES ARE LOCATED. DORMANT VOLCANOES It is normally difficult to distinguish dormant and extinct volcanoes from each other. Dormant volcanoes are those which erupted in the past and are likely to erupt again after remaining inactive for fairly long periods. These volcanoes are also called sleeping volcanoes which may become active once again. Volcanoes are becoming dormant because the earth’s plates are continuously shifting above volcanic hotspots. Each time the hotspot reaches the surface, it creates a new volcano. The tectonic plate continues to shift above the hotspot, and eventually the volcano is shut off from the magma chamber beneath. And so the magma finds a new source to the surface, creating a new active volcano. The older volcano stops erupting and becomes dormant. E: g Mount Rainer in Washington, Mount Fujiyama on Honshu, in Japan and Mount Etna in Greece. Mount Fujiyama, Japan EXTINCT VOLCANOES Extinct volcanoes are ones which scientists consider unlikely to erupt again, because the volcano has no lava supply. Extinct volcanoes are those which were active in the remote geological periods. It’s very hard to differentiate between extinct and dormant volcanoes. For example Mount Vesuvius hadn’t erupted in a very long that the Romans of the 79 A. D. had no warning of its eruption, and no defense against its destruction of the towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii. E:g Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mount Warning in Australia, Elburus in Russia. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania TYPES OF ERUPTIONS 1. CONICAL VOLCANO 2. SHIELD VOLCANO Conical Volcanoes The most common type of eruption takes at a point on the earth’s surface. Magma and other materials get erupted through a narrow conduit or pipe and get accumulated around the point of eruption. Such accumulation of erupted materials leads to formation of a conical hill. Shield Volcanoes A second type of eruption takes place along a narrow fissure in the crust. Large quantities of magma are erupted and these spread over a large area. The magma gets solidified as thick sheets of lava to form extensive lava plateau e. g. Deccan plateau, Idaho Plateau in the USA. LAVA Lava is the word for magma (melted rock) which comes out of the volcano onto the earth’s surface. When lava comes out, it cools and forms rocks. On the basis of composition of lava it is divided into two basic types of lava. Lava is exactly the same thing as magma, except magma is found inside the volcano. The form of the cone depends on the type of lava which comes out of that particular volcano. TYPES OF LAVA 1. Acidic lava 2. Basic lava ACIDIC LAVA – Acidic lava comes from the composite cones, it is slow moving and viscous. The acid lava cone has a narrow base, but it is high with conical shape. Acidic lava is rich in Silica but poor is iron and magnesium. It has a low density but, high melting point. When the volcano erupts with a heavy explosion, this type of lava forms high, steep-sided cones and solidifies in the vent, which in turn creates a plug through which it may erupt again. An example of an acid lava dome is Mount Lassen in California. Mount Lassen, California BASIC LAVA – It is the hottest lava at about 1000 degrees Celsius and is highly fluid. It is normally dark in color like basalt it is rich in iron and magnesium but poor is silica. It is not very explosive and flows quietly at about a speed of 10 – 20 km/hr. When the lava is basic in composition it flows down the slope of land and gets solidified away from the vent. In such cases, the volcanic cone obtains a broad summit with gentle slopes around it, these are called lava shields because the shape of the volcano looks like a shield lying on the ground. OTHER FEATURES OF VOLCANOES CRATERS – Craters are formed when a volcano erupts explosively, a portion of the summit gets blown off to form a depression called a crater, crater lakes are also results of volcanic activities. Crater Lake, Kutmai national Park CALDERA – In some volcanoes, the summit of the volcano blows up during a violent explosion resulting in the formation of a large depression called a Caldera. Some calderas are occupied by large lakes. In the state of Oregon, United States, there is a large caldera which has a diameter of 9km. Calderas are normally considered to be large than a crater. INTRUSIVE VOLCANIC FORMS Intrusive igneous landforms result from the cooling and crystallization of magmas beneath the surface, followed by erosion of overlying rock so that the intrusive landform is exposed at Earth's surface. The study of intrusive landforms is important in that rocks contained within them provide important information about internal earth igneous processes which cannot be directly observed. . Batholiths – Typically, are composed of multiple smaller intrusive bodies containing a variety of igneous rock types. They are gigantic intrusions of coarse grained igneous mass formed when a huge reservoir of magma cools and solidifies in an irregular shape. They form the core of old mountains. They are dome-shaped with no definite base. Smaller versions of batholiths are als o called stocks or bosses. 2. Stocks – It is an irregular igneous intrusion of magma, usually an offshoot of a batholith. 3. Sills – These are intrusions of magma/lava of horizontal shape which get solidified between layers of horizontal sedimentary rock. They form terraces or benches on hill-slopes. 4. Laccoliths – similar to a sill but magma collects as a lens shaped mass that arches the overlying layers upward. Magma viscosity is slightly higher than that for a sill. 5. Dykes – It is a sheet like intrusive body. They are normally vertical in shape. They are usually narrow but may extend several kilometers in length. Dykes are more resistant, because of their igneous origin.