How to Become a Criminal Psychologist – Schooling & Online Degrees [2024 Updated]

What is a Criminal Psychologist

A criminal psychologist works in an area that blends psychology with the field of criminal justice. Criminal psychologists often work with members of the judicial system, law enforcement, and other agencies and provide their expert analysis in a number of areas. Much of a criminal psychologist’s job is to conduct research, evaluate behavior, and write reports.

becoming a criminal psychologist and degree guide

Criminal psychologists might evaluate the thoughts and behaviors of criminal offenders, determine the ability of the accused to stand trial, or provide expert testimony during a trial regarding the defendant’s mental state during the commission of the crime.

Criminal psychologists may also work with victims of crimes to help them overcome the traumas associated with their experiences. Many criminal psychologists also work with offenders after they have been convicted in order to help rehabilitate them for eventual re-entry into the general population.

What Does a Criminal Psychologist Do?

Criminal psychologists work in the field of forensics, applying psychological principles to the criminal justice system. Much of their time is spent conducting evaluations of the accused and alleged victims.

For example, a criminal psychologist might evaluate a defendant to determine his or her competency to stand trial. They might also interview the victim of a crime in order to establish a timeline of events.

Providing expert testimony is another primary area of work for criminal psychologists. Working in civil, family, criminal, and military courts, criminal psychologists may provide testimony in a custody hearing on which parent they perceive to be more appropriate for custody of minor children. They might also work with witnesses or victims, particularly children, to develop a clearer picture of what happened and whether or not the witness will be reliable on the witness stand.

Criminal psychologists can testify in military courts as well, speaking to the state of mind of the defendant during his or her alleged crime.

Psychologists can also use their expertise in the criminal justice system to assist attorneys and the court. During the jury selection process, criminal psychologists help attorneys determine which potential jurors are the most appropriate for the case.

Criminal psychologists can also help prosecutors and defense attorneys conclude which arguments are most persuasive in order to make their case. In high profile cases, a criminal psychologist would also be asked to conduct a climate survey to determine the level to which pretrial publicity has impacted public opinion about the case.

Although psychologists who specialize in the criminal area can spend much time in the spotlight of a courtroom, many do not have duties that are as glamorous as portrayed on popular television shows like Criminal Minds and Law and Order.

Very few criminal psychologists work as a profiler for the FBI, nor do criminal psychologists rely on hunches or feelings as is so often the case on TV. Criminal psychologists depend instead on their education, vast training, and empirical evidence to come to reasoned conclusions.

Therapy is not typically one of the criminal psychologist’s duties. However, some psychologists offer therapeutic services to individuals who are compelled by the court to participate in treatment. This might involve couples counseling for parents during or after custody has been determined, individual counseling for a person found guilty of a crime, or group counseling for people that have an addiction.

Related: What is the Difference Between Criminal Psychology and Forensic Psychology?

In fact, the scope of work for most criminal psychologists is quite narrow. Unlike their colleagues in the field of clinical psychology who work with a client over an extended period of time in order to bring about positive life changes, criminal psychologists focus on a single event (such as a specific crime) or a specific task (such as a mental health evaluation) and report their findings.

Criminal psychologists also tend to become experts in a highly specific field, such as victimology, chemical dependency evaluation, or sex offender treatment.

Criminal psychologists may also attempt to explain why some individuals exposed to certain variables and stimuli become criminals, while others exposed to the same set of circumstances do not.

Where Do Criminal Psychologists Work?

Criminal psychologists typically work in:

  • Courts
  • Social work field
  • Correctional facilities
  • Academic institutes
  • Law enforcement agencies
  • Mental health centers
  • Private consultancy
  • Local, state, and federal government

What are the Requirements to Become a Criminal Psychologist?

