Forensic Psychology: Research, Law, and Counseling Careers
The field of forensic psychology is often described as where the study of the human mind meets the law. Forensic psychologists study slightly different material than criminal psychologists, though. While criminal psychology focuses primarily on what makes people break the law, forensic psychology has a broader base. Selecting juries, evaluating public policy, and determining the mental state of a defender fall under the broad spectrum of this field. Because forensic psychology covers so many topics and is so important to our legal system, students who major in forensic psychology should have a wide range of career options to choose from. Here are just a few.
Research
Some forensic psychologists never deal with patients or the general public, but instead focus their careers gathering and analyzing data for police, lawyers, corporations, non-profit organizations, and governments. A career as a researcher in forensic psychology means that you would get to study key legal issues like how juries reach decisions and the most effective methods police can use when questioning witnesses. Often this data is used to determine how to best investigate crime, try court cases, and rehabilitate offenders.
Public Policy
Another crucial behind-the-scenes forensic psychology career path is in public policy. These individuals perform tasks like helping to design prisons and rehabilitation facilities for offenders. They may also work with corrections officers and police forces to come up with regulations for how to best manage parolees and suspects.
Counseling
Treating patients who are criminal offenders or the victims of crimes is a serious task. Much like criminal psychologists, forensic psychologists are trained in understanding why some people harm others. They may also provide counseling services to people who have been affected by the court system in other ways, like during supervised custody visits with children or during court-ordered anger management classes. Still others help individuals learn better parenting skills.
Legal System
Forensic psychologists will have numerous career options in which they can serve the court system. Some serve as impartial and expert evaluators. When a defendant stands trial, a forensic psychologist might be asked to evaluate him to determine his mental state of mind while the crime was being committed. They may also evaluate parents’ homes and children’s mental well-being during custody cases.
As experts trained in both law and human behavior, judges often rely on forensic psychologists to help them decide whether teenagers who commit serious crimes should be tried as juveniles or adults. They are sometimes called upon to weigh on a defendant’s motivation for committing a crime, or they may be asked to recommend sentencing based on the defendant’s particular psychological needs.
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