2 answers
Peyton
Student
Magnolia, Arkansas
1
Question
Asked
2062 views
What does a criminal psychologist job really look like?
I am currently changing my major to be a criminal psychologist, it's something that has always sounded interesting to me and I would love to be one but I'm not really sure what exactly it means to be a criminal psychologist.
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2 answers
Aisha Taylor
Mortgage Closing Specialist
464
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Aisha’s Answer
Hello Peyton,
Criminal psychologists delve into the minds of lawbreakers to grasp their motivations and create psychological profiles that aid in understanding or capturing them. They scrutinize the behaviors of individual criminals and identify any existing mental health disorders. They often find themselves in courtrooms, offering their expertise through testimonies.
Their everyday duties usually include carrying out interviews, observing behaviors, and conducting research. As forensic psychologists, they operate at the crossroads of psychology and law, often focusing on criminal, civil, or family cases. They regularly stand as expert witnesses in court proceedings.
Wishing you all the best.
Criminal psychologists delve into the minds of lawbreakers to grasp their motivations and create psychological profiles that aid in understanding or capturing them. They scrutinize the behaviors of individual criminals and identify any existing mental health disorders. They often find themselves in courtrooms, offering their expertise through testimonies.
Their everyday duties usually include carrying out interviews, observing behaviors, and conducting research. As forensic psychologists, they operate at the crossroads of psychology and law, often focusing on criminal, civil, or family cases. They regularly stand as expert witnesses in court proceedings.
Wishing you all the best.
Kelly Desso
Protective Services
226
Answers
Somers, Connecticut
Updated
Kelly’s Answer
Hi Peyton,
I did degrees in homeland security, public safety, and human security and resilience. In my time within those majors, I had an amazing instructor who was a prison psychologist. This tends to be the title, because not everyone in the system have been convicted (some are awaiting trial, etc.). As a result, this might be what you see job posting show as. While I agree with Aisha, that there are aspects of mental health that come into play, a lot of what this instructor did was work with individuals who have a change at being released, and were coming to the end of their time to help adjust to re entry. Being a licensed psychologist, she could make a diagnosis, recommend treatment on the inside and outside, and help the individuals be in a place where they don't end up behind bars again.
I did degrees in homeland security, public safety, and human security and resilience. In my time within those majors, I had an amazing instructor who was a prison psychologist. This tends to be the title, because not everyone in the system have been convicted (some are awaiting trial, etc.). As a result, this might be what you see job posting show as. While I agree with Aisha, that there are aspects of mental health that come into play, a lot of what this instructor did was work with individuals who have a change at being released, and were coming to the end of their time to help adjust to re entry. Being a licensed psychologist, she could make a diagnosis, recommend treatment on the inside and outside, and help the individuals be in a place where they don't end up behind bars again.