Forensic psychology is a relatively new specialty that has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years due to the many opportunities for people interested in pursuing careers in the forensic domain (Gaensslen, 2003; Otto, Heilbrun, & Grisso, 2000; Ramsland, 2009). Although forensic psychology is, to a large extent, concerned with applying psychological knowledge to understand crime and other legal issues, recent developments have seen graduates of forensic psychology take up positions in areas outside the legal system due to the highly specialized nature of the discipline (Ireland, 2009). The present paper undertakes a critical evaluation of available careers and training requirements in forensic psychology.
Careers
The field of forensic psychology represents a specialized body of knowledge in five key areas. These are “the assessment of forensic psychology, the required treatment of persons as per the ideals of the jurisdiction court, application of testimonies from field experts, consultation, as well as research and analysis” (Otto et al., 2000, p. 218). Most careers in forensic psychology span across these core areas, implying that forensic psychologists work in diverse environments that include government agencies such as prisons and courts, private sector enterprises such as law firms, research, and academic arenas, as well as treatment and counseling domains (Schreider, 2014).
Specifically, duly qualified and credentialed forensic psychologists work under the court system to provide psychological evaluations or assessments aimed at helping the jury decide the mental state of an offender during the commission of a crime, his or her competency to stand trial, as well as prospects or risks of reoffending (Thomas, 2012).
Additionally, forensic psychologists can find jobs as psychotherapists for persons involved in the legal system (e.g., prisoners, victims of crime, probationers and people who have been court-ordered to receive therapy), expert testimony witnesses in criminal or civil proceedings, criminal profilers, evaluative and applied research professionals, training designers, and implementers, as well as policy and organizational consultants (Ireland, 2009). In the criminal justice system, forensic psychologists may find careers as experts in appraising offender “behaviors such as malingering, confession, practicing deception, or acting suicidal” (Ramsland, 2009, p. 47). All these career opportunities reinforce the fact that forensic psychology is a diverse discipline that needs specialized qualifications.
Forensic Psychologists as Clinicians
Forensic experts that take up the role of clinical psychologists are mainly concerned with assessing mental health and how it relates to the legal system. Notably, this can include the application of research in various settings like prisons, schools, and hospitals. In the application of research, this practitioner’s role may involve the analysis and validation of one assessment tool to predict the level to which an offender is possibly going to become violent in the future.
Practically, this practitioner’s role is to make a complete assessment of an offender and determine whether they pose a risk to the general community if they are released (Schreider, 2014). Other issues that people in this field are interested but not limited to are: taking control of divorce issues and mediation in a child custody matter, analysis of whether an offender is mentally fit to be subjected to trial, offering expert testimony to the court regarding questions about psychological aspects, as well as taking charge of the design and dissemination of treatment programs to offenders. However, for one to act as a clinical psychologist, they must also be licensed psychologists.
The Forensic Psychologist as a Researcher
Besides choosing a career in clinical psychology, forensic psychology can also choose the researcher/experimenter’s role. Although this career does not have to be different from that of a clinical psychologist, it normally is. Essentially, while the clinical psychologists are concerned with the role of assessing patient’s mental issues about the legal system, general forensic researchers are concerned with a lot more than just mental health.
Thus, forensic researchers can delve into research matters about any issue related to the legal system and the law (Schreider, 2014). Among the research topics that these practitioners could delve into our research on the effectiveness of strategies in risk assessment, analysis of factors that determine how the jury makes their decision, developing and accessing effective ways to ensure better eye witnessing ups, assessing programs designed for both offenders and victims among others.
A Comparison of Forensic Psychology to Forensic Psychiatry
Most times, forensic psychologists acting in clinical counseling capacities are mistaken for being psychiatrists. It is further becoming difficult to separate these two careers. Some forensic psychologists in the counseling or clinical specialization can directly offer therapy to mentally ill persons. Psychiatrists treat mental illnesses because they are medical doctors. On the other hand, psychologists do not have medical qualifications, even though some of them attain related medical qualifications such as training and qualifications in public health. Another difference between the two professions is that one is licensed and allowed to prescribe drugs to the patients while the other is not (Soothil, 2010). Conventionally, psychologists have not been given the license and mandate to prescribe any medications to their patients. However, this difference is slowly starting to fade away as now psychologists are gaining the mandate and license to prescribe medications.
Training
Although there are different pathways to becoming a forensic psychologist, the available literature demonstrates that most forensic psychology practitioners are clinicians with a specialization in forensic issues (Ramsland, 2009). While the basis for becoming a forensic psychologist is often predicated upon having an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master’s degree in forensic or clinical psychology, most professionals are required to undergo further training in law, workings and expectations of the court, investigative and psychological assessment, as well as the application of criminal profiling (Gaensslen, 2003; Soothil, 2010).
