All about the profession of a forensic psychologist

Forensic psychologist is a fascinating and demanded profession in our country, which is influenced by two branches: psychology and law. In general terms, these people in their work focus on the application of theories of psychology in the criminal justice system. The application of many legal concepts requires a specialist and understanding of basic psychological principles.

The forensic psychologist provides relevant expertise to the legal system. His understanding and explanation of some aspects of mental health can help in the investigation of complex cases.... Members of the profession can act as expert witnesses to explain complex psychological concepts to the jury, providing counseling services on the mental state of the offender.

The peculiarities of the activity force the representative of the profession to investigate together with the investigator. He's also busy collecting evidence. His skills and experience make it possible to identify the motives of the committed offense. The specialist can confirm or deny the version of the investigator.

The personal qualities of a forensic psychologist are as important as in any other profession. It is desirable that they smoothly transition into professional skills. A dreamy, impressionable person with a weak psyche is not suitable for such a job. First of all, he is a good and inquisitive scientist.... Most of his time is spent on the road to the crime scene and in the laboratory.It is necessary to be present at the scene of road accidents, murders and other offenses.

Regardless of gender, the forensic psychologist must remain cool... This is always a smart, well-read, strong-willed employee. He must concentrate on the task at hand, have an instant reaction and an excellent memory. The preliminary version is always built on the analysis of the evidence obtained. A forensic psychologist helps to speed up the capture of the offender and subsequently prove his guilt.

The duties of a forensic psychologist are as follows:

• conducting a detailed study of the reasons, motives for the crime;
• assessment of the identity of the offender;
• identifying the possibility of re-committing an offense;
• assessment of actions that may follow after the commission of a wrongful act;
• drawing up a portrait of a person who has committed a crime;
• creating a strategy to find the offender;
• recommendations for future interrogation;
• search for traces left at the crime scene;
• recreation of the events that led to the offense;
• expert analysis.

As part of the responsibilities entrusted, each employee in the position held is responsible for his work and the conclusions drawn. Frequently, the freedom of a person depends on the conclusions made by the forensic psychologist. Even the slightest leak of information is unacceptable, as it can completely change the course of business.

To occupy the described position, a person needs to have the necessary set of knowledge and skills. If we talk about the examinations carried out by forensic psychologists, then there are several of them. Studying the traces left at the scene of the crime committed by traceology.

If a handwriting examination is required, then graphology... Speech and sounds designed to learn phonoscopy... If a firearm was used at the time of the crime, ballistics... Fingerprint information is provided by fingerprinting... If there is skin, saliva or blood, then the very place of DNA fingerprinting.

Know the laws, including the Criminal and Procedural Codes, the Constitution... In addition to all of the above, a forensic psychologist must be able to work in a team. Such people are always distinguished by their accuracy and increased attentiveness to little things and people. They are active, often take the initiative, capable of storing a large amount of information in their memory for a long time. It is desirable that the forensic psychologist is eruditebecause it helps him in his work.

Education in the specialty of a psychologist-criminologist can be obtained in Russia. Subjects should be taken as excellent as possible, then there is a chance to unlearn on a budgetary basis. The specialty is called "Forensic Science". You can enter both simple universities and specialized institutions from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs... The most popular are the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Volgograd), the University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Moscow, St. Petersburg). There are other establishments all over the country.

Each educational institution has its own requirements for exams and training. Most often, upon admission, one has to pass history, Russian, physical education and social studies. There are universities where you may need to get points in computer science and mathematics. It is advisable to have a bachelor's degree in psychology.

The advantage of the profession in question is that the employee has the opportunity to move up the career ladder. The more experience, the higher the salary of a person in a given profession. If we take the national average, then a forensic psychologist can receive about 20 thousand rubles.

Any profession has its pros and cons. If we talk about the shortcomings, then an irregular schedule comes to the fore. A forensic psychologist can be at work around the clock, he is called at any time of the day or night. An unpleasant moment is also need to work with victims of crime... Not everyone is able to survive such stress, the presence at the scene of a murder often has a strong effect on the human psyche, which is why emotionlessness is so important.

The described profession also has advantages, including privileges, full benefits package, benefits. Also, these people can qualify for a good pension and bonuses.... You can get a job in the specialty in the power structure. For example, to the prosecutor's office, the investigative committee or the Ministry of Internal Affairs. There are also private expert laboratories where such employees are needed.