#forensicpsychologist

As we want a crime-free India and a peaceful environment. Forensic Psychologists focus on human psychology and law enforcement. These Psychologists act as forensic examiners or experts to solve Crime related cases.

What It Takes To Be A Forensic Psychologist

Forensic psychology is a mental health specialty field that applies studies of the mind and behavior to the legal system. People working in this field may split time between working in a clinical setting and testifying in a court of law. A forensic psychologist may work in the criminal court system performing evaluations of mental competency or in the civil courts focusing on insurance claims, family law cases and other lawsuits.

Professionals in the field of forensic psychology must earn a master’s or doctoral degree in clinical psychology, criminology or another related field. The competition for entry into a doctoral program is highly competitive and those admitted will need to complete five to seven years of graduate study. Individuals who complete training and gain practical experience are eligible to apply to the American Board of Forensic Psychology for board certification.

Research is a big part of what these professionals do. They often interview people locked up in detention centers to determine what made them commit a crime. Some research is done studying case files and consulting with colleagues.

Work within the criminal justice system involves offering professional assessment of the mental state of juvenile and adult offenders. They make determinations about mental competency to determine if an individual is able to stand trial. Some work exclusively with minors called on to testify in criminal trials.

Psychologists take the information gathered by research, analyze it and draw conclusions that they later present as expert testimony in a court of law. As an expert witness in a criminal trial, psychologists are responsible for presenting facts relevant to the crime. During the sentencing phase, they offer expert opinions about how likely the criminal is to commit another crime. The judge uses this information to determine the sentence. After the person is incarcerated, they often testify during parole hearings to help the parole board come to their decision about whether to allow the person to leave custody.

They are sometimes responsible for studying a crime scene and developing a working profile of the perpetrator to help law enforcement narrow down a list of suspects. Criminal profiling is an investigative tool that predicts the likely characteristics of an unknown offender. Psychologists provide information to law enforcement personnel profiling the psychological and social behavior of the offender. They will examine the belongings of a suspect and offer a psychological assessment. They often consult with law enforcement officers to offer advice about the best methods for interviewing a suspect.

Work in the civil court system often involves a range of responsibilities from dealing with child custody cases to providing expert testimony in insurance claim lawsuits. Within the family court system, professionals perform custody evaluations and asses visitation risk factors. They will compile this information for the judge to use in determining the outcome of a custody case.

Some professionals focus on cases where their expertise is needed to determine mental capacity. These services include examinations to determine if a defendant can legally invoke an insanity defense at trial. They may be responsible for assessing a defendant’s mental state and rendering an opinion about his or her mental capacity to stand trial.

Salaries in this field are dependent on a variety of factors. Specialty, place of employment, geographical location and experience determine pay rates. Many of these professionals are self-employed and do contract work for local law enforcement, law firms or other agencies. Some professionals find employment in prisons, court systems and educational facilities.

Prisons employ trained psychologists to serve in a variety of capacities. Some individuals analyze inmates eligible for parole and work closely with parole officers to manage parolees. They sometimes provide counseling for people to help them cope with the terms of their probation.

Court systems employ psychologists to evaluate witnesses or defendants for their suitability to testify during trial. Other duties may include evaluating jurors. In the family court system they may conduct interviews and make determinations used to decide cases that terminate parental rights.