Joseph Eastwood
PhD
Assistant Professor
Forensic PsychologyFaculty of Social Science and Humanities
Forensic psychologist strengthens ties with law enforcement agencies to create evidence-based, best practices.
- PhD - Experimental Social Psychology Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's Newfoundland 2011
- MSc - Experimental Social Psychology Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's Newfoundland 2007
- BA - Psychology (Honours) University of New Brunswick Saint John 2005
What Are My Rights Again?": Comprehension of Canadian Youth Waiver Forms
New Orleans, Louisiana March 1, 2014American Psychology Law Society Conference
You Have the Right to Remain Confused: Comprehension of Legal Rights in Police Interrogations
Ottawa, Ontario September 1, 2013Society for Police and Criminal Psychology Conference
“That’s the Way My Wednesdays Always Go”: The Role of Schemas in Innocent Suspects’ Alibi Creation
Ottawa, Ontario September 1, 2013Society for Police and Criminal Psychology Conference
Predicting Police Caution Comprehension in Adult Offenders: What Do They Already Know?
Halifax, Nova Scotia June 1, 2012Canadian Psychology Association Conference
Engineering Comprehensible Youth Interrogation Rights
Published in New Criminal Law Review: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal January 1, 2016Joseph Eastwood, Brent Snook, Kirk Luther & Stuart Freedman
Although youth in many Western countries have been afforded enhanced legal protections when facing police interrogations, the effectiveness of these protections may be limited by youth's inability to comprehend them. The ability to increase the comprehension of Canadian interrogation rights among youth through the simplification of waiver forms was assessed.
View more - Engineering Comprehensible Youth Interrogation Rights
Safety in Numbers: A Policy‐Capturing Study of the Alibi Assessment Process
Published in Applied Cognitive Psychology January 11, 2016Joseph Eastwood, Brent Snook & David Au
A policy-capturing analysis of alibi assessments was conducted. University students (N= 65), law enforcement students (N= 21), and police officers (N= 11) were provided with 32 statements from individuals supporting a suspect's alibi (ie, alibi corroborators) and asked to assess the believability of the alibi, the suspect's guilt, and whether they would arrest the suspect.
View more - Safety in Numbers: A Policy‐Capturing Study of the Alibi Assessment Process
Educating Jurors About Forensic Evidence: Using an Expert Witness and Judicial Instructions to Mitigate the Impact of Invalid Forensic Science Testimony
Published in Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume 60, Issue 6 November 1, 2015Joseph Eastwood & Jiana Caldwell
Invalid expert witness testimony that overstated the precision and accuracy of forensic science procedures has been highlighted as a common factor in many wrongful conviction cases. This study assessed the ability of an opposing expert witness and judicial instructions to mitigate the impact of invalid forensic science testimony.
Measuring the Reading Complexity and Oral Comprehension of Canadian Youth Waiver Forms
Published in Crime & Delinquency Volume 61, Issue 6, August 1, 2015Joseph Eastwood, Brent Snook & Kirk Luther
The reading complexity of a sample of Canadian police youth waiver forms was assessed, and the oral comprehension of a waiver form was examined. Results showed that participants understood approximately 40 per cent of the information contained in the waiver form. The likelihood of the rights of Canadian youths being protected and the need to create a standardized and comprehensible waiver form are discussed.
View more - Measuring the Reading Complexity and Oral Comprehension of Canadian Youth Waiver Forms
The Next Stage in the Evolution of Interrogations: The PEACE Model
Published in Canadian Criminal Law Review January 1, 2014Joseph Eastwood
In this article, we review the evolution of police interrogation practices. In particular, we echo others that interrogations have historically been guided by a “get tough” philosophy, where abusive and manipulative practices have been viewed as a necessity to seek the truth. We illustrate how such a philosophy runs counter to the presumption of innocence, and review the scientific research that has demonstrated that accusatorial practices puts innocence at risk.
View more - The Next Stage in the Evolution of Interrogations: The PEACE Model
Advancing Legal Literacy: The Effect of Listenability on the Comprehension of Interrogation Rights
Published in Legal and Criminological Psychology April 18, 2014Brent Snook, Kirk Luther, Joseph Eastwood, Ryan Collins & Sarah Evans
This article examines the effect of listenability features on the comprehension of interrogation rights. In Experiment 1, students (N = 76) underwent a mock interrogation where one of two police cautions (listenable caution vs. standard caution) was administered and students were asked to explain the caution in their own words. Experiment 2 (N = 80) extended Experiment 1 by identifying the individual and additive effects of the listenability features on recall of their interrogation rights.