Master’s level students of forensic psychology are often required to undergo specialized training in four core areas. Among the areas of concern are how to conduct interventions, how to carry out assessments, the need to carry out evaluations with clients, application of research, their role in supporting and advising other professionals, as well as training (Ireland, 2009). They are also expected to complete an appropriate clinical internship and receive certification in forensic psychology from relevant specialty boards.
Further, students pursuing forensic psychology studies are encouraged to either undertake Pre-doctoral training or participate in joint degree and specialty programs (Ph.D.). The study of either of these courses is an advantage to the students in a myriad of ways. Specializing in lawyer-psychology equips one to address legal issues in psychology. One advantage of students undertaking a joint degree program is that it increases the students’ level of understanding in both psychology and law (Gaensslen, 2003). However, there are disadvantages to pursuing a joint degree program about studying psychology. One major reason is that obtaining such programs takes a lot of time, is expensive, and requires so much effort and commitment. Notably, this is the reason joint degree programs are rare because they are not for everyone, as they cause transition issues. After all, one is pursuing two degrees at one time, much less handling two faculties at one go.
Nonetheless, attaining the joint program degree does not imply that one has more career options. Notably, when one has a degree in psychology, it isn’t very clear to determine whether one would pursue a career in law or how the degree is going to be useful in practice. In effect, sometimes, it is not necessary to pursue a joint degree while undertaking psychology. While the study of law is necessary, one doesn’t need to pursue a law degree to acquire knowledge and to function as a psychologist. Thus, students must analyze and determine whether a joint degree is the best alternative to becoming forensic psychology.
Further, the study of specialty programs effectively offers specialty coursework, practicum, and research experiences in a manner that will provide learners with extensive exposure to forensic issues (Otto et al., 2000; Soothil, 2010). Ideally, the study of specialty programs implies that students will attain a degree in either clinical or counseling psychology while receiving specialized training and skills to become forensic psychology experts. One way to gain specialized training may involve attending seminars in forensic related matters, undergo practical forensic training, or get clinical placements to practice their acquired knowledge. Notably, students that attend these specialty courses tend to undergo the same training as their counterparts studying joint degree programs. However, they will not have the prerequisite knowledge to gain a degree in law, meaning that they may have problems integrating these two aspects.
Another course that students seeking to become forensic psychologists can undertake is the study of general programs. Most forensic psychologist practitioners have not obtained their degrees by studying either specialist or joint degrees. Instead, most of these persons have attended a general practice program in either clinical or counseling psychology (Gaensslen, 2003). Nonetheless, they are accepted into practice because they tend to have accumulated knowledge in pre-doctoral internship programs, gained practical experience working in the local prisons, or worked with institutions that focus on forensic works.
Even though none of these options prepare a student for the kind of knowledge and skills they gain when they pursue a specialty or joint programs, they offer considerable training and practical experience. In fact, by undertaking general psychology programs, one can pursue varied clinical psychology experiences without concentrating on forensic psychology so early in one’s career. Nonetheless, none of these options are superior or better than the other. Their applicability and suitability depend on a student’s professional and individual objectives.
Overall, this paper has undertaken an extensive evaluation of available careers and training requirements in forensic psychology. Drawing from this evaluation and discussion, it can be concluded that forensic psychology is a highly specialized discipline that requires extensive training to be able to reap the full benefits of available career opportunities.
References
Gaensslen, R.E. (2003). How do I become a forensic scientist? Educational pathways to forensic science careers. Analytical & Bioanalytical Chemistry, 376(8), 1151-1155. Web.
Ireland, C.A. (2009). The reality of work as a forensic psychologist. Psychologist, 22(6), 538-539.
Otto, R.K., Heilbrun, K., & Grisso, T. (2000). Training and credentialing in forensic psychology.Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 8(3), 217-231. Web.
Ramsland, K. (2009). The facts about fiction: What Grissom could learn about forensic psychology. Journal of Psychiatry and Law, 37(1), 37-50.
Schreider, K. (2014). Careers in psychology. Psychology Today, 47(2), 81-89.
Soothil, K. (2010). The qualifications and careers of psychiatrists, psychologists, social scientists and nurses interested in forensic mental health research. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 21(5), 697-710. Web.
Thomas, A. (2012). What about forensic psychiatry as a career? Undergraduate and early post-graduate medical perspectives. Criminal Behavior & Mental Health, 22(4), 247-251. Web.