Hello, Ilva. That's a great question. Forensic psychologists can work in many different settings and roles. As far as settings, forensic psychologists often work in forensic state psychiatric hospitals, federal prisons (especially federal medical centers), state forensic centers, and in private practice. Those who work in private practice may frequently travel to variety of hospitals, jails, prisons, or other facilities to conduct forensic evaluations.
As for the work, most forensic psychologists conduct forensic psychological evaluations. These can fall into two categories: civil and criminal law. Criminal evaluations might include things like competence to stand trial (the most common criminal referral question), criminal responsibility (also known as an insanity evaluation), or an examination of culpable mental state. Psychologists may also be asked to conduct evaluations related to whether the defendant gave a false confession or regarding mitigating circumstances at sentencing. Psychologists may provide their expertise on whether the defendant had the capacity to waive their Miranda rights at the time of the interrogation or whether they are competent to be sentenced, competent to represent themselves, and even whether they are competent to be executed.
Civil issues might relate to personal injury, fitness for duty (the ability to work safely and effectively from a psychological perspective), preemployment evaluations, threat assessments, testamentary capacity evaluations, certain immigration evaluations, disability evaluations, parental fitness evaluations, custody evaluations, or an IME (independent medical examination).
Hello, Ilva. That's a great question. Forensic psychologists can work in many different settings and roles. As far as settings, forensic psychologists often work in forensic state psychiatric hospitals, federal prisons (especially federal medical centers), state forensic centers, and in private practice. Those who work in private practice may frequently travel to variety of hospitals, jails, prisons, or other facilities to conduct forensic evaluations.
As for the work, most forensic psychologists conduct forensic psychological evaluations. These can fall into two categories: civil and criminal law. Criminal evaluations might include things like competence to stand trial (the most common criminal referral question), criminal responsibility (also known as an insanity evaluation), or an examination of culpable mental state. Psychologists may also be asked to conduct evaluations related to whether the defendant gave a false confession or regarding mitigating circumstances at sentencing. Psychologists may provide their expertise on whether the defendant had the capacity to waive their Miranda rights at the time of the interrogation or whether they are competent to be sentenced, competent to represent themselves, and even whether they are competent to be executed.
Civil issues might relate to personal injury, fitness for duty (the ability to work safely and effectively from a psychological perspective), preemployment evaluations, threat assessments, testamentary capacity evaluations, certain immigration evaluations, disability evaluations, parental fitness evaluations, custody evaluations, or an IME (independent medical examination).