Thanks to television shows like CSI and Criminal Minds, interest in Criminal Psychology as a career has increased significantly in the last few years. But what does a Criminal Psychologist really do and is it as exciting as the cop shows portray?
Here we look at Criminal Psychology as a career path in the UK, including what you’d be doing as a Criminal Psychologist, the skills you would need to do your job well and the benefits and possible drawbacks of the role.
What does a Criminal Psychologist do?
Criminal Psychology is the study of criminals, including their motivations, intentions, thought processes and reactions, with the aim of discovering why they do what they do.
The scope of work is quite narrow compared to those in clinical psychology, with Criminal Psychologists mainly focusing on one specific case at a time. Their role includes tasks such as;
- Risk assessment – assessing offenders and their risk of reoffending.
- Court appearances – providing expert testimony to inform a case, often in relation to their area of expertise.
- Clinical assessment – determining the mental state of offenders and whether they are fit to stand trial.
- Consultation – advising police on how to proceed with various aspects of a case, such as appropriate questions to ask during interrogation or how an offender will act after committing a crime.
- Profiling – helping police create a psychological profile to aid in apprehending suspects.
- Researching – examining case files for data relevant to a particular case.
- Psychotherapy – helping people cope with the consequences of their criminal behaviour and assisting them in their rehabilitation.
- Teaching – teaching courses and presenting seminars at universities and law enforcement training facilities.
Criminal psychologists can be found in a number of different institutions including private consultancy, criminal courts, correctional facilities, law enforcement agencies, mental health centres, government departments and academic institutes.
Why become a Criminal Psychologist?
If you have a real interest in crimes and why people commit them, Criminal Psychology is obviously a career you would find rewarding.
Other benefits of this type of work include;
- Competitive salary – the average salary of a Criminal Psychologist in the UK is around £50,000 a year, with top level consultants earning up to £95,000 a year.
- Diversity – you will work in a variety of capacities and settings from clinical evaluation and criminal profiling to testifying in court.
- Specialisation – many Criminal Psychologists have the opportunity to specialise and become expert in fields such as terrorism or cyber crime.
- Job satisfaction – helping police to solve crimes and preventing dangerous criminals from committing further crimes can be extremely satisfying and rewarding.
On the flipside, Criminal Psychology can be a stressful occupation, where you are constantly exposed to violent criminals and horrifying crimes, so it may not be for everyone. Some aspects of it can also be boring, often involving days at the office or in the archives poring through records.
These possible downsides are only likely to be detrimental for those not fully committed to the role and if you truly have a passion for solving crimes and helping people, they probably won’t even appear on your radar.
What skills will you need?
As well as a deep understanding of human nature and the criminal mind, other useful skills and traits needed for a career in Criminal Psychology include;
- Communication skills – because you will be required to testify in court on a regular basis, you will need to have good public speaking skills and be able to communicate effectively.
- Research skills – because your work will often involve research, you must have excellent research skills and be able to maintain records in an organised fashion.
- Attention to detail – having a good eye for detail and being able to recognise patterns of behaviour is a useful trait to possess in this line of work.
- Objectivity – because you may find yourself dealing with some disturbing situations and horrifying crimes, you will need to be able to view things objectively and avoid becoming emotionally involved.
- Trustworthiness – the ability to forge trust with criminals so they are cooperative and forthcoming while being assessed is also a very useful trait.
ICI’s Diploma of Criminal Psychology is a great way to learn the secrets of the profession in months rather than years. Designed in conjunction with senior criminologists, this course will give you valuable training in Criminal Psychology and fast track your learning curve if you decide to go on to complete a degree.
