Family Court

• Forensic psychologists advise the court in matters related to child welfare. They may carry out child custody, domestic violence, and grandparent visitation evaluations, as well as mediate conflicts between parents regarding their children and assess visitation risks. They provide the court with child abuse evaluations, assess whether parental rights should be terminated, evaluate domestic violence, and create family reunification plans. They can also offer counseling and psychotherapy to families referred to the courts and deliver training in parenting skills, parental communication, and anger management.
  
  

Civil Court

• Most of the work forensic psychologists do related to civil court proceedings involves conducting psychological assessments and serving as expert witnesses in personal injury cases. They determine whether emotional factors, such as post-traumatic stress, depression (PTSD), chronic pain, or anxiety, are the result of a traumatic injury and make assessments in sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, workers compensation, and emotional disability litigation. In suspicious death cases, they may be asked to present a psychological autopsy, and in head injury cases, a neuropsychological assessment. And psychologists assess the long-term emotional impact of criminal acts on victims. In addition, they provide psychotherapy and counseling to individuals suffering from PTSD or other disorders.
  
  

Criminal Court

• A big part of forensic psychologists' work in the criminal division pertains to juvenile offenders. They evaluate juveniles accused of crimes and submit pre-sentencing and juvenile probation evaluations. They also evaluate adult offenders, preparing pre-sentencing evaluations, and competency and diminished capacity evaluations. In addition, psychologists may offer counseling and psychotherapy to offenders after conviction and during probation, and training or psychotherapy to violent offenders, sexual offenders, and individuals who have violated restraining orders. They may also work with victims of violent crimes.
  
  

Administration

• Forensic psychology can lead to positions as managers, program directors, or clinical directors in correctional settings, such as nonprofits and juvenile court divisions.
  
  

Case Management/Probation and Parole

• Case managers work with clients in live-in community or residential treatment facilities, teaching them problem solving and conflict resolution, and helping clients become self-sustaining. Psychologists who work with felons on probation or parole help clients deal with education and vocational training, finding employment, and dealing with family-related concerns, including child support and parenting.
  
  

Court Liaison/Law Enforcement

• A court liaison coordinates activities between the police and the criminal courts, handling subpoenas, evidence, and documentation. Forensic psychologists in law enforcement help choose personnel, work with officers in crisis situations such as hostage-taking, and help department staff and their families cope with stress, suicide, and trauma.
  
  

Research

• Research may consist of improving interrogation methods, developing assessment tests, determining the effectiveness of specialized treatment for certain types of offenders, or studying the effects or risk factors for violent or criminal behavior.