Archive for the ‘Careers’ Category

Inside the criminal mind: Factors that Influence Motive

 

Motive is often the most elusive of criminal investigations. Some crimes are so horrendous, it’s difficult for us to imagine what type of person could commit the act—let alone their motive. In many cases, justice lies with the motive. That is, prosecutors must show motive for an individual to commit acts. The jury must, in some way, be able to understand the unknowable—how someone could, and more importantly why, commit such terrible acts. Although motive is not a legal requirement for conviction, intent typically plays a role.

 

A motive for a crime is whatever causes the offender to move toward the certain offense. Keep in mind that the legal system does not consider motive to be an element of any crime, but is usable in court to generate plausibility of the culprit’s offense. Bear in mind that motive differs from intent—which refers to the specific mental reasoning to perform the criminal act.

 

Keep in mind that why an individual or group does something goes far beyond the simple explanation of the financial or emotional reasoning. Forensic psychologists can help begin to uncover motive and are therefore very crucial in the outcome of many criminal cases.

 

How do trained psychologists uncover the motive behind a crime? The answer is extremely complex and often is found using a variety of trainable tactics. For example, the following may be considered when determining motive of the suspect or suspects:

 

1.     Familiar or repetitive elements of a crime. Certain types of evidence or clues may point to the type of individual who may have committed the crime. Knowing the type of individual may help uncover motive.

2.     Associations. Who is the suspect involved with? Do they have someone that they could potential have a conflict with? Looking at the connections the suspect has may eventually lead someone to motive.

3.     Statistics. By the numbers, certain types of crimes are committed by certain people, for certain reasons. Being familiar with these scenarios may help a forensic psychologist to motive.

4.     Understanding the victim or victims. Just as the perpetrator is important to understanding motive, the characteristics and associations of the victim can be just as crucial.

 

Forensic psychology is really about understanding the criminal and the crime. It’s important that trained forensic psychologists be aware of the jurisdiction in which they work and be able to communicate appropriately with judges and lawyers. They are often asked to testify in trials and report their findings to others. The ability for a forensic psychologist to accurately interpret motive may be the difference between justice and injustice. They may be asked to, based on their findings of the criminal, motive and other factors, provide recommended treatment and/or sentencing.

 

It’s not surprising why so many individuals are interested in getting their forensic psychology degree. Those who are fascinated by the human condition and how we operate are drawn to the field. While there are many subfields of psychology, only forensic psychology is the truth cross section between understanding human behavior and applying it to the legal system.

 

Do you find yourself asking “why?” Are you interested in human behavior? You may be right for forensic psychology. Being able to analyze and answer questions about the criminal mind is fascinating, rewarding work. That is why, many individuals are seeking specialized training that is required to help answer these essential questions and help move justice forward.

 

Want to be a Property Manager?

A majority of property managers also own the properties they manage. This is because so many owners of investment property don’t have the extra funds necessary to hire transglobe property management services or another agency to do that work for them. This means they serve as both landlord and manager.

Good managers do more than just sign up tenants and then call repair men when needed. They spend their time staying up to date on not only property and tenant laws and regulations, but they study real estate trends , crime rates, and even local politics so that they are better able to anticipate issues for both the owners and tenants they serve. Those that serve as superintendents for the property will likely take courses in home repair and maybe even obtain certification as a plumber or electrician so that they can take on more of the property repairs without calling in a subcontractor. Learning how to shoot and post video tours like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaUrasmSuHQ is another important skill for managers.

If you want to become a property manager and you don’t own property, there are several ways to get your foot in the door. The first is to look for openings at agencies for new managers. Another way is to watch for job and rental listings that offer free rent of an apartment in exchange for serving as manager or superintendent . In both of these cases, you will walk into a situation where there will already be established procedures, forms, and other documents for you to use as you learn about the field. If you’re feeling really brave, then educate yourself about property management, start networking with owners, and put together your own property management business.