Some forensic psychologists work in an administrative capacity, for example in the development of legal guidelines dealing with social ills. For example, a forensic psychologist may work with a city`s mayor, city council and other officials to develop language in a municipal ordinance to address a problem such as underage drinking. As part of this role, forensic psychologists may consult with city decision-makers to provide legal advice and insight into psychological concerns associated with the issue under study. In this case, forensic psychologists could provide a city council with information about the harmful effects that underage alcoholics can have on brain development, as well as the most effective treatment for minors who have developed a drinking problem. Correctional counsellors can provide a better understanding of the condition and well-being of inmates and make recommendations for probation hearings. Clinical-forensic psychologists also assess individuals in civil (i.e., non-criminal) cases. These psychologists may assess individuals who are subject to guardianship proceedings to help the court determine if the person has a mental disorder that interferes with their ability to make important decisions in their lives (e.g., money management, health care decisions, legal decisions). Clinical forensic psychologists also assess individuals who are plaintiffs in lawsuits and who claim to have been emotionally hurt by a person`s misconduct or negligence. Clinical forensic psychologists can assess children and their parents in the event of divorce if parents cannot agree on custody of their children and what is best for them. Clinical forensic psychologists are sometimes asked to assess children to determine whether they have been abused or neglected and the impact of the abuse or neglect and to make recommendations to the court for the placement of these children. If you have graduated from law school and passed the bar exam, you will be able to put your skills to good use in the practice of law. With a degree in psychology, lawyers can better understand human motivation and behavior.
Your knowledge of psychology will help you communicate with and build relationships with your clients. This can help ensure that your questions are answered honestly and that good legal advice is provided. Courses in psychology and behavioral sciences can also improve your skills in negotiation, solution, problem-solving and courtroom performance, according to Stanford University. 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. Freeman, R., & Roesch, R. (1992).
Forensic training: Training for forum and function. In D.K. Kagehiro & W.S. Laufer (Eds.) Handbook of psychology and law. New York: Springer-Verlag. Forensic psychologists often do not provide therapy, although some therapeutic services may be offered if ordered by the court. Forensic psychologists mainly have a very narrow scope of work. They are not classified as clinical psychologists who work with clients for long periods of time and help drive change. Instead, they focus on a single legal event, which is often a criminal offense, or on a single specific task, such as questioning a witness and then reporting back to court.
Forensic psychologists often specialize their knowledge by focusing on specific parts of the law, such as sexual offenses, chemical dependence assessment, victimology, etc. Since most forensic psychologists work on individual cases for a short period of time, most also take on other tasks that are often related to research. At present, the question of why some people, when exposed to certain stimuli, can turn to a criminal life is particularly interesting; while others exposed to the same stimuli do not. Finally, some psychologists receive more comprehensive legal training and receive a JD (Juris Doctorate) or an MLS (Master of Legal Studies) in addition to their training in psychology. These individuals may participate in law in areas of law relevant to the behavioural sciences and may work in law schools as well as other academic or applied institutions described above. In addition to legal doctrine and science, these individuals may engage in psychological research or practice (depending on their specialization in psychology) or in the practice of law. Although psychologists` interest in the veracity of testimonies dates back to the early 20th century, much recent work has focused on the memory capacities of victims and witnesses of crimes and accidents. Research on these issues has its foundation in the fundamental theorization of human perception and memory, and psychologists working on these topics generally have a solid foundation in these theoretical fields. Recent studies have focused on the factors that affect the reliability of human memories for complex, rapid and anxiety-provoking incidents. A related topic that has generated both great interest and considerable controversy is the reliability of repressed memories. Cognitive psychologists occasionally testify to the results of these studies as experts in trials involving eyewitness testimony or repressed memories.
Controversy often revolves over the extent to which research results can be transferred to real-world situations. Only a few PhD or PsyD programs offer specialized training in forensic psychology. In fact, most forensic psychologists are graduates of general clinical psychology programs that developed their specialization later in their training, either as an internship, by completing a forensic fellowship, or through independent and continuing study. Students interested in becoming clinical forensic psychologists should consider a Clinical Doctorate or PsyD program that offers a forensic specialization (see APLS Predoctoral Internship Guide) or enter a clinical PhD program that welcomes a faculty member whose research and clinical interests lie in the clinical-forensic field. Additional and more specialized training takes place at the level of internships and scholarships. As with all graduate programs, admissions are competitive and students are likely to maximize their chances of admission by achieving high scores, good grades, research experience, and a solid foundation in psychology and scientific method.
