Once an allegation is made, the role of a forensic psychologist in a sexual assault case may vary depending on what is needed or requested of them—and on who is making the request. She received her Juris Doctor from Regent University and her Bachelor of Arts in French and child development from Florida State University. This area can become controversial in some cases where the defendant may have been suffering from a mental condition at the time of the crime, making it impossible for him to form the required intent. The roles that psychologists perform when they become professionally involved in criminal proceedings are as follows: The forensic psychologist job description varies between specialties. Evaluator A forensic psychologist can be hired to evaluate the alleged victim or the alleged perpetrator. All-About-Forensic-Psychology.com cites these autopsies as useful when the cause of death is unknown, which can occur in up to 20 percent of cases referred to the medical examiner. Write a 7 page paper on the topic “The Role of the Police Psychologist” Please follow the Rubric Guidelines below: 1. Forensic psychologists also engage in a variety of forms of qualitative and quantitative applied research, such as the exploration of individual factors related to offending, therapy evaluations and protective factors around offending. Coventry University’s MSc Forensic Psychology programme, for instance, is ideal for those who are looking to pursue a career associated with forensic psychology in a range of settings, such as with victims, offenders, or criminal justice professionals, without specialising at this point, or for those who wish to undertake a postgraduate programme before determining their future career trajectory in forensic psychology. The roles performed by forensic psychologists are diverse. They help them fight crime and help the department in the assessment of criminals and offenders. They apply psychological knowledge, theory and skills to the understanding and functioning of legal and criminal justice systems, and to … “You will have an opportunity to study a range of topics associated with forensic psychology, including offending behaviour and the criminal justice system. What is the role of forensic psychology in criminology? At least 3 primary sources are used and appear in Bibliography. According to the National Association of Forensic Counselors, therapy can be helpful in reducing recidivism rates and in helping inmates who are also dealing with substance abuse issues. Police officers, lawyers, and the court utilize the skills of forensic psychologists in assessing criminal behavior. The psychologist will evaluate the defendant to determine, if applicable, the cause of incompetency, required treatment, availability of treatment, whether the defendants meets the criteria for involuntary commitment to a mental facility and the likelihood the defendant will be able to stand trial after receiving treatment. Forensic psychologists require training in law and forensic psychology and must possess solid clinical skills like clinical assessment, interviewing, report writing, strong verbal communication skills (especially if an expert witness in court), and case presentation. These dual degree programs are often structured as PhD/JD or PsyD/JD programs. Memory testing The interviewer sho… Forensic psychologists must obtain a bachelor's degree in psychology, followed by a master's degree -- although many continue on to obtain a doctorate degree. 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