Working as a Criminal Psychologist

The role of the criminal (or forensic) psychologist is becoming increasingly popular for people choosing a career. For many, the image of police procedural television series springs to mind - where an expert will express their interpretation of how a criminal acts. Some people have attributed the increase in criminal psychology applications to these kinds of programmes. While crime scene consultation is part of the job, it forms a relatively small part of the duties you will often be asked to perform.

The role can be rewarding but it is also a very responsible one. You could be called on to be an expert witness, requiring the right level of communication skills. A lot of them are also employed by prisons to assess the level of care that prisoners need, both in terms of rehabilitation and the safety of themselves and their fellow prisoners.

Here is an overview of the different jobs available in the world of criminal psychology, as well as how to get the right qualifications and experience in order to enter this very competitive and popular field.

Qualifications

In order to study criminal psychology you need at least five A-C at GCSE and three A-levels. The kind of subjects you are required to study will vary depending on the university you intend to apply to.

The most obvious subject to study at A-level is psychology. Sociology also gives a good overview of society as well. Your careers adviser should be able to give more specific information about which courses and universities are most appropriate.

In order to qualify as a criminal psychologist you need a British Psychology Society (BPS) Accredited Degree in Psychology and a Health Council approved programme in order to complete your registration. People looking to apply for these qualifications need a good degree, usually at least at 2:1. You also need to be able to demonstrate research skills and relevant work experience, either in a hospital or community service setting.

It is expected that you get at least two years of experience. As well as looking good on your CV this will help give you an idea of the kind of people you will be working with and helping you to develop your social and communication skills.

Some people choose to study specific aspects of criminal behaviour. For example people study the treatment of sexual offenders and this can be the research subject of a PHD. While studying a degree course it is worth discussing this with your tutor to see what options are available to you and what you may wish to study further.

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The Job

The work tends to be 9am to 5 or 6pm, usually from Monday to Friday. There are also part time and job share opportunities available, although these are highly sought after.

The role of the criminal psychologist is to use their specialist knowledge of criminal behaviour and their analytical skills to assist a number of organisations in a variety of situations.

They will often help the police in their investigations, often by using their ability to assess how a criminal behaves and their motivations behind a crime. However this is just one aspect of the work they might be expected to do.

The prison service is the main employer of criminal psychologists. One aspect of the role is rehabilitating offenders. This can often be through both one to one and group therapy sessions. Some offenders will have problems with anger management or drink and alcohol addiction and require sensitive treatment.

A trainee psychologist or psychological assistant may also be asked to assist in treating people with severe mental health disorders. You may be asked to assess their mental condition to see what level of care they need and whether they present a danger to themselves or the public.

Risk assessment is another vital part of this role. This is where a psychologist has to make recommendations based on the chances of a prisoner potentially reoffending. You may also be asked to be an expert witness in a case where the behaviour of a criminal is called into question. Communication skills are an important part of this.

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What You Can Expect To Earn

A trainee or newly qualified psychologist can expect to earn up to £20,000 a year. Once fully qualified you can expect to earn between £30,000 to £45,000 a year. At the top level consultants and department heads earn up to £95,000 a year.

For more information about a career in criminal psychology go to the British Psychology Society website. There are also a number of agencies and vacancy pages online where you can see what work experience and job vacancies are available in your local area.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Psychology Career Finder lets you answer a few questions about your interests, qualifications, and goals and find out which psychology careers suit you best. Try it now →