What Is Forensic Psychology?

Forensic psychology is the branch of psychology that applies psychological principles to legal contexts. A forensic psychologist may work with law enforcement, courts, probation officers, or other legal professionals to provide insights into various legal issues. The field of forensic psychology emerged in the early 20th century and has grown steadily since that time. Successful forensic psychologists must have strong research and analytical skills. Forensic psychologists often use their expertise to help assess the mental state of criminal defendants in order to determine their guilt or innocence or potential for rehabilitation or sentencing. Forensic psychologists may testify in court about their findings and conduct empirical research on criminal behavior. Research in the field of forensic psychology is constantly evolving as new psychological research is conducted. To remain effective in their field, forensic psychologists must keep up with new research in order to apply it to their work. Forensic psychology can be demanding, but those who succeed in this field will be rewarded for their hard work. There are many sub-fields within forensic psychology, such as forensic psychiatric evaluation and criminal profiling.