Forensic Psychology Major Requirements

Forensic Psychology Major Requirements

The Forensic Psychology major is designed for students who are interested in the relationship between psychology and the criminal justice system. The mission of the Forensic Psychology major is to enhance students’ understanding of individual behavior, in terms of its biological, cognitive, social and emotional components and their interaction, and its effects on the broader community. Students will learn to employ an empirical approach to understand human behavior. The major prepares students for a number of careers and graduate work in psychology,social work, law enforcement, or other criminal justice professions.

Prerequisite: PSY 101, which does not count toward the 40 credits required in the major

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Forensic Psychology - Criminal Profiling Guide

Forensic Psychology - Criminal Profiling Guide


 Profiling Definition

The first task of profiling is estimating the psychological and sociological characteristics of a criminal. The reader may be familiar with this practice from film and television– movies like Silence of the Lambs and Seven have prominently featured this type of profiling. Criminal investigators use evidence collected from the crime scene, the nature of the crime, the location of the crime scene, and the type of victims being targeted as clues to identify the profile of the offender. For example, when law enforcement was searching for the Green River Killer (later identified to be Gary Ridgway) in Washington State, they suggested that he was a white male with a history of dysfunctional relationships with women. They were proven correct.

Once the criminal is apprehended, the next step is to determine further, specific information about him or her. Items in the offender’s possession and interviews with acquaintances can provide excellent background information. After further information has been ascertained, an interview process can begin based on the information gathered about the criminal.

History of Profiling

One of the first and most high-profile cases of profiling was the attempt by Scotland Yard to find the identity of Jack the Ripper. Doctor Thomas Bond, one of the most celebrated physicians of Victorian London, had, in his capacities as a police surgeon, examined the bodies of the victims. He surmised that the killer was in all likelihood a quiet, eccentric, neatly dressed, middle aged man.

As psychology and sociology developed as academic disciplines in the early 20th Century, their innovations were incorporated into the practice of criminal profiling. Freudian concepts like the Oedipus complex, subconscious drives, and repressed desire all made their way into the vocabulary of criminal investigators.

In 1972, the Behavioral Science Unit was established at the FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia. This marked the beginning of profiling as a science, with Howard Teten, Robert Ressler, and Patrick Mullany leading the charge. Forensic psychologist Richard Walter did much to refine the method of profiling in the ‘70s and ‘80s. In 1985, the FBI began the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (Vi-CAP), a massive database of unsolved crimes that can help investigators establish links between crimes. Since then, collaborations between agencies and extensive research of criminal psychology has contributed to further development of criminal profiling.

Criticisms

The practice of criminal profiling is not without criticism. This criticism comes from disparate sources, including both within and outside law enforcement as well as both within and outside the psychological community.

One of the most persuasive criticisms of criminal profiling is that, while rooted in established practices of psychology and sociology, there is little empirical evidence suggesting that criminal profiles are actually applicable to reality. Indeed, there have been many very public instances of profiling failing to correctly predict the nature of an offender. For instance, the Beltway Sniper in the DC metropolitan area in 2002 was predicted to be a solitary middle aged white male. In reality, the sniper was actually two young black males. Some elements of profiling are less controversial in this regard; few people question that a serial killer’s murder of multiple people in a short time span in distant locations indicates a high degree of mobility.

Another suggestion, famously made by journalist Malcolm Gladwell, is that profiling seems more accurate in retrospect. Profiles often are loaded with vague, impressionistic statements that could apply to broad ranges of people. Furthermore, when profiles made during the investigation are compared to the actual profile of the offender, we selectively look at the characteristics that the offender actually possesses.

A third suggestion is that profiling reinforces the notion of a “criminal mind,” when there is little evidence to suggest anything of the sort. Rather, most more and norms of a society are highly variable, so consequently there is no basis on which to suggest the profile of an inherently “normal” or “deviant” mind.

A final criticism is that because many offender profiles are based on just one or two crimes, there isn’t enough of a sample size to draw scientific conclusions. If a criminal has only struck once, we only have a snapshot of the criminal in the very specific time-frame of the crime. This time-frame, furthermore, quite likely won’t reflect the normal state of the criminal.

