DESCRIPTION
Forensic psychology can be defined as the interaction of the practice or study of psychology and the institution of law. Psychologists interested in this line of work are often located working in prisons, jails, rehabilitation centers, police departments, law firms, schools, government agencies, or in private practice. They may work directly with attorneys, defendants, offenders, victims, pupils, families, or with patients within the state's corrections or rehabilitation centers. They may work in colleges, universities, government agencies, or in other settings interested in researching and examining the …show more content…
Although it is imperative to have training in law and forensic psychology, the most important skills a forensic psychologist must possess are solid clinical skills. This requires skills like clinical assessment, interviewing, report writing, strong verbal communication skills and case presentation which are all essential in establishing the foundation of forensic psychology practice. With these skills forensic psychologists perform such tasks as threat assessment for schools, child custody evaluations, competency evaluations of criminal defendants, counseling services to victims of crime, death notification, the assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder and the delivery and evaluation of intervention and treatment programs for juvenile and adult offenders. The practice of forensic psychology can also involve investigations, research studies, assessments, consultation, the design and implementation of treatment programs and expert witness