See title.
What jobs can I get as a forensic psychologist?
- Thread starter mandyjoy
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2007
- Messages
- 10,827
- Reaction score
- 5,612
Not a very well defined question because it will depend alot on your specific training and experience, as well as YOU.
Forensic psychologists work in private practice (primarily doing assessment), as freelance consultants to the courts for competency to stand trial, custody evals, etc. (and often a PP in addition), for state and federal prisons, in academia, and in state forensic hospitals.
Forensic psychologists work in private practice (primarily doing assessment), as freelance consultants to the courts for competency to stand trial, custody evals, etc. (and often a PP in addition), for state and federal prisons, in academia, and in state forensic hospitals.
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 18, 2012
- Messages
- 140
- Reaction score
- 5
I spoke with a semi-retired forensic psychologist who mostly testified in court as an expert witness. I'm not sure exactly how he got there, I know he worked in inpatient for a long time and had various other jobs along with a private practice too.
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2007
- Messages
- 1,480
- Reaction score
- 1,004
I agree.
Go here:
http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/departments/psychology/about_us.php
It will answer many FAQs. CUNY offers one of the few clinical psychology PhDs with an emphasis on forensic training. However, in order to work with offenders, you must obtain some sort of clinical degree (either masters or doctorate). Otherwise, you will not be trained in assessment, counseling, psychotherapy, or the other various treatment approaches. Forensic work has been the hype since CSI and other similar shows, but what many do not realize is that most (if not all) forensic psychologists are clinical psychologists who are familiar with the laws and legal processes. They would not have access to patients otherwise. But you don't need an additional degree in law in order to do forensic work, you just have to swear by your own work as a clinical psychologist (assessment, evaluation, treatment), and abide by the best interest of your client (or plead the 5th).
In my training, I was part of team that evaluated child cases and supported the District Attorney's office in evidence collection & prosecution. My supervisor was the one who was called to court to testify on behalf of our patients because she was licensed and we worked under her auspice. These cases involved child custody, abuse and neglect. However, often times, we interacted with Child Protective Services & hospital Social Work, and most cases did not make it to court (or only required written evaluation of the case) which sometimes sufficed in Family Court. My former supervisor is a clinical psychologist with lots of experience in child work and assessment. She trains individuals in forensic procedure and evaluation which just means you have to follow certain protocol when interacting with the client/patient...just in case the patient's case makes it under the scrutiny of the courts.
I'm sure there is much, much more to a degree in forensic psychology, but as clinician - all boils down to is: As an expert in your field, you must follow proper protocol so that you can stand behind your methods.
Side Bar: I once met a forensic kinesiologist. Courts would call him to testify on allegedly false insurance claims. Imagine that job. 🙄
Last edited:
I cannot agree enough that familiarity with the legal system is really important if you want a career in forensic psychology, and it's important to accept the reality of this expectation. I actually got my MA at John Jay College and I taught the undergraduate FP class at the school I currently attend. It seems obvious but you would be surprised how many students don't realize how much of this part of the field is (sometimes dry) legal/criminal justice system information. I guess that's the CSI effect at work, over-glamorizing FP while also providing misinformation.