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Forensic Psychology Salary in US

Forensic Psychology Salary in US

Anyone that is interested in becoming a forensic psychologist should understand the contributing factors that shape the salary of these professionals. The forensic psychologist salary typically varies with the nature and location of the work.

Averages and medians only go so far with regards to the forensic psychology salary. This profession is specialized, the salary is more so dictated on a case by case basis. That being said, there is certainly value in aspiring students reviewing some of the existing trends in this field in order to get a better sense of its trajectory. A big factor in salary is schooling… both the type of degree and whether it is from an accredited or well-respected university.

The average starting forensic psychologist salary for a forensic psychologist is estimated to range from $53,000 to $59,000. Depending on the location, and the nature of the work, starting salaries for these professionals can often range anywhere from $45,000 to $83,000 annually.

The degree earned will also affect the size of forensic psychology salary one is able to earn. Hours vary between a standard nine to five week, working on call or even going away on assignments. Some forensic psychologists choose to be self-employed, often spending some time appearing witness in trials. Others works in labs, police stations, law firms, prisons and the alike.

Forensic psychologists that find work with the state or federal governments typically earn more in the range of $78,000 to $86,000 annually. Like most any career, the more training, degrees and certification accumulated, the opportunities there will be for earning a higher salary.

An extensive commitment to education and science must be upheld in order to have a high level of long-term success in this field. Some forensic psychologists may earn as little as $35,000 annually, while the top earners can earn over $103,000 each year. Experienced forensic psychologist with over a decade of experience usually earn over $80,000 annually.

The federal government is actually one of the top employers for forensic psychologists. The executive branch of the U.S government currently has over 5,000 specialized psychologists on staff. One of the most prominent federal employers of forensic psychologists is the FBI.

As many are aware, forensic psychologists working with the FBI is a popular concept that has been glamorized in the media and entertainment industry during the first decade of this third millennium. The forensic psychology salary working for FBI usually ranges from $35,000 to $82,000 per year.

The best places to earn an upper-tier forensic psychologist salary are generally cities with higher costs of living. Some of the ideal locations for employment opportunities include L.A, D.C and New York. Other major metropolitan areas that have lower costs of living in conjunction with significant opportunities available include Memphis, Atlanta and Detroit.

The state that may pay the highest forensic psychologist salary is Arizona, professionals there earn over $100,000 per year on average.

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Forensic Psychologist Job Description

 Forensic Psychologist Job Description

Forensic psychologists play a critical role in the assessment of offenders and the provision of support and training for other staff. They also work with victims. Research is a further element of their work, as is presenting evidence in court and advising parole boards and mental health tribunals.

Using expertise based on psychological theory and research, forensic psychologists work closely with other professionals and agencies both in the assessment and treatment of individuals and in the development of institutional policy and working practices.

Most forensic psychologists work within the Prison Service, although they are also employed in a range of other settings, including probation services, the National Health Service (NHS) and private hospitals, the police, social services and higher education institutions.

Typical work activities

Forensic psychology is often perceived as concerning criminal investigation and profiling. Although this is one very minor aspect of forensic psychology, it is not a core role. The work of forensic psychologists mainly relates to the assessment and treatment of criminal behaviour. Forensic psychologists work not only with prisoners and offenders but also with other professionals involved in the judicial and penal systems, and with victims of crime.

The core part of working with offenders focuses on therapy in forensic settings where tasks typically involve:

• carrying out one-to-one assessments, often to assess the risk of reoffending (e.g. for lifers being released into the community or sex offenders after a treatment programme) or of suicide, self-harm or other high-risk behaviour;
• developing, implementing and reviewing appropriate offender treatment and rehabilitation programmes, including anger management, treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, and social and cognitive skills training;
• undertaking research projects to evaluate the contribution of specific service elements, policy initiatives or group programme developments, e.g. exploring probation 'drop-out' rates, investigating the impact of bullying in the prison environment, or evaluating the effectiveness of an anger management group programme;
• undertaking statistical analysis for forensic client profiling;
• preparing risk assessment and other formal written reports;
• delivering training to support forensic staff in areas such as stress management, or training on how to cope with understanding bullying and techniques for crisis (hostage) negotiation;
• attending court and providing expert witness testimony;
• advising parole boards and mental health tribunals;
• liaising with and providing consultancy to hospital staff, prison officers, the police, social workers, probation officers, representatives of the judicial and legal systems and university staff;
• contributing to policy and strategy development to ensure continuous service improvement;
• training and mentoring psychological assistants or trainee forensic psychologists;
• management and administration.

