What is a Criminal Psychologist
A criminal psychologist works in an area that blends psychology with thefield of criminal justice. Criminal psychologists often work with members of the judicial system, law enforcement, and other agencies and provide their expert analysis in a number of areas. Much of a criminal psychologist’s job is to conduct research, evaluate behavior, and write reports.
Criminal psychologists might evaluate the thoughts and behaviors of criminal offenders, determine the ability of the accused to stand trial, or provide expert testimony during a trial regarding the defendant’s mental state during the commission of the crime.
Criminal psychologists may also work with victims of crimes to help them overcome the traumas associated with their experiences. Many criminal psychologists also work with offenders after they have been convicted in order to help rehabilitate them for eventual re-entry into the general population.
What Does a Criminal Psychologist Do?
Criminal psychologists work in the field of forensics, applying psychological principles to the criminal justice system. Much of their time is spent conducting evaluations of the accused and alleged victims.
For example, a criminal psychologist might evaluate a defendant to determine his or her competency to stand trial. They might also interview the victim of a crime in order to establish a timeline of events.
Providing expert testimony is another primary area of work for criminal psychologists. Working in civil, family, criminal, and military courts, criminal psychologists may provide testimony in a custody hearing on which parent they perceive to be more appropriate for custody of minor children. They might also work with witnesses or victims, particularly children, to develop a clearer picture of what happened and whether or not the witness will be reliable on the witness stand.
Criminal psychologists can testify in military courts as well, speaking to the state of mind of the defendant during his or her alleged crime.
Psychologists can also use their expertise in the criminal justice system toassist attorneys and the court. During the jury selection process, criminal psychologists help attorneys determine which potential jurors are the most appropriate for the case.
Criminal psychologists can also help prosecutors and defense attorneys conclude which arguments are most persuasive in order to make their case. In high profile cases, a criminal psychologist would also be asked to conduct a climate survey to determine the level to which pretrial publicity has impacted public opinion about the case.
Although psychologists who specialize in the criminal area can spend much time in the spotlight of a courtroom, many do not have duties that are as glamorous as portrayed on popular television shows likeCriminal MindsandLaw and Order.
Related:What is the Difference Between Criminal Psychology and Forensic Psychology?
In fact, the scope of work for most criminal psychologists is quite narrow. Unlike their colleagues in thefield of clinical psychologywho work with a client over an extended period of time in order to bring about positive life changes, criminal psychologists focus on a single event (such as a specific crime) or a specific task (such as a mental health evaluation) and report their findings.
Criminal psychologists also tend to become experts in a highly specific field, such as victimology, chemical dependency evaluation, or sex offender treatment.
Criminal psychologists may also attempt to explain why some individuals exposed to certain variables and stimuli become criminals, while others exposed to the same set of circumstances do not.
Where Do Criminal Psychologists Work?
Criminal psychologists typically work in:
What are the Requirements to Become a Criminal Psychologist?
To become a criminal psychologist, you generally need to fulfill the following requirements:
Criminal Psychologist Bachelor’s Degrees
To become a criminal psychologist, one must start witha bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling or a related field. These four-year programs focus on the development of general knowledge and skills in psychology.
Degrees in criminal psychology per se aren’t available at the bachelor’s degree level, and few if any are at the master’s degree level, either. To get started, probably the best option is to get a four-year bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology. Another good option is to major in psychology andminor or double major in criminal justice.
Typical courses for a bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology include:
Criminal Psychologist Graduate Degrees
To move higher up the ranks, attending a graduate schools and earning amaster’s degree in psychologyis essential. Many schools may offer special courses in the field of forensics that prepare masters level graduates for entry-level work in the field of criminology, forensics, and criminal justice.
As in other fields of psychology, an APA accredited doctorate is usually required in order to access the most highly coveted jobs in criminal psychology. Depending on your selected program, you will be required to complete 1-2 professional internships during your doctoral program.
Furthermore,specialization in criminal, clinical, mental health orforensic psychologyis mostly required. You can request more information from the popular accredited universities listed below.
Psychologists with a background in mental health, clinical psychology practice, experimentation, or neuropsychology can also transition into criminal psychology.
