The History Of Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology is an area of psychology that has been rapidly gaining popularity in recent years. Entertainment media’s fascination with the intersection of crime and psychology has fueled the growing interest in the field. According to Jane Tyler Ward, PhD, forensic psychology can be defined as psychology that “emphasizes the application of research and experimentation in other areas of psychology to the legal arena.” Although forensic psychology is popular right now, it was not until 1962 that a court case set the precedent that properly trained psychologists could provide expert testimony (Page 20). Additionally, forensic psychology was not APA (American Psychological Association) certified until 2001 (Page 16). The field of forensic

Forensic psychologists are able to work in a courtroom, jail, for a government agency (ie FBI), in a mental health facility, or obtain their own private practice (Pages 3, 4). Experts working in the courtroom often provide testimony, as well as aid in jury selection. Those working in a jail are able to either provide constant counsel to inmates, or work to prepare them for rehabilitation into society as their departure date approaches. Additionally, working with patients in a mental health facility is often similar to working with inmates in a jail/prison. Counseling can be continuous throughout the patient's stay, or be sporadic based on court dates, release dates, severity of disease, possible treatment, etc. Those who work for a government agency are often required to travel often for their job. This is because government agencies assist local law enforcement with cases throughout the nation. Private practice is a way for forensic psychologists to “loan themselves out” to whichever arena needs them at the time. Whether it be a court case, a university research project, or the treatment of a

Experts working at universities, doing research, are often paid similarly to those in other areas of psychology. Additionally, “forensic psychologists in private practice are often well compensated”, says Connell. It is difficult to pinpoint earnings for forensic psychologists because the Bureau of Labor Statistics only reports on the earnings of general psychologists. These numbers are as follows; $69,280 median salary, and greater than $110,880 for the upper tenth percentile in 2012 (Page 30). However, according to Payscale, forensic psychologists are currently earning anywhere from $39,620 to $150,900. In spite of these reports, it is difficult to predict salary without knowing an individual’s qualifications, experience, and