Great article! I also hope that you will be talking about another word association of forensic psychology; namely autopsies. From what I learned, forensic psychology can be very helpful in profiling, but it's not as effective to solve a crime as hoped. Many university students, when heard about forensic psychology, they will imagine a psychologist who is also a profiler.

Where is possible to study forensic psychology in US? Any college?

I recently graduated with my M.A. in general psychology with a concentration in Forensics. In your opinion, was is the best route in obtaining a doctorate? Is it better to get the degree in Forensic Psychology or Clinical with the concentration? Also, I am looking more towards the Psy.D., will this hurt me or help me in the future?

Once I have my doctorate I am hoping to work within the legal system, preferably with sex offenders etc.

Very well done! I too am a forensic psychologist, and have (of course) had many, many similar questions asked about what in the world it is that we do. Most people think I go to crime scenes, looking around for whatever psychological "clues" there might be, lying around on the ground with the bullet casings and fibers... Nobody yet has suggested that I do "therapy with dead people," but that's my favorite guess, so far!

Delany Dean, JD, PhD
Kansas City, MO

I enjoyed your blog very much. I am getting ready to apply to a PsyD program in Forensic Psychology and I am already being asked if I'm going to be like a CSI or something. Poor television leads all my friends astray. I am very interested to hear about how you got your start in your field; I haven't decided if I want to work with law enforcement, prisons, or courts. As of right now I'm leaning towards counseling law enforcement. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Forensic psychology is fast becoming a major specialty area in psychology. In criminal cases, such as the ones I deal with, strong clinical psychology training is essential. But today, there are many more training programs around that offer a focus in forensic psychology specifically. So long as these programs have a very solid clinical psychology component, I believe it would be advantageous professionally for those interested in practicing forensic psychology to have a degree from such a program. Stay tuned for a future announcement about one such program I may be involved in starting soon here in Los Angeles.

i find this very intersting. i am not the smartest crayon in the box but i aced psychology in school.perhaps it is because i have been in a few psyche hospitals and i understand and empathize with the behaiviors.im not sure but could you e-mail me some more information about feild similiar to this and what all psychology jobs are out there.im very curious and hope to be in this feild some day.you keep learning in this feild beyond school. thank you
mcmanusa88@live.com

One question... as forensic psychologist could you also offer counseling/treatment?