Another popular option is to pursue a joint degree that results in a Ph.D. in psychology and J.D. in law. These programs, which are available at the University of Arizona, Drexel University, and Stanford to name a few, allow students to count coursework towards both degrees in order to reduce the total amount of time students must commit to obtaining their degrees.
For example, Stanford allows students to apply up to 54 quarter units towards both degrees, meaning a student can expect to graduate with both a Ph.D. and a J.D. within 3-4 years after beginning their doctoral studies.
Criminal Psychologist Clinical Experience
Many psychology graduate programs require students to complete supervised clinical hours, during which they can work with clients and gain practical experience.
Criminal Psychologist Licensure and Certification
Although licensure requirements vary from state to state, a person must be licensed in order to practice. Most states require an APA accredited Ph.D. in order to obtain licensure.
Regardless of the degree requirement, all states necessitate licensed psychologists to complete a specified number of provisional, supervised hours of practice (under a licensed psychologist) in order to obtain licensure. Ongoing professional development to maintain that licensure is necessary as well.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Criminal Psychologist?
What Does It Take to Be a Criminal Psychologist?
Is Criminal Psychology a Good Major?
Criminal psychology can be a rewarding and interesting field of study for individuals who are interested in understanding not only the criminal mind but also the criminal justice system.
A major in criminal psychology may provide a strong foundation in the principles and theories of psychology as they relate to criminal behavior. It can also provide an understanding of the criminal justice system and the legal system. This dual knowledge can be extremely useful in different careers within the criminal justice system, such as forensic psychology, law enforcement, criminal investigation and correctional counseling.
Criminal psychology essentially is a multidisciplinary field, and students generally take courses in psychology, counseling, sociology, and criminal justice to understand how these areas are interconnected and also how they can be used to understand criminal behavior.
Students also study topics such as psychological assessment, forensic psychology, and research methods that can be applied to criminal behavior in the content of the criminal justice system.
However, it is worth noting that careers in criminal psychology field can be competitive, and as mentioned above, professionals typically earn a graduate degree in order to be competitive in the field.
Furthermore, it is also helpful to be aware that criminal psychology research often covers sensitive topics and may deal with traumatic material. Therefore, it is important for students to evaluate whether they are emotionally equipped to handle the content before committing to the major.
Is Criminal Psychology Hard?
The difficulty level of a criminal psychology major depends on an individual’s intellect, interests, aptitudes, and general study habits. Like any major, criminal psychology major also requires a significant commitment, both in terms of time and effort to understand the material and to perform well in the courses.
As mentioned above, criminal psychology essentially is a multidisciplinary field, which requires knowledge of mental, psychological and criminological theories, methods, and research. This can require a significant amount of reading and writing to understand various concepts, ideas and theories.
Moreover, depending on the degree program, students may also be required to research existing studies, analyze data and then design their own research studies
It is also important to note that the field of criminal psychology can be emotionally demanding, as it generally deals with difficult topics like violence, abuse, and trauma. Students may be required to analyze case studies and other material involving these topics, which can be disturbing.
Coursework and research in criminal psychology can be challenging, however, this is true for most majors in psychology. It requires students to study, analyze, understand and compare a wide range of concepts and theories.
In short, criminal psychology can be a challenging major, however, with dedication and hard work, it can also be a highly rewarding, both financially and personally, for those who are interested in the field.
Now, all you have to do is request more information from the popular accredited universities listed below!
What is the Employment Outlook for Criminal Psychology?
The outlook for careers in the field of criminal psychology is strong. According to theAmerican Psychological Association, the need for experts in the field of criminal psychology has grown exponentially after a court ruling in 1962 determined that psychologists could offer expert opinions in court.
Although theBureau of Labor Statisticsdoes not offer insight into the field of criminal psychology specifically, it does note that psychology in general is set to experience double-digit job growth through 2031.
How Much Does a Criminal Psychologist Make Per Year?
As of November 2024, according to ZipRecruiter the average annual salary for a criminal psychologist is$92,813.
Two primary factors will determine the income a criminal psychologist makes. The length of time an individual has worked in the field will have the largest impact on salary. The city/state in which one works will also have great influence on pay. Criminal psychologists working in Wyoming, California and Texas enjoy the highest average annual salary of $112,378, $104,497 and $101,502 respectively.
Criminal psychologists who are employed in large cities or municipalities with a large caseload of forensic work will earn more than individuals employed in small towns or rural areas.
