Working as a Criminal Psychologist

If you are interested in the psychology of crime and offending, forensic psychology is one professional route to consider. Criminal psychology generally concerns crime and offending behaviour. Forensic psychology is broader, covering psychology and legal processes, including some civil matters. In the UK, "forensic psychologist" is also a protected professional title.

Television dramas often show a psychologist profiling an offender at a crime scene. Profiling and police consultation do happen, but they make up a small part of most forensic psychologists' work. Much of the role involves assessment, treatment and research, usually in prisons, secure hospitals and probation settings. Your judgements may inform decisions about people's liberty and public safety.

This article covers what the job involves, where forensic psychologists work, and how to gain the qualifications and experience needed.

What the job involves

Forensic psychologists apply psychological theory and research to the criminal and civil justice systems. Much of their work focuses on understanding offending behaviour and reducing the risk of reoffending.

Typical tasks can include:

• assessing people involved in the justice system, developing a formulation of their difficulties and planning how risks can be managed
• designing and delivering interventions, such as those addressing violence, sexual offending or substance misuse
• writing reports for courts, parole boards and mental health tribunals
• in some posts, giving evidence in court as an expert witness
• training and advising staff, including on supporting safe practice and responding to behaviour that presents risks
• carrying out research to improve how the justice system works

Not everyone you work with will have been convicted. The work may also involve victims, witnesses and families affected by legal proceedings.

Expert witnesses must work within their competence and give independent, impartial evidence. Their duty is to the court, not to whoever instructed them. You need to explain complex findings clearly and stay composed under questioning from lawyers. Detailed report writing is a large part of most roles.

The job also involves safeguarding duties, confidentiality and its limits, and attention to equality and cultural differences. Depending on the role, you may need security vetting or criminal record checks.

You may hear distressing accounts of crimes and work with people who have caused serious harm. The work requires appropriate supervision and support, so ask employers how these are provided.

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Where forensic psychologists work

HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is a major employer of forensic psychologists in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate prison and justice services. Prison psychologists assess prisoners' needs, both for rehabilitation and for keeping them and others safe. They also contribute to decisions about release and resettlement.

Other main employers include NHS secure hospitals and forensic mental health services, along with private healthcare providers running secure units. There are also opportunities in universities, youth justice services and some police-related or specialist consultancy roles, though these vary locally and are less common.

Some psychologists work independently, providing assessments and expert reports for courts and solicitors. This usually happens later in a career, once they have developed relevant specialist competence and experience.

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Qualifications and training

Qualifying takes several years of study and supervised practice. To practise under the title "forensic psychologist", you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a forensic psychologist. Chartered membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) is a separate professional status and does not replace HCPC registration.

University entry requirements vary. Courses may accept A-levels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, Access to HE diplomas and other qualifications. A-level psychology can help but is not always required. Check each course's subject requirements and its English and maths requirements.

The main stages are:

• A BPS-accredited psychology degree, or an accredited conversion course, completed to the standard required for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). This normally means at least a 2:2 and meeting the project requirements. Postgraduate courses and employers may ask for a higher classification.
• Stage 1 training, commonly through a BPS-accredited master's degree in forensic psychology.
• The BPS Qualification in Forensic Psychology (Stage 2), which normally involves at least two years' full-time equivalent supervised practice, with supervision and assessment meeting the qualification's requirements. Part-time training takes longer.

Some HCPC-approved professional doctorates offer an alternative, including programmes that combine the academic and supervised practice components. Entry requirements differ. An academic PhD or a master's degree alone does not qualify you to practise. Training routes can change, so check the HCPC list of approved programmes and the BPS website.

Gaining experience and finding work

Competition for master's places and trainee posts is strong. Experience can show that you understand forensic settings and have the communication and research skills the work needs. It also gives you realistic expectations and helps you judge whether the job suits you.

Options might include:

• volunteering with organisations such as Victim Support or Nacro
• acting as an appropriate adult for young people or vulnerable adults in police custody, which requires training and suitability checks
• joining an Independent Monitoring Board, which monitors prisons and immigration detention in England and Wales (other UK nations have different arrangements)
• working as an assistant psychologist or healthcare assistant in a secure setting
• paid roles in prisons, probation or mental health services

These roles carry real responsibilities, and eligibility, vetting and time commitments vary.

Many people start as assistant psychologists before moving into trainee forensic psychologist posts. Some trainee posts include funded training, but funding is not automatic and some applicants pay for postgraduate study themselves. A master's place does not guarantee a supervised practice post. Vacancies appear on Civil Service Jobs, NHS Jobs and equivalent sites in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Most directly employed NHS psychology posts are paid under Agenda for Change, with rates varying by UK nation. HMPPS and other employers use their own pay arrangements. For current figures, see official NHS and Civil Service pay information, or the National Careers Service if you are in England.

If you are considering this career, start by checking whether your degree gives you GBC eligibility. Then compare approved training routes and read the requirements in current trainee post adverts. The BPS Division of Forensic Psychology is a useful source of further information.

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