Criminal Psychologists vs Forensic Psychologists
Criminal Psychologist
Forensic Psychologist

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Psychologists assess individuals in order to diagnose and subsequently treat their mental, emotional and behavioural disorders. They aim to reduce the distress and improve the psychological wellbeing of their clients.

Psychologists generally specialise in one of a number of areas, including educational psychology, clinical psychology, occupational psychology or sports psychology.

Is a forensic psychologist the same as a criminal psychologist?

Information below is taken directly from Open Universities

What is criminal psychology?	What is forensic psychology?
Focuses on understanding a perpetrator’s mindset before they commit a crime	Analyses the aftermath of a crime
Aims to understand the why behind crimes	Explores crime prevention strategies and rehabilitation systems
Criminal psychologists...	Forensic psychologists...
Primarily work with police and law enforcement agencies	Primarily work within the criminal justice system to provide expert testimony in court
Focus on helping police narrow down the search for a perpetrator	Work to rehabilitate offenders and perform mental evaluations to determine if suspects can stand trial
Work to profile offenders based on age, type of employment, education and personality type	Contribute their advice in a variety of settings, from child protection and family services to juvenile detention centres
Provide insight into perpetrator behaviour at the crime scene and in court, but will not accompany police to interrogate suspects	Are not directly involved with the police in solving the crime
What does a criminal psychologist do?	What does a forensic psychologist do?
Evaluates and determines a perpetrator’s reason for offending	Assesses a perpetrator’s state of mind and whether they're fit to stand trial
Provides a psychological motive behind crimes	Makes sentencing recommendations based on their risk of re-offending
Interviews perpetrators to learn about their family, early life and other factors that may have influenced their actions	Assesses witness credibility, plus the consistency and accuracy of information across multiple sources
Evaluates crime scenes, witnesses and victims	Provides advice to police and legal representatives on mental illness and criminal psychology
Profiles perpetrators to help police with apprehension	Works with at-risk populations to minimise their risk of offending
Analyses a perpetrator’s state of mind before and after committing a crime	Acts as an impartial evaluator in domestic disputes, such as divorces and child custody cases
Helps jurors understand the mindset of a criminal	Offers therapy to victims
Finds work in local, state and federal governments	Finds work with local, state or federal governments, plus hospitals, correctional facilities, private clinics and research institutions
Has the freedom to work as an independent consultant	Has the freedom to work as an independent consultant

 

Additional Information: Taken directly from MVS Psychology - What does a criminal psychologist do in Australia - Roles in Criminal and Forensic Psychology.

Key Differences:

Aspect	Criminal Psychology	Forensic Psychology
Main Focus	Psychology of criminals	Application of psychological principles within the legal system
Primary Goal	Understanding the criminal mind	Evaluating psychological aspects as they relate to the law and legal processes
Common Activities	Profiling criminals, studing criminal behaviour	Conducting psychological assessments for court cases, providing adept testimony
Perspective	Inside the perpetrator's mind	External evaluation relative to legal standards
Educational Path	Often a degree in psychology with a focus on criminology	Typically a degree in forensic psychology; sometimes further study in legal or criminal justice fields
Work Environment	Usually works with law enforcement agencies	Often found in courtrooms, legal consultancy, and correctional facilities

 

Criminal psychologists may also engage in various tasks, including providing therapy for offenders, conducting psychological assessments, and preparing detailed reports for legal proceedings. Their work is crucial in ensuring that justice is served fairly and that offenders receive appropriate treatment and rehabilitation.

Criminal psychologists in Australia play an integral role in the criminal justice system. Their primary task is to understand criminal behaviour to aid law enforcement and the judicial system. These professionals analyse crime scenes and utilise interrogation tactics to develop profiles of criminals.

Criminal psychologists concentrate on the psychology of criminals. They seek to understand the mind of the offender, including their wills, thoughts, intentions, and reactions. This field involves seeing things from the perpetrator’s perspective to understand their motivations and behaviour patterns.

A criminal psychologist analyses a criminal's mind, thoughts and actions. Criminal psychologists also look at the various crime types from psychological, biological and environmental perspectives. Criminal psychologists play an integral role in analysing criminal behaviour to determine the risk of reoffending and to predict possible post-crime behaviour, providing valuable insights for law enforcement.

