Forensic Psychology the Perfect Job
Forensic psychology is the perfect job for those who are interested in both psychology and crime. But what does a forensic psychologist do? Broadly speaking, the role of a forensic psychologist is to analyze those involved in crime.
Rather than working with the subject, like a traditional psychologist, the forensic psychologist is mostly concerned with facts. These facts will allow them to ascertain certain things, such as whether an individual is able to stand trial.
There are many different job opportunities within this field, and as such a forensic psychology salary can vary depending on the position. For example, some forensic psychologists operate on a purely academic level, focusing on research and education. However, those that occupy such positions can often be requested to attend court as expert witnesses.
Other roles available are work with correctional law enforcement, helping to evaluate and treat those that have been incarcerated. Certain forensic psychologists will also provide treatment to defendants who have been deemed unfit to stand trial. This can also require a level of evaluation as it is not unheard of for defendants to feign mental health issues in order to try and gain a more lenient sentence.
This is also something that has to be considered when a defendant claims to have been mentally impaired at the time they committed their crime. When treatment is not being provided this means that psychologists are not bound by issues of confidentially which is a vital distinction.
The most popular conception of a forensic psychologist, thanks to TV crime shows, is one that consults with the police. This may not only be on the matter of solving cases, which is what the audience will be most familiar with, but also in the development of police training programs, stress management, personnel management, and referral of departmental personnel for specialized therapy.