Forensic Psychology: Beyond the Legal System

Melding traditional psychology with legal training, forensic psychologists provide detailed analyses and professional opinions within the wider criminal system. After graduating from a forensic psychology degree program, you are qualified to provide:

• Visitation risk assessments
• Juvenile probation evaluations
• Credible witness evaluations
• Competency and diminished capacity assessments
• Emotional and psychological damage reports
• Criminal and would-be criminal profiles

In essence, you provide expert, psychological testimony that aids law enforcement officials, judges, attorneys, and jurors in determining court outcomes.

What Type of Forensic Psychology Degree Program Do You Need?

Within this occupational field, a master's degree is typically the bare minimum employers accept. However, to practice as a fully licensed forensic psychologist, you often need a doctorate in some aspect of clinical psychology plus licensing within your state. Rarely do you find forensic psychologists who work exclusively within the legal system. Usually, such practitioners double as more mainstream psychologists.
Throughout your master's or doctoral training, you take coursework in human behavior, counseling, research, statistical analysis, therapy, psychology, sociology, and, in some cases, marketing. These are then followed by a dissertation in which you present and defend the lessons you have learned throughout your training.

Online Education in Forensic Psychology

Thanks to rapid innovations in Internet technology, you can now earn an online degree from an accredited forensic psychology program. Rather than commute to some remote location, you can enjoy the benefits and convenience of working towards your online degree from the comfort of your home or office. Case studies, surveys, trials, classes, seminars, and research are all manageable if you have a stable, broadband connection.

Career Options after Your Forensic Psychology Degree Program

After completing your online degree program, you can apply your education in a variety of ways. While the bulk of your work focuses on actual courtroom cases, your services are also needed in prisons, jails, hospitals, community mental health centers, law enforcement agencies, colleges, and juvenile detention facilities. Demand in these areas is likely to rise since the wider psychology industry is expected to grow faster than the national average for other occupational fields. From 2006 to 2016, demand could increase by as much as 15 percent. The criminal justice system's growing dependence on clinical psychology suggests that the current median salary of $60,000 might have to be adjusted accordingly.
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Psychology Info
PsiChi.Org