A criminal psychologist may work alongside law enforcement, using their skills to develop offender profiles and utilise interrogation tactics. They also engage in studying criminal psychology, gaining a deep understanding of the criminal mind and the factors that influence criminal acts. This knowledge is not only beneficial for solving crimes but also for preventing future offences.

(Source: International Career Institute)

ANZSCO ID: 272311

Knowledge, skills and attributes

To excel in the field of criminal psychology, it's important to have a number of key skills. Some of these may include:

• Analytical: Criminal psychologists spend a lot of time analysing previous and present offenders. They study crime-related data and the actions and feelings of offenders. They can use all of this data to draw useful inferences and develop profiles that are useful to law enforcement.
    
• Communication: Within a law enforcement organisation, criminal psychologists frequently operate in teams and rarely work alone. Good communication is a great skill to have, as they need to present ideas and findings in a way that's easy to understand. Communication also includes active listening skills.
    
• Objectivity: Being objective means not showing favouritism towards one side or the other. Criminal psychologists may benefit from being able to examine circumstances objectively. They can use their best judgement and instincts without allowing their emotions to get in the way.
    
• Listening: A criminal psychologist creates an efficient criminal profile by having active listening skills. They often speak with suspects, witnesses and victims. They need to be able to listen intently and comprehend what is being said and what is not being expressed.
    
• Attention to detail: Criminal psychologists frequently evaluate complex scenarios. They pay meticulous attention to detail to make sure they identify all the important factors in a criminal case. For example, they might use attention to detail when conducting a psychological analysis or interview to notice certain behaviours.
  

(Source: Criminal Defence Lawyers)

Duties and Tasks

From analysing crime scenes to offering courtroom insights, criminal psychologists provide crucial expertise that aids in solving cases and understanding criminal behaviour.

There are a number of criminal psychologist responsibilities, including giving advice to police on how to proceed, clinically evaluating a defendant and criminal profiling.

•  Examining the cause
  Examining the causes of criminal behaviour makes up a significant portion of a criminal psychologist's work. They may also examine criminals to determine their risk of committing crimes again in the future, or they may make educated assumptions regarding the course of a criminal's possible post-crime behaviour. Discovering why someone committed a crime is an essential part of their job.
    
• Studying the crime scene - Crime Scene Analysis
  A criminal psychologist's responsibilities may also include studying and analysing a crime scene. They may use different interrogation tactics and investigative strategies. A crime scene may help psychologists use the available evidence to conclude a criminal's actions or how they committed a crime. Criminal psychologists may extensively study crime scenes. By examining the available evidence, insights are gained on how a crime was committed. This meticulous analysis helps law enforcement to track criminal patterns and motives.
    
• Interrogation Tactics
  Psychologists often engage with suspects using various interrogation strategies. These tactics are essential in drawing out critical information that might not surface through regular questioning. Such expertise is valuable in high-stakes investigations.
  
•  Criminal / Offender Profiling
  Criminal psychologists may work with forensic psychologists, criminal investigative analysts or criminal profiles to assist with criminal profiling. Psychologists build profiles that predict potential future offences. This is pivotal in preventing crimes and planning effective interventions. Offender or criminal profiling helps give law enforcement a psychological evaluation of a suspect and offers tactics and recommendations that law enforcement teams can apply during the interrogation process. To create comprehensive profiles of criminals, criminal profilers mix psychology with law enforcement, criminal investigation methods and psychology.
    
•  Researching
  A criminal psychologist's daily tasks may include a lot of research. For example, they may research a criminal's life history or interview suspects, victims and other people related to the crime. They also often research and analyse the situations surrounding a particular crime and the age group that's most related to that crime.
    
•  Courtroom Insights - Offering expert witness testimonies
  Criminal psychologists may offer expert witness testimony in court. A witness is a person who has information or evidence that may be useful in a case being heard in a court. From a criminal psychologist's point of view, a testimony may include skills, judgement and specialist knowledge. We see criminal psychologists in court, where their assessments can influence legal outcomes. Providing adept testimony helps juries understand the psychological aspects behind a defendant’s actions. This can be crucial in both sentencing and rehabilitation planning.
    
