What Is Forensic Psychology?

If you have been reviewing criminal justice careers you could possibly enter into, you may have come across the term “forensic psychology.” What is forensic psychology? It is a psychological practice that applies mental evaluations to criminal justice cases. This is a very specialized field, but it is one that is in increasingly high demand. If you feel that you could work in both the criminal justice system and the field of psychology, this could be the perfect career path for you. Here is a further analysis of this line of work so you can determine if you would fit into it.

What Education Is Required for Forensic Psychology?

Forensic psychology is not a career you can enter on a whim. You must go through an extensive education program because you can become an actual forensic psychologist. Ultimately you will need a doctoral degree in forensic psychology to work in this field, but you will start with an undergraduate program in general psychology. Most students do not focus their studies until they reach grad school, mainly due to a lack of available classes.

Common courses you may take in a forensic psychology degree program include:

• Abnormal Behavior
• Comparative Psychotherapies and Therapeutic Techniques
• Death and Dying
• Drugs and Society
• Human Sexuality
• Intro to Counseling
• Psychology and Law
• Social Psychology
• Statistical Application in Forensic Psychology
• Victimology

It may take approximately four years to complete your undergraduate studies, and then it will take an additional five to seven years of study to complete your graduate degree. This is an extensive amount of time to spend in college, but it is required for almost every psychology career you look into. Online colleges typically provide accelerated degree programs to help you get out of school faster, but you need to be prepared to spend at least eight years in school to earn your degree. If you happen to graduate before then, consider yourself ahead of the crowd.

Where Do Forensic Psychologists Work?

Forensic psychologists can work in a variety of environments, and many of them will seek employment in several job sectors to keep themselves busy. Common places of employment include:

• Civil courts
• Criminal courts
• Elementary schools
• Family courts
• Law enforcement offices
• Law offices
• Prisons
• Psychology firms
• Secondary schools
• Universities

Virtually anywhere that psychologists are needed, forensic psychologists can work. This is especially true for places of employment related to criminal justice. Many forensic psychologists work through a private practice, and then they are commissioned to do work in other areas. Where you work in the future will be entirely based on what you want to do in your career.

What Do Forensic Psychologists Do?

Forensic psychologists handle a variety of job duties in their day to day work. That is why it is so hard to define what forensic psychology is. The long list below outlines some of the main duties a forensic psychologist may perform, but there are plenty of others to choose from.

• Assessing emotional factors in discrimination
• Assessing emotional factors in sexual harassment
• Assessing sexual offenders
• Assessing visitation risks
• Counseling adults and juveniles on probation
• Counseling families after divorce
• Counseling individuals awaiting trial
• Counseling individuals who violate restraining orders
• Counseling juveniles on probation
• Counseling restraining order violators
• Counseling those with anger management problems
• Counseling victims of crimes
• Developing family reunification plans
• Evaluating adoption readiness cases
• Evaluating adults before a sentence
• Evaluating child abuse cases
• Evaluating child custody cases
• Evaluating civil competency cases
• Evaluating competency and diminished capacity
• Evaluating grandparent visitation cases
• Evaluating IME second opinions
• Evaluating juvenile waivers
• Evaluating juveniles accused of criminal acts
• Evaluating juveniles on probation
• Evaluating personal injury cases
• Evaluating the credibility of child witnesses
• Evaluating the termination of parental rights
• Evaluating worker’s compensation cases
• Family counseling between parents and children
• Mediating parental conflicts related to children
• Providing psychological autopsies
• Providing psychotherapy for sex offenders
• Supervising therapeutic visitations
• Training parents in communication
• Training patients in parental skills
• Training violent offenders to control their anger

If you feel that you could do work like this in the future, consider a career in forensic psychology today. There are plenty of degree opportunities available on the web, so you can stay where you are and get the education you need. All you have to do is look for a school that works for you. With the right amount of dedication, you can become a success in forensic psychology.