Forensic psychologists may also be involved in:

• working with victims of crime and the general public in relation to their fear around crime;
• conducting applied research;
• designing and delivering training;
• organisational consultancy.

Source: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/forensic_psychologist_job_description.htm

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Online Cyber Forensics Graduate Programs at Stevenson University (School of Graduate And Professional Studies)

Online Cyber Forensics Graduate Programs at Stevenson University (School of Graduate And Professional Studies)

Address:

1525 Greenspring Valley Road
Stevenson, MD  21153
United States

Phone:

443-334-2587

Fax:

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Program Information

Degree Offered

Format: Online

Program Description:

Stevenson University’s innovative accelerated master’s degree in Cyber Forensics is designed to provide an advanced education for experienced information technology personnel that is focused on practical exercises in real-life events with cyber forensic analysis. This program will prepare professionals in the fields of auditing, IT security, professional investigations, and law enforcement for the new realities of digital crime. With the proliferation of cyber attacks, fraud, and other crimes in the technology-driven, networked world, the proper investigation, documentation, and presentation of digital evidence has never been more important.

Accreditation:

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Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: Yes

Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges--General

Institution Sector: Private not-for-profit

Locale: Large Suburb

Size & Settings: 1,000 - 4,999

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Source: http://www.gradschools.com/program-details/stevenson-university/cyber-forensics-256702_2

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Forensic Psychology Description

Forensic psychology Description:

What is Forensic psychology?
Forensic psychology is the interaction of the practice or study of psychology and the law. Psychologists interested in this line of applied work may be found working in prisons, jails, rehabilitation centers, police departments, law firms, schools, government agencies, or in private practice, to name a few. They may work directly with attorneys, defendants, offenders, victims, pupils, families, or with patients within the state's corrections or rehabilitation centers. Other psychologists interested in forensic psychology focus on the study of psychology and the law. They may work in colleges, universities, government agencies, or in other settings interested in researching and examining the interaction of human behavior, criminology, and the legal system.

Psychologists working in forensic psychology often come from a wide variety of education, training, and work experiences. All hold a doctorate degree in a field of psychology. Some graduate training programs now offer specializations in the field. Some of these psychologists also have education or training in the law or even hold a Juris Doctor - the degree earned by attorneys. Most working in applied settings such as a private practice or prison also hold a license to practice granted from their state's board of psychology following the successful completion of an approved doctoral degree, pre and post doctoral training years, and passing scores on a series of board examinations. The exception to this is that some governmental agencies are considered exempt settings, which allows unlicensed psychologists to practice with supervision for a period of time.

Psychologists working in applied forensic psychology settings may provide a multitude of services, too many to fully describe here. Generally though, psychologists working in corrections may attend to the mental healthcare needs of inmates including, screening, psychological assessment, individual therapy, group therapy, anger management, crisis management, court-ordered evaluations, or daily inpatient rounds. They may also consult with prison staff, inmate attorneys, advocates, and court systems on a variety of mental health related topics or recommendations garnered as a result of psychological assessment. Psychologists working directly with attorneys may provide psychological assessment, personality assessment, assessment of mitigating factors, assessment of sexual offenders, competency evaluations, and recommendations for parental custody or visitation, to list just a few. Psychologists working in police departments often provide services for the department employees, such as counseling or crisis management.

Psychologists working in forensic psychology research or academic settings may teach or research on any topic in which psychology and the law interact. The field seems limitless. To name a few popular areas: criminal profiling, crime trends, effective mental health treatment for offenders, effective treatment for substance abusers, techniques for jury selection, impact of divorce, custody, separation, visitation on children. The list goes on.


Source: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/take-all-prisoners/201006/what-is-forensic-psychology

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