•  Counselling
  Criminal psychologists may provide counselling to those who have committed crimes and need a psychological evaluation. Many psychologists work in computer-related disciplines, such as researching online predators or assisting with online fraud investigations. This may help them examine the psychology of criminals, both past and present, and establish links between various criminal kinds.
    
•  Recognising criminal behaviour
  Criminal psychologists usually recognise important criminal behaviours in current offenders. They may investigate the opportunity for the crime to be performed, the target of the criminal's desire and the criminal's own motivation to commit the crime. Understanding criminal behaviour is one way to possibly reduce crime.
    
•  Creating a geographic profile
  Geographic profiling is an investigative methodology and information management system that analyses the locations of connected crimes to determine the most probable location of an offender. Criminal psychologists work with the police at the crime scene to retrieve vital information. For example, creating a geographical profile may help criminal psychologists predict a criminal's most likely place of residence, work, social outings or course of travel.
    
•  Psychological testing
  Psychological testing for criminals includes using standardised measurement instruments, tests or procedures to observe, record and understand an offender's behaviour. Criminal psychologists are experts in assessing a person's mental health and cognitive functioning. Following their analysis, they can advise on how the criminal's functioning compares to the general population. If necessary, they may diagnose certain mental or behavioural conditions. This assessment is often the decisive factor in whether a person is fit to enter a plea, participate in proceedings or attend a court hearing.
    
•  Preparing reports
  A key responsibility is preparing finalised reports for law enforcement agencies. The criminal psychology report is an objective and scientific document that states the conclusions and results of the criminal psychologist's analysis. A criminal psychologist may have to defend their conclusions before a court, if necessary.

Fact vs Fiction: What’s It Really Like To Be A Criminal Psychologist? Criminal Defence Lawyers - Criminal Psychologist Television shows like ‘Criminal Minds’ and ‘Mindhunter’ have popularised the image of the criminal psychologist as a brilliant profiler who cracks cases through dramatic confrontations and instinctive insight. While these portrayals are entertaining, they’re very misleading. In reality, criminal psychologists are highly trained professionals whose work is grounded in empirical research, psychological theory, and structured assessment, not gut feelings or near psychic insight. Some stars from Criminal Minds (Source: Hello Magazine) Rather than attending crime scenes or police raids, most criminal psychologists spend their days analysing offender histories, reviewing police report, and conducting clinical interviews in a typical office setting. Their focus is on understanding the underlying cognitive, emotional and social factors that contribute to criminal behaviour. That said, the work is far from boring. Each offender presents a unique puzzle, shaped by personality, mental health, past trauma and social context. Criminal psychologists play a vital role in helping the justice system and public policy experts understand why crimes occur, which can shape decisions around sentencing, treatment and rehabilitation.

Working conditions

Criminal psychologists typically work in an office or court setting. They use a lot of their time to interview people and research a criminal's history. A number of different organisations may employ criminal psychologists. Some work in local, state or federal government, others are self-employed as independent consultants and some choose to teach criminal psychology at universities or specialised training centres for criminology.

This can be an emotionally challenging career. Those working in this position use good self-care skills to look after their personal needs. For example, psychologists can take care of themselves by building strong social support networks, practising stress-management techniques and caring for their physical needs by eating well, exercising regularly and getting enough rest. By taking care of themselves, psychologists can ensure they have a long, fulfilling career.

Education and training/entrance requirements

In Australia, a career in Criminal Psychology typically require the completion of:

• An APAC-accredited three-year undergraduate psychology degree;
• A fourth-year honours degree or equivalent, such as a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced); and
• Provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia;

From there, aspiring criminal psychologists may choose to pursue postgraduate studies in clinical psychology, criminology, or research-focused pathways (e.g. a Master of Research or PhD in criminal behaviour). While there is no formal “criminal psychology” endorsement in Australia, practitioners often carve out a niche in academic research, corrections or mental health services related to offending behaviour.
   
Employment Opportunities

Criminal psychologists make a difference by counselling crime victims, revising policies to improve the effectiveness of the criminal justice system, working on cases that resolve injustices or supporting the rehabilitation of those with criminal tendencies.