To become a criminal psychologist, you generally need to fulfill the following requirements:

  • Complete your bachelor’s degree
  • Obtain a master’s degree in criminal, forensic, clinical psychology or a related field
  • Obtain a doctoral degree in criminal, forensic, clinical psychology or a related field
  • Complete internships
  • Fulfill supervised work experience requirement
  • Pass EPPP and state exams
  • Complete background checks
  • Fulfill additional state-level requirements (if any)
  • Apply for your licensure

Criminal Psychologist Bachelor’s Degrees

To become a criminal psychologist, one must start with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling or a related field. These four-year programs focus on the development of general knowledge and skills in psychology.

Degrees in criminal psychology per se aren’t available at the bachelor’s degree level, and few if any are at the master’s degree level, either. To get started, probably the best option is to get a four-year bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology. Another good option is to major in psychology and minor or double major in criminal justice.

Typical courses for a bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology include:

  • Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology
  • Crimes against Children
  • Law, Justice and Family
  • Forensic Law
  • Statistics for Psychology
  • Scientific Investigations in Psychology
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Psychology of Personality
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Psychology

Criminal Psychologist Graduate Degrees

To move higher up the ranks, attending a graduate schools and earning a master’s degree in psychology is essential. Many schools may offer special courses in the field of forensics that prepare masters level graduates for entry-level work in the field of criminology, forensics, and criminal justice.

As in other fields of psychology, an APA accredited doctorate is usually required in order to access the most highly coveted jobs in criminal psychology. Depending on your selected program, you will be required to complete 1-2 professional internships during your doctoral program.

Furthermore, specialization in criminal, clinical, mental health or forensic psychology is mostly required. You can request more information from the popular accredited universities listed below.

Psychologists with a background in mental health, clinical psychology practice, experimentation, or neuropsychology can also transition into criminal psychology.

Another popular option is to pursue a joint degree that results in a Ph.D. in psychology and J.D. in law. These programs, which are available at the University of Arizona, Drexel University, and Stanford to name a few, allow students to count coursework towards both degrees in order to reduce the total amount of time students must commit to obtaining their degrees.

For example, Stanford allows students to apply up to 54 quarter units towards both degrees, meaning a student can expect to graduate with both a Ph.D. and a J.D. within 3-4 years after beginning their doctoral studies.

Criminal Psychologist Clinical Experience

Many psychology graduate programs require students to complete supervised clinical hours, during which they can work with clients and gain practical experience.

Criminal Psychologist Licensure and Certification

Although licensure requirements vary from state to state, a person must be licensed in order to practice. Most states require an APA accredited Ph.D. in order to obtain licensure.

Regardless of the degree requirement, all states necessitate licensed psychologists to complete a specified number of provisional, supervised hours of practice (under a licensed psychologist) in order to obtain licensure. Ongoing professional development to maintain that licensure is necessary as well.

Board Certification in forensic psychology is offered by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). You can apply for the certification after completing your doctoral degree. Requirements for earn this certifications are:

  • Doctoral degree in psychology
  • Valid licensure to work as a psychologist
  • Pass written and oral exams
  • Successful vote by the Board
  • Overall good character

How Long Does It Take to Become a Criminal Psychologist?

Becoming a criminal psychologist typically takes around 10-12 years. This includes obtaining a bachelor’s degree (4 years), a master’s degree (2 years), and a doctoral degree in psychology (4-6 years), followed by specialized training and experience in criminal psychology.

What Does It Take to Be a Criminal Psychologist?

  • Expertise in Psychology and Law: Criminal psychologists are highly trained in both legal issues and the principles of human behavior. As a result, they must be experts in psychology, law, and oftentimes forensics as well.
  • Full Command Over Psychological Tests: Expertise in administering psychological tests and examining the results of those tests is essential as well.
  • Mental Health Laws: In the realm of the law, criminal psychologists must have an excellent command of mental health law. Knowledge of state statutes, case law, and courtroom procedures is necessary as well.
  • Exceptional Communication Skills: Criminal psychologists must be adept at communicating effectively with others, including listening actively and empathically. Because criminal psychologists often testify in court, excellent public speaking skills and the ability to remain calm in tense situations are extremely beneficial skills to have.
  • Organization Skills: Much like clinical psychologists, criminal psychologists must be able to maintain records in an organized fashion and work with people from many diverse groups and backgrounds in a respectful and unbiased manner.
  • Ability to Build Trust: The ability to forge trust with the defendant and other stakeholders in a case is extremely important as well.
  • Research Minded: Impeccable research skills are also a must. Being able to effectively conduct research into past cases, examine evidence, and conduct interviews are essential skills.
  • Attention to Details: Having an eye for detail and the ability to recognize patterns of behavior are similarly important.