Safeguarding Youth Interrogation Rights: The Effect of Grade Level and Reading Complexity of Youth Waiver Forms on the Comprehension of Legal Rights
Published in Applied Cognitive Psychology January 21, 2014Stuart Freedman, Joseph Eastwood, Brent Snook & Kirk Luther
The extent to which youths understand their interrogation rights was examined. High school students (N = 160) from five different grades were presented with one of two Canadian youth waiver forms—varying widely in reading complexity—and tested on their knowledge of their legal rights. Results showed that comprehension of both waiver forms was equally deficient, and systematic misunderstandings of vital legal rights were discovered (e.g., the right to remain silent). There was also a positive linear relationship between high school grade level and amount of comprehension. Potential ways to enhance youths' understanding of their rights and provide them protection during interrogations are discussed.
Measuring and Predicting Police Caution Comprehension in Adult Offenders
Published in Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice Volume 56 April 3, 2014Sarah J. Chaulk, Joseph Eastwood & Brent Snook
We measured the level of comprehension of two police cautions in a sample of adult Canadian offenders and predicted comprehension with three measures of cognitive ability (i.e., working memory, vocabulary knowledge, and listening comprehension). Participants (N = 60) were asked to listen to both a right to silence and right to legal counsel caution and then interpret them.
View more - Measuring and Predicting Police Caution Comprehension in Adult Offenders
Police Witness Interview Training, Supervision, and Feedback: A Survey of Canadian Police Officers
Published in Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Volume 54Brent Snook, John C. House, Sarah MacDonald & Joseph Eastwood
Despite the recognized importance of intensive training for producing effective police interviewers and the importance of sustained supervision and feedback in maintaining learned interviewing skills, there is no empirical data on the current state of such practices in Canadian police organizations. Canadian police officers (N = 171) from two organizations completed an online survey about the training, supervision, and feedback received for interviewing adult witnesses.
The Effect of Listenability Factors on the Comprehension of Police Cautions
Published in Law and Human Behavior June 1, 2012Joseph Eastwood and Brent Snook
We examined the extent to which modifying a police caution using three listenability factors (Instructions, Listing, and Explanations) improved comprehension. A 2 (Instructions vs. No Instructions) X 2 (Listing vs. No Listing) X 2 (Explanations vs. No Explanations) between-participants design was used. Participants (N = 160) were presented verbally with one of eight cautions and asked to record their understanding of the legal rights contained in the caution.
View more - The Effect of Listenability Factors on the Comprehension of Police Cautions
American Psychology-Law Society
International Investigative Interviewing Research Group
- Introductory Psychology (PSYC 1000U)
This course introduces students to the study of human thought and behaviour. Through a survey of major theories, principles, and research findings across a variety of fields within psychology, students will gain a better understanding of why people think and behave as they do. Typical topics include: the history of psychology, research methods, sensation and perception, learning, memory, emotion and motivation, consciousness, stress and health, social influences, developmental factors, psychological disorders and treatment. - Social Psychology (PSYC 2020U)
This course will introduce the scientific study of social behaviour and the social influences on human behaviour. Theories and research on such topics as attitude change and persuasion, stereotypes and prejudice, conformity and obedience to authority, altruism, attraction and close relationships may be introduced. Emphasis will be placed on experimental research, conducted both in the laboratory and in the field. - Forensic Psychology (PSYC 3210U)
An overview of the various ways in which core areas of psychology (biological, clinic, cognitive, developmental, and social psychology) are applied to legal issues in both research and practice. The course focuses primarily on the application of psychology to criminal law. Students learn about scientific methods used to study forensic psychology topics (behavioural research methods) and learn about contemporary forensic psychology research. They gain an appreciation for the practice of forensic psychology, including the nature of the activity (e.g. psychological assessment and treatment in forensic settings, police psychology, and expert psychological testimony) and the practical and ethical constraints under which forensic psychologists practice. Although the specific topics covered may vary from term to term, sample forensic psychology topics covered in the course include forensic psychological assessment and treatment, eyewitness memory, interrogations and confessions, lie detection, police psychology, jury decision-making, psychopathy, investigative psychology, procedural justice, racial stereotyping, and wrongful conviction. - Confessions and Interrogations (PSYC 3310U)
This course will critically examine confessions and interrogations from a scientific, psychological perspective. Topics may include: interviewing techniques, false confessions, detecting deception in adults and children, the use of technology, and implications of research findings for justice system practices and policies. - Special Topics in Forensic Psychology II (in Investigative Interviewing) (PSYC 4999U)
This course will not always be offered and the topic of the course will change. When it is offered, this course will focus on an area of Forensic Psychology not currently covered by the other Forensic Psychology electives or Special Topics courses. When offered, this course will display a subtitle so that students know the general area that the course will cover. Special Topics in Forensic Psychology I is completely independent from this course and students are encouraged to enrol in Special Topics in Forensic Psychology II whether they have taken Special Topics in Forensic Psychology I or not. This course may emphasize oral presentations, class participation, and other weekly in-class assessments.
