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Careers in Forensic Psychology

Mukta Gaikwad
Has forensic psychology interested you to wonder how it would be to actually be one? Read on to know the requirements of being a forensic psychologist and the career options available.
Choosing a career is the most difficult choice for many. With an extensive range of options, it gets extremely confusing to narrow down on a field that would fit your interests and acumen.
Many students try a lot of things, before they decide to make careers in a particular field. However, this requires resources, in terms of time and money. To circumvent such wastage and confusion, it is advisable to introspect a little and jot down your interests.
If you always had an analytical mind, which loves to troubleshoot, then a career in forensic psychology is the best option. To begin with, forensic psychology isn't as easy or as glamorous subject, as modern cinema portrays it to be. It requires years of patience and dedication to master the subject and make a career out of your academics.

Forensic Psychology Career Opportunities

Prison Services

A forensic psychologist plays a very important role in prison services. Basically prisons hire them as psychological assistants, trainee forensic psychologists and qualified psychologists. A forensic psychologist is involved in a range of activities related to prisoners. He provides therapies to prisoners for reducing stress and other staff members.
At times he may also have to provide treatments to clients, report parole activities and its effects on prisoners, bring about a change in the prisoners attitude, conduct research and help in rehabilitating the convict.
A forensic psychologist has to work on one-to-one basis with the prisoners. Thus, this is definitely not a job for the fainthearted.

Probation Services

A forensic psychologist has to work closely with offenders and treat them by using various intervention techniques. As a part of his probation services he is expected to conduct research about an offender and figure out the chances of re-offense.
He also helps the offender sober down a very high risk behavior, undertake research to understand probation drop out rates and investigates the impact of social lives on offenders during probation time and evaluating impact of programs. Forensic psychologists, in some cases may have to perform hostage negotiations.

Police Services

As a forensic psychologist while working with the police, your job includes looking into registered cases, interviewing the victims, furnishing police with details, understand the psychological mindsets of the criminals through the prima facie findings at the crime scene and deducing the possible motives.
Most forensic psychologists are consultants who provide their services to police forces. You will also have to do an intensive study, while writing reports and dissertations.

Social Services

If you want to be a part of the social service sector then you will need a minimum qualification of a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. There are numerous job opportunities for those who are willing to make a career in forensic psychology in social service sector.
You can work as clinical psychologists, counselors, social workers, school psychologists, educational psychologists, rehabilitation counselor, social service manager, parole officer, vocational rehabilitation provider or a psychosocial specialist.
In the last 20 years this field has seen a tremendous growth and it is expected to grow leaps and bounds in the coming ten years. A forensic psychologist may also have to deal with juvenile offenders and help in rehabilitating them. The expert advice of a forensic psychologist can play a deciding role in making or breaking the case.
If you are planning to make a rock steady career in this field, pursue a master degree. The gestation period of this line of career is a little big. However, once you've established your contacts and worked on some important projects, the pay offs are only likely to be big!