I think I always had in mind that I, too, would help relieve the suffering of others, but I was curious about how the mind works and the complexity of the symptoms – which led me to psychology. The demand for workers who can apply psychological principles to legal events is the growing need to contribute to mental health issues in the criminal justice system. As the volume of mental health inputs in the legal field continues to increase, so do the opportunities for skilled workers. In fact, the number of jobs in psychology and law exceeds the number of employees, so job opportunities in this specialty are much more common than in other areas of psychology. One of the main jobs of forensic psychologists is to assess individuals for different judicial systems and legal entities. In this context, a forensic psychologist can assess a variety of people, ranging from a parent seeking custody of a minor child to an inmate to be tried for murder. Regardless of who is being assessed, forensic psychologists rely on their training in human behavior to provide an unbiased assessment of the individual. To fulfill this function, forensic psychologists may conduct interviews or psychological tests for criminal or civil charged persons. They may also work with witnesses to help them retrieve information or serve as advisors in law enforcement investigations. Ogloff, J.R., Tomkins, A.J. and Bersoff, D.N., (1996). Education and training in psychology and law/criminal justice: historical foundations, current structures and future developments. Criminal Justice and Behaviour, 23, 200-235.
Developmental psychologists working on legally relevant topics have typically been trained in traditional graduate programs in developmental psychology, although some have completed graduate programs in formal psychology and law that offer a focus on development. During their graduate studies, they worked with a faculty member interested in law or developed these interests independently. Some students work with state or local courts, policymakers, or advocacy groups on research and policy issues. Occasionally, they may acquire a legal interest during postgraduate training, although such specialized training is not required for employment. There is no internship or license requirement. Job descriptions for forensic psychologists vary by industry and job title. Typical tasks of forensic psychologists include observing and maintaining those involved in the legal system, providing testimony, and developing intervention and treatment plans. Forensic psychology and the broader field of psychology and law have grown steadily over the past three decades. The sector is nowhere near as affected by changes to our health care system as it is by the “payment for services” associated with the provision of psychological services in other areas. Research, counselling and practice in legally relevant psychological areas need to be further developed over the next ten years. However, it is important to note that while the need for services has remained constant or increased, in psychology there is an increased effort to provide relevant training, important research and practice guidelines, which should mean that those who specialize in this area will be among the most in demand to provide court services. Lawyers and legislators.
The professional obligations of a forensic psychologist depend largely on his or her work environment. In some cases, forensic psychologists are appointed by prosecutors or private defense attorneys as sworn attorneys. As such, the main job of a forensic psychologist is to work with lawyers to form fair and balanced juries. This could include developing questions that can be asked of potential judges during the review process in order to eliminate those that do not fit the ideal profile while retaining potential judges who do. Specializations in forensic psychology include adult psychology, child and family psychology, forensic neuropsychology, and law enforcement. The field of psychology and law includes the application of psychological principles to legal issues and the interaction of psychology and law for those involved in the legal process. Psychologists trained in psychology and law conduct psycholegal research in a variety of fields, develop legal and public mental health guidelines, and work as both lawyers and psychologists in the legal and clinical fields. In reality, the work of a forensic psychologist may be much less glamorous or exciting, but it is no less interesting or rewarding. If you have a passion for studying the workings of the mind, particularly how it relates to criminal justice, you may find a career in forensic psychology both challenging and satisfying. Bersoff, D., Goodman-Delahunty, J., Grisso, T., Hans, V., Poythress, N., & Roesch, R.
(1997). Training in Law and Psychology: Models of the Villanova Lecture. American psychologist, 52, 1301-1310. Behavioral health directors lead behavioral health organizations. They typically work for healthcare facilities and coordinate behavioral care to patients. Some forensic psychologists will give behavioral health directors, who earn an average salary of $84,530 per year, more than $10,000 more than the average salary of people in forensic psychology. Many psychologists working in the field of law only received their training after completing their PhD or PsyD (or perhaps after completing their courses before completing a thesis). This is especially true for clinical and forensic psychologists. Typically, these students became interested in one aspect of law during their graduate studies in another sub-discipline of psychology. They then do research or seek an internship in an environment that allows them to pursue that interest.
Several postgraduate training opportunities are now available in psychology and law, and most do not require prior experience or legal training.