Individuals with a degree in criminal psychology or similar have a number of jobs to choose from. Apart from being criminal psychologists, they may also work as

• crime analysts,
• forensic case managers,
• court liaisons,
• psychological assistants,
• investigative researchers
• teachers
• caseworkers,
• mental health technicians
• clinical psychologists.

Forensic Psychologists play an important role in the criminal justice system. Not only do they work to understand the psychological processes behind criminal behaviour, but they also work alongside legal professionals, crime victims and those who commit crimes to solve cases and provide therapeutic interventions.

A Forensic Psychologist performs a variety of duties within the legal system, and they often work for community health centres, correctional facilities, government agencies and psychiatric hospitals. They often act as an expert witness in court cases and perform psychological assessments of criminals, defendants and witnesses in legal proceedings. Forensic psychologists may also develop intervention methods and treatment plans for prison inmates or offer recommendations for an inmate's parole.

Forensic Psychologists are the intermediaries between the field of psychology and the justice system because they are responsible for applying psychology to the field of justice, criminal investigation, and law. Forensic psychologists are called upon during legal disputes like custody battles, insurance hearings, and other types of lawsuits. They investigate reports, evaluate the behaviour of both parties, and determine mental competency of defendants.

(Source: Mindstate Psychology)

ANZSCO ID: 272311 [same as Clinical Psychologist]
  
Alternative names:
      
Specialisations:

• Researchers and instructors at higher education institutions [Universities or TAFE]
• Counselling
• Legal consultancy services
• Juvenile justice
• Social psychology
• Child protection
• Family services
• Alcohol and other substance abuse
• Rehabilitation services (such as pain clinics or head injury services)

Knowledge, skills and attributes

Forensic psychologists use a range of skills including clinical knowledge, legal understanding, public speaking abilities, varied communication strategies and a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

Forensic psychologists use both technical and soft skills in their work. Some skills that professionals in this role use include:

• Clinical knowledge
  Many forensic psychologists work as clinical practitioners. They have skills that allow them to evaluate the mental health conditions of their clients, develop treatment plans and work with clients by implementing therapeutic interventions. Clinical knowledge is essential to performing in this position, and psychologists spend many years studying and training in clinical practice before they can qualify for this role.
   
• Legal knowledge
  In addition to understanding mental health conditions, forensic psychologists often need to have a foundation of legal knowledge to perform their jobs. Some criminal psychologists work in courtrooms or advise law professionals like attorneys and police officers. Their legal knowledge may help them communicate and work effectively with legal professionals.
    
• Public speaking
  Some forensic psychologists may use public speaking skills in their role. Researchers may use public speaking skills when teaching lectures or presenting at conferences. Those who work in courtrooms may need to present evidence in front of a jury. Having the skills to present in front of a group of people with confidence and professionalism is important for engaging your audience and reinforcing your credibility.
   
• Communication
  A psychologist may work with diverse groups of people, so they might use flexible communication strategies to make connections with others. For example, a psychologist may use different communication styles when working with offenders, victims, child witnesses, attorneys or colleagues. They use verbal and non-verbal communication skills when working with others in person, and they might use written communication skills to take notes, maintain case files and patient records or write research articles for publication.
    
• Commitment to learning
  The field of psychology is always changing. Forensic psychologists must stay up to date on the most recent research in the field. They may study new techniques for working with clients, learn about the most recent assessment tools and stay knowledgeable about changing laws and legal policies. By committing to learning and professional development, forensic psychologists can ensure they follow best practices and deliver an exceptional quality of work.

Larger version
(Source: Cathartic Consulting)

Duties and Tasks

Forensic psychologists perform various roles in the criminal justice and legal systems, such as supporting crime victims and working with criminal offenders, conducting psychological assessments and consulting with law professionals and policymakers.

As their primary duties, forensic psychologists work to understand criminal behaviour, prevent crimes, counsel criminal offenders and victims and consult with law professionals like attorneys.       

