What is Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychology has been defined many ways. Some are broad, including many different things, while others are relatively short, giving forensic psychology definite borders. Because of this, definitions of forensic psychology
College Board defines the forensic psychology major rather broadly, saying "Students in this major prepare to provide psychologic services with in the criminal justice and civil legal systems. They learn about everything from profiling suspects and assessing the mental health of inmates to criminal and civil procedures."
On the other hand, the medical dictionary on The Free Dictionary by Farlex defines it as simply "The application of psychology to legal matters in a court of law."
Neither really give you much information, but they do tell you what a forensic psychologist is. Forensic Psychologists can work at many points in the court system. A profiler would be part before the a case is even sent to court, as they would help capture the criminal. They rarely participate in any case other then one against a serial rapist, killers, etc., because only those cases provide them with enough information to make an accurate profile. Forensic psychologists can also work in the middle of the court case, acting as an expert witness, or determining the mental competency of the accused. Forensic psychologists involved after court help with treatment of the criminal. They can work in a personal office, where there patients would be "minor" criminals, such as sex offenders, who require treatment, but no heavy jail sentence. They can also work in state institutions, where they would interact with the criminals who committed much more severe offenses, but are not mentally able to go to jail.
Forensic psychologists also work in civil courts, primarily in custody cases, to help determine which parent and what sort of custody is best for the child (if the child could handle going back and forth, if the child should simply visit with the other parent, etc.). These psychologists usually tend to consider themselves child psychologists though, because they do work primarily with children, and forensic psychologists are so commonly associated with criminal courts, that many people would get confused by having a "forensic psychologist" as part of their civil court case.
College Board defines the forensic psychology major rather broadly, saying "Students in this major prepare to provide psychologic services with in the criminal justice and civil legal systems. They learn about everything from profiling suspects and assessing the mental health of inmates to criminal and civil procedures."
On the other hand, the medical dictionary on The Free Dictionary by Farlex defines it as simply "The application of psychology to legal matters in a court of law."
Neither really give you much information, but they do tell you what a forensic psychologist is. Forensic Psychologists can work at many points in the court system. A profiler would be part before the a case is even sent to court, as they would help capture the criminal. They rarely participate in any case other then one against a serial rapist, killers, etc., because only those cases provide them with enough information to make an accurate profile. Forensic psychologists can also work in the middle of the court case, acting as an expert witness, or determining the mental competency of the accused. Forensic psychologists involved after court help with treatment of the criminal. They can work in a personal office, where there patients would be "minor" criminals, such as sex offenders, who require treatment, but no heavy jail sentence. They can also work in state institutions, where they would interact with the criminals who committed much more severe offenses, but are not mentally able to go to jail.
Forensic psychologists also work in civil courts, primarily in custody cases, to help determine which parent and what sort of custody is best for the child (if the child could handle going back and forth, if the child should simply visit with the other parent, etc.). These psychologists usually tend to consider themselves child psychologists though, because they do work primarily with children, and forensic psychologists are so commonly associated with criminal courts, that many people would get confused by having a "forensic psychologist" as part of their civil court case.