Forensic Psychology: A Career For Forensic Psychology

Superior Essays
Forensic Psychology
Have you ever wondered what causes a criminal to do the horrific things they do? Forensic psychology is a career for those interested in criminals and the way their brains work. Whether working at the scene of a crime with police or in a courthouse, forensic psychologists are always on the go reading criminals like a book. Forensic Psychologists not only target the problem in criminals but also the solution for crime. Although being a Forensic Psychologist is an exciting career it takes many years of learning, experience, and licensing all which factor into a wide variety of different work atmospheres. Being a forensic psychologist gives the opportunity to do good for the community.
They are able to help narrow down suspects,
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According to “Forensic Psychology Careers,” “Those pursuing forensic psychology careers will often be able to find employment in police stations, courthouses, and law firms. Prisons, jails, and juvenile detention centers also hire forensic psychologists.” Although most forensic psychologists obtain jobs in one of the listed areas, a handful choose to work independently. Working independently may be more difficult to pursue than other areas, but it can also be very rewarding. As Dr. H.D. Kirkpatrick claims, “The most enjoyable aspect about my job is the autonomy and freedom of working in a private practice. Because I am my own boss, I can set my own work schedule.” Of course some would rather work as Dr. H.D. Kirkpatrick does, making their own schedules and never truly being told what to do, but others do enjoy a set schedule and being lead by others. Whether the future forensic psychologist is the type of person who wishes to work independently and to their own convenience or they want a structured workplace with specific hours, both work can be found in the field of forensic psychology. Indeed choosing where to work is a tough decision but that isn’t the only roadblock for forensic …show more content…
Dr. H.D. Kirkpatrick, who works in a private practice, describes his typical day: “I start by going over my daily schedule with my secretary. While my secretary is working on transcribing some of my forensic interviews, I meet with a few people who need to complete some court-ordered testing. In addition, I analyze data from other cases and draft a report on my laptop. Finally, I speak with other psychologists about out-of-state cases, and converse with attorneys about criminal matters.” Although this is an average day for Dr. H.D. Kirkpatrick, many forensic psychologist’s days may greatly differ from his. “Becoming a Student” states, “On any given day, they can perform a range of job duties within the civil or criminal courts.” Depending on whether a forensic psychologist rides along with police to crime scenes, spends their days providing criminal evidence in court, or even works at home guiding their employees, no day is quite the same for every forensic psychologist. When becoming a forensic psychologist the choice is merely one 's own preference. Ultimately, where each forensic psychologist chooses to work does differ, qualities of each of them

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