Forensic Psychology: The X-ray of the Profession 

Forensic Psychology is a multifaceted discipline that sheds light on the intersection of psychology and the legal system.

It plays a crucial role in understanding and resolving complex issues related to human behavior, judicial processes, and legal issues.

What is forensic psychology?

Forensic Psychology is a specialized discipline within psychology that focuses on the application of psychological principles, theories and methods to the legal and judicial context.

The professional in the field of forensic psychology is responsible for evaluating the mental health of an individual who is involved in different legal proceedings.

It encompasses a wide range of services that psychologists provide within the legal and judicial context.

The area involves the relationship between psychology and justice, professionals will provide assistance by applying their knowledge of psychology to understand, evaluate and resolve legal issues.

Forensic Psychology requires a deep understanding of both psychology and local laws and regulations.

Professionals in this field play a vital role in the justice system, helping to ensure fairness, justice and understanding of the complexities of human behavior in legal contexts.

In the case of more serious crimes, psychologists are called in to perform a mental assessment, to see if the person in question is in their right mind or to find out what led to certain behaviors.

They can also be called as expert witnesses in court, to provide more complex analyses, assisting the judge and jury in their decisions.

How to become a forensic psychologist?

To become a forensic psychologist you must graduate in psychology, a course that takes up to 5 years to complete.

In the course of Psychology, students will learn:

• Psychopathology;
• Psychoanalysis;
• Phenomenological-Existential Psychology;
• Personality psychology;
• Experimental psychology;
• Neuropsychology;
• Mental health and psychosocial care.

And after graduating in psychology, the professional will need to take a specialization course in forensic psychology or criminal psychology, where subjects such as:

• Introduction to Forensic Psychology;
• Forensic Psychopathology;
• Criminal Psychology;
• Criminal Law;
• Criminal Structure;
• Psychology of Terrorism;
• Treatment of Criminal Conduct;
• Criminal and behavioral profiles;
• Legal Psychology;
• Psychopathology;
• And many others.

Main activities of the forensic psychologist

The forensic or criminal psychologist is responsible for carrying out several essential activities within legal and judicial contexts.

Let's see the activities:

Psychological evaluation

One of the main activities is to conduct comprehensive assessments of those involved in criminal cases that have been brought to court. This does not necessarily have to be the suspect, but could be witnesses, victims or defendants.

This may include mental competency assessments, mental health assessments, parental capacity assessments, recidivism risk assessments, and more.

Forensic interviews

Working alongside lawyers and other legal professionals, forensic psychology professionals will conduct detailed forensic interviews to gather relevant information for investigations and legal proceedings.

This may include interviewing victims, witnesses, suspects and offenders, bringing their conceptions according to the behavior and analysis of these individuals.

Expert Testimony

Another activity of the professional is acting as an expert witness in court, providing specialized and more complete analyses on psychological issues that are relevant to the case.

This helps clarify and contextualize complex information for judges, lawyers, and juries.

Child and Family Assessment

When the professional works with family court lawyers, he will be responsible for evaluating the well-being of children who are involved in cases of abuse, parental neglect or custody disputes.

This is because it is also very important to monitor children's mental health during stressful processes, which can be even greater for them.

Additionally, assess the parents’ ability to ensure a safe and suitable environment for children.

Criminal Profile Analysis and Assessment

Evaluating convicted criminals to determine risk factors, treatment needs and likelihood of recidivism is also an important activity for this professional.

These assessments help guide interventions and sentencing decisions, even parole applications.

In addition, the professional will collaborate with other security forces, such as civil and military police and others, to analyze criminal profiles and identify behavior patterns and psychological traits.

This is important for criminal investigation and identifying patterns of repeat offenders.

Research and Policy Development

Contribute to forensic psychology research by developing evidence-based policies and practices to improve the legal system.

Counseling and Intervention

Provide counseling and therapeutic intervention for individuals involved in legal issues, such as trauma victims or offenders in treatment programs.

Assessment of Psychological Damage

Psychological injury assessment is a specialized area of forensic psychology that focuses on determining and quantifying the psychological impact that a traumatic or harmful event has had on an individual;

This assessment is often performed in legal contexts, such as lawsuits for compensation for personal injuries, accidents, abuse, harassment, among others.

Consulting and training for police officers and prosecutors

A forensic psychologist may also provide advice on criminal justice issues to both prosecutors and law enforcement officers.

They can provide tips or training on how to interview suspects or witnesses, even teach you how to assess someone's behavior in stressful situations.

Where can he work?

Forensic psychologists can work in a variety of settings, leveraging their expertise to provide psychological services in legal and judicial settings.

See where he can act:

• Courts;
• Judicial systems;
• Law firms;
• Mental health organizations;
• Social services agency;
• Universities;
• Child Protection Departments;
• Correctional Institutions;
• Trauma and abuse centers and many others.

These are just a few examples of where a forensic psychology professional is able to work.

What is the salary in the field of forensic psychology?

In the area of forensic psychology, the professional may be hired by justice agencies, so today we will see data taken from the account of STJ - Superior Court of Justice - on Glassdoor.

According to the STJ's monthly salary page for psychologists, it is R$11 thousand, more specifically R$11,595 per month.

However, the work is as a freelancer and not effectively hired as a CLT with a signed work contract.