Thursday 19 May 2016

By Gregory Watson


The main role of criminal or forensic psychologists is to assist in rehabilitation of offenders and support authorities in understanding criminal behaviors. It is by this understanding that appropriate intervention measures are developed. Forensic psychology helps handlers to train offenders towards reforms and positive behavior change. The driving force for any psychologist dealing with offenders is his or her willingness to assist authorities in preventing crime and rehabilitation.

A graduate in psychology is on the path of joining forensics. You will be required to take detective related studies like law and criminology. Clinical and professional mentoring will also bring you closer to becoming a psychologist. Legal practitioners with specialization in handling and rehabilitation of offenders can also take up the job after extensive exposure.

A lot of communication takes place in the course of duty. Offenders are canning, sensitive and unpredictable, an aspect that baffles their handlers. As a psychologist, your duty will be to make a decision on what is truthful or falsified. It takes an excellent listener to understand the heart and mind of a criminal.

The character of a psychologist must be a person willing to help offenders make positive change in their lives. You must also display keen interest in cause and effects of criminal behaviors. A resilient spirit is also required since you have to deal with verbal and possibilities of physical assault. You are required to exercise a great deal of honesty, patience, integrity and empathy. Delivering results as a psychologist largely depends on personal effort. You must therefore be proactive in research and personal development.

Investigators and police rely heavily on psychologists to conduct accurate criminal profiling. The role of a psychologist is to help them understand underlying factors and motive behind crimes. Your input will be required during rehabilitation and treatment of offenders. Some of the work environments you will engage include prisons, confinement hospitals and specialized mental health holding facilities. Staff members within the justice and criminal environment rely on your support to cope with the pressure of their work environment.

There are other descriptions for psychologists working with offenders beyond rehabilitation. They assess risks and direct authorities on the best rehabilitation plan or confinement facility. They are critical in designing customized treatment and rehabilitation plans for offenders. Participation and input of psychologists in court cases, parole boards and tribunals reviewing mental health status of accused persons is crucial. At the end of your engagement, a report is demanded. It is also your responsibility to mentor younger psychologists joining the profession.

The work conditions and environment involve a lot of interactions with offenders, law enforcement officers, young people and persons with extreme personality disorders. Prison authorities might also turn to you for assistance in reducing stress and coping with their draining environment. Some theories like cognitive behavior change will be used during rehabilitation to promote behavior change. Some of the titles you will bear include investigative psychologist, legal psychologist and criminal psychologist, among others.

The official working hours for psychologists in formal employment are 8.30am-5.00pm. Other psychologists work as part timers. You may also be engaged in job sharing scenarios on regular basis. Expect to earn an average salary of 45,000-70,000 dollars in a year. Your experience, job description, initiative and skills will determine the actual amount. Since you will be working with offenders, your safety depends on alertness.




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