Their responsibilities may include:

• Conducting research in the criminal justice system and psychology
• Providing therapy for crime victims and those who show criminal tendencies
• Acting as witnesses in court
• Performing psychological and risk assessments
• Consulting with policymakers on prison reform, civil and criminal law
• Interviewing offenders to understand motives and behaviours

Working conditions

Forensic psychologists are not likely to attend crime scenes in their role. Professionals who investigate crime scenes most often include police officers, detectives and crime scene examiners. By comparison, forensic psychologists more commonly work in courtrooms, hospitals, mental health clinics, research institutions, private offices and corrections facilities.

The work environment of a forensic psychologist varies by their area of speciality and employment setting. For example, some forensic psychologists work as researchers and instructors at higher education institutions. Psychologists in this role typically work standard business hours, or they may work flexible hours based on their class schedule. Forensic psychologists who focus on providing counselling or legal consultancy services usually work in an office or courtroom setting and often work standard business hours.

Tools and technologies

Forensic psychologists utilize a variety of tools and technologies to assess individuals involved in legal contexts and provide expert testimony. These include psychological assessments, risk assessment tools, investigative techniques for deception detection, and emerging technologies like AI and 3D imaging

Standardized Tests:
  
Forensic psychologists use established psychological tests like the MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory), WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale), and various personality inventories to evaluate personality traits, cognitive functioning, and mental health conditions.
  
Risk Assessment Tools:
  
Tools like the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG) and the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) help assess the likelihood of future criminal behavior by considering various risk factors.

Education and training/entrance requirements

The process of becoming a forensic psychologist involves obtaining an undergraduate degree, gaining practical experience through internships or research assistant positions, completing a master's or doctorate degree in psychology and applying for endorsement through a regulatory body.

(Source: Forensic Psychology Pathways)

1. Earn an undergraduate degree
The first step towards becoming a forensic psychologist is to complete a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Students might choose to study psychology, sociology or criminal justice to gain a foundation of knowledge in the social sciences and legal system and prepare for advanced study in forensic psychology. A bachelor's degree takes three to six years on average to complete, with most students finishing in four years. Some relevant undergraduate coursework might include:

General psychology
Introduction to sociology
Sociology of deviance
Research methods
Social psychology
Introduction to law
Juvenile justice


2. Participate in research or an internship
In addition to completing your classroom work as an undergraduate student, you might consider taking an internship or research assistant position. Gaining practical work experience in the psychology, sociology or criminal justice fields is important for developing your skills and networking with industry professionals. Field experience may also differentiate you from other candidates when applying for a competitive graduate school program.

Depending on your career goals, you might choose to take a research assistant position, a clinical psychology internship or an internship within the criminal justice system such as with a law firm or juvenile justice program. While any of these positions can equip you with applicable field experience, choosing a position that best suits your career goals may help you gain specific skills in your area of interest.

3. Complete a master's or doctorate degree
Forensic psychologists require an advanced degree to practice. A master's degree takes two years on average to complete, and a doctorate can take up to five years. Some institutions may offer programs specifically in criminal or forensic psychology, while others may provide training in clinical psychology with an emphasis or concentration in forensics. Although forensic psychologists with a master's degree can work as therapists and researchers, the field generally prefers psychologists to hold a doctorate. Earning a doctorate in forensic psychology may provide you with more career options and opportunities for promotion.

Studying psychology at the graduate level usually involves attending classes, completing a clinical practicum and conducting your own research. Some programs may place more emphasis on clinical study and others may focus on research. However, most programs include training in both. As a master's student, you may complete either a thesis or a project as part of your degree requirements. Doctorate students typically write and present a dissertation to finish their degree.

4. Apply for endorsement
Finally, you can complete a supervised training period under an endorsed practitioner before you are eligible to practice independently. The length of this training period depends on your level of education. Those with a doctorate degree only need to train for one year, while those with a master's degree train for two.

After completing your training, you can apply for registration through the Psychology Board of Australia. The board is the regulatory body for psychologists, and it ensures that all practising psychologists meet a high standard of professionalism, therapeutic care and ethical practice. Registered practitioners can renew their registration annually.

Employment Opportunities

A career as a forensic psychologist can be intellectually challenging and rewarding. For those who enjoy learning about and understanding human behaviour, a career as a psychologist may be an excellent option. Those in this career enjoy a position where they get to make a difference in the lives of others.

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