Criminal psychology can be a rewarding and interesting field of study for individuals who are interested in understanding not only the criminal mind but also the criminal justice system.

A major in criminal psychology may provide a strong foundation in the principles and theories of psychology as they relate to criminal behavior. It can also provide an understanding of the criminal justice system and the legal system. This dual knowledge can be extremely useful in different careers within the criminal justice system, such as forensic psychology, law enforcement, criminal investigation and correctional counseling.

Criminal psychology essentially is a multidisciplinary field, and students generally take courses in psychology, counseling, sociology, and criminal justice to understand how these areas are interconnected and also how they can be used to understand criminal behavior.

Students also study topics such as psychological assessment, forensic psychology, and research methods that can be applied to criminal behavior in the content of the criminal justice system.

However, it is worth noting that careers in criminal psychology field can be competitive, and as mentioned above, professionals typically earn a graduate degree in order to be competitive in the field.

Furthermore, it is also helpful to be aware that criminal psychology research often covers sensitive topics and may deal with traumatic material. Therefore, it is important for students to evaluate whether they are emotionally equipped to handle the content before committing to the major.

Is Criminal Psychology Hard?

The difficulty level of a criminal psychology major depends on an individual’s intellect, interests, aptitudes, and general study habits. Like any major, criminal psychology major also requires a significant commitment, both in terms of time and effort to understand the material and to perform well in the courses.

As mentioned above, criminal psychology essentially is a multidisciplinary field, which requires knowledge of mental, psychological and criminological theories, methods, and research. This can require a significant amount of reading and writing to understand various concepts, ideas and theories.

Moreover, depending on the degree program, students may also be required to research existing studies, analyze data and then design their own research studies

It is also important to note that the field of criminal psychology can be emotionally demanding, as it generally deals with difficult topics like violence, abuse, and trauma. Students may be required to analyze case studies and other material involving these topics, which can be disturbing.

Coursework and research in criminal psychology can be challenging, however, this is true for most majors in psychology. It requires students to study, analyze, understand and compare a wide range of concepts and theories.

In short, criminal psychology can be a challenging major, however, with dedication and hard work, it can also be a highly rewarding, both financially and personally, for those who are interested in the field.

Now, all you have to do is request more information from the popular accredited universities listed below!

What is the Employment Outlook for Criminal Psychology?

The outlook for careers in the field of criminal psychology is strong. According to the American Psychological Association, the need for experts in the field of criminal psychology has grown exponentially after a court ruling in 1962 determined that psychologists could offer expert opinions in court.

Although criminal psychology has become a popular field of study in more recent years due to exposure on TV and in popular culture, demand for qualified criminal psychologists still far outpaces supply.

Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not offer insight into the field of criminal psychology specifically, it does note that psychology in general is set to experience double-digit job growth through 2031.

How Much Does a Criminal Psychologist Make Per Year?

As of January 2024, according to ZipRecruiter the average annual salary for a criminal psychologist is $92,813. However, the pay band extends from a low of $40,000 per year to well above $200,000 annually.

Two primary factors will determine the income a criminal psychologist makes. The length of time an individual has worked in the field will have the largest impact on salary. The city/state in which one works will also have great influence on pay. Criminal psychologists working in Wyoming, California and Texas enjoy the highest average annual salary of $112,378, $104,497 and $101,502 respectively.

Criminal psychologists who are employed in large cities or municipalities with a large caseload of forensic work will earn more than individuals employed in small towns or rural areas.

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