Forensic Psychologist

• Looks at ways to treat criminals
• Sets up treatment programmes
• Gives evidence in courts/parole boards
• Analyses crime, for example offender profiling. This is likely to assist the police.
• Looks at psychological aspects of criminality.
• Undertakes research.
• Works with probation officers, prison goveners and prison staff

Skills:

• Good communictaion skills
• Observation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Be able to write well

Qualifications:

• Degree in psychology (recognised by BPS)
• Relevant work experience
• Working towards a master's degree

They work with:

• Offenders and prison staff
• Work with victims and witnesses to crime to support them and help them overcome problems

They work for:

• HM Prison service
• NHS
• Social services
• Self-employed

• Help the jury and judge understand the state of mind of a defendent
• Help judge a defendant's fitness to stand trial
• Help in the legal understanding and judgement of insanity as a defence
• They may be used to assess witness credibility
• Advise the police of tecniques to help interrogate suspects
• Develop police interviewing techniques
• Advise police on credibility of witness statements

• Develop rehabilitation programmes
• Use anger management training
• Skills training  - i.e learning to use appropriate body language with others
• Treatments for addictions
• Develop one-to-one programmes or group therapies

Treatments can involve:

• Prescription substitute drugs
• Monitoring progress closely through counselling
• Providing support through housing (probation services)

• Medication can be perscribed to reduce sex drive
• CBT involves helping someone to change how they think about something and therefore behave differnetly
• Behaviour modification this involves rewarding good behaviour and ignoring or punishing unwanted behaviour

• Intamacy problems
• Social skills problems
• Problems with empathy
• Cognitive disorders