What does a forensic psychologist do? Can I use a political science major outside of law?

Question

And what would I need to do to get there?

Answer 1

a forensic psychologist can work in many different areas:
expert testimony in courts - both for defense or for prosecution
psychologist for police officers (being their therapist for dealing with stress, shootings, various incidents, etc)
jury selection consultant
research into the following areas:
how to question witnesses
how to question suspects
how to question children whom the police suspect have been abused (there is some very exciting work being done in this area right now)
investigative techniques
eyewitness testimony
juvenile offenders
crime prevention
recidivism and how to reduce it
training of police officers
working with child protective services
therapist for inmates in prison
classifying mental health needs of prison inmates
industrial-organizational in jails, police departments, courts

there are a few others but i can't think of them right now

there has been such a trememdous amount of research in the area of profiling that it has come to the point that it is something that is done with computer programs....all you have to do is input a set of data and the program spits out a profile of a suspect.

political science major jobs outside of the law:
teaching
politics
business to an extent
political candidate consultant

criminal justice major has a wider range of job opportunities but very few outside of becomming an attorney have an income level above $35,000/yr.

forensic psychology schools:
the top one is in NYC. it is very expensive.
the number 2 program for forensic psychology is at the same univ where what is considered the #1 program for criminal justice is also offered: Sam Houston State University in Texas. there is a prison on the campus....or rather, the campus is located partially inside a prison. the school is very reasonably priced.

before chosing this as a career, it is very important that you do your research on the area of the country where you wish to practice forensic psych. they are typically only used in very large cities, typically are attached to universities at the beginning of their career and spend a lot of time in research, and are rarely utilized in small to medium towns. in the part of texas where i live, there is only enough work to keep a forensic psychologist busy part-time at best and that is working in a 250 mile + radius of my town....where there are 3 universities within 200 miles of each other.

political science is offered at almost every major univ in the country.

Answer 2

Well to answer your question a Forensic psychologist works within the legal system...you know if things are legal or illegal.....Well you can try doing that and to go their try to find a college that has something to do with the legal system and it takes you on from their

Their are several things you do

1.Clinical-forensic psychologists primarily interested in forensics. Possible jobs in jails, prisons, court service units, or health centers.
2.Social psychologists deal with research, consulting, witness credibility, training, and teaching. Possible jobs in schools, courts, or as consultants.
3.Developmental psychologists deal with children and adolescents. Possible jobs within the juvenile system, academic, medical, or research.
4.Cognitive psychologists deal with human perception and memory. Possible jobs related with law can include consultation for courts on eyewitness testimony and identification, accuracy of memory, and detection of deception.

Answer 3

forensics actually has very little law. it's more psych and Criminology or Justice studies.

Answer 4

Please, check out these helpful links!

http://www.psychologyinfo.com/forensic/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology
http://www.bluffton.edu/courses/tlc/nathp/web/specialties/forensic.htm