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{{short description|Study of the wills, thoughts, intentions, and reactions of criminals}}
{{short description|Study of the thoughts, intentions, and behavior of criminals}}
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{{For|the science pertaining to the intersection between psychology and the legal system|Forensic psychology}}<nowiki> </nowiki><nowiki> </nowiki>'''Criminal psychology,''' also referred to as '''criminological psychology''', is the study of the views, thoughts, intentions, actions and reactions of [[crime|criminals]] and [[Suspect|suspects]].<ref name="Kocsis 7">Richard N. Kocsis, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=YG0Qyfxqtx8C&lpg=PP1&dq=Criminal%20psychology&hl=bg&pg=PA7#v=onepage&q&f=false Applied criminal psychology: a guide to forensic behavioral sciences]'', Charles C Thomas Publisher, 2009, pp.7</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Andrews |first1=D. A. |last2=Bonta |first2=James |title=The Psychology of Criminal Conduct |date=2010 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781437778984 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5MsRl66hAdAC&q=Criminal+Psychology&pg=PP2 }}</ref> It is a subfield of [[criminology]] and [[applied psychology]].
{{For|the science pertaining to the intersection between psychology and the legal system|Forensic psychology}}


Criminal psychologists have many roles within [[Court|legal courts]], including being called upon as [[Expert witness|expert witnesses]] and performing psychological assessments. Some types of [[psychiatry]] also deal with aspects of criminal behavior. Several definitions are used for criminal behavior, including behavior punishable by [[public law]], behavior considered [[Immorality|immoral]], behavior violating [[Social norm|social norms]] or [[Tradition|traditions]], or acts causing severe psychological harm. Criminal behavior is often considered antisocial in nature.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.e-criminalpsychology.com/criminal-behavior/|title=Criminal Behavior|last=admin|website=Criminal Psychology|access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref>
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{{Copy edit|date=April 2022}}
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'''Criminal psychology,''' also referred to as '''criminological psychology''', is the study of the views, thoughts, intentions, actions and reactions of [[crime|criminals]] and all who participate in ''criminal behavior''.<ref name="Kocsis 7">Richard N. Kocsis, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=YG0Qyfxqtx8C&lpg=PP1&dq=Criminal%20psychology&hl=bg&pg=PA7#v=onepage&q&f=false Applied criminal psychology: a guide to forensic behavioral sciences]'', Charles C Thomas Publisher, 2009, pp.7</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Andrews |first1=D. A. |last2=Bonta |first2=James |title=The Psychology of Criminal Conduct |date=2010 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781437778984 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5MsRl66hAdAC&q=Criminal+Psychology&pg=PP2 }}</ref>

Criminal psychology is related to the field of [[Anthropological criminology|criminal anthropology]]. The study goes deeply into ''what makes someone commit a crime'', but also the reactions after the crime. Criminal psychologists have many roles within the court systems, these include being called up as witnesses in court cases to help the jury understand the mind of the criminal. Some types of [[psychiatry]] also deal with aspects of criminal behavior. Criminal behavior can be stated as "Any kind of antisocial behavior, which is punishable usually by law but can be punished by norms, stated by community,". Therefore, it is difficult to define criminal behavior as there is a fine line between what could be considered okay and what's considered not to be, being considered as violation at one point of time may now be accepted by community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.e-criminalpsychology.com/criminal-behavior/|title=Criminal Behavior|last=admin|website=Criminal Psychology|access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref> This article will look at the different roles of a criminal psychologist, key aspects of criminals, and major studies that contributed to criminal psychology.


== History ==
== History ==
Criminal psychology originates from the end of 18th century and is now viewed as the ''predecessor of criminology.'' This combines aspect of the human mind, along with psychology, and why people commit crimes. Four major aspects are combined while looking at this topic in whole, and they are philosophical, medical, legal, and biological. It is also referred to as an applied psychology, which is the different use of psychological methods of scientific psychology to solve problems. This is also seen as an academic discipline, as it is the origin of what deters the mind of a human. It also merges criminal justice with psychology.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Vec |first=Milos |date=September 2007 |title=[The mind on the stage of justice: the formation of criminal psychology in the 19th century and its interdisciplinary research] |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18173066/ |journal=Berichte Zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=235–254 |doi=10.1002/bewi.200701101 |issn=0170-6233 |pmid=18173066}}</ref>
Criminal psychology originated from the late 18th century''.'' There were four key aspects of the development of criminal psychology: philosophical, medical, legal and biological. Before criminal psychology, there was a conflict in criminal law between medical experts and court judges on determining how to proceed with a majority of cases which necessitated the development of a specialised field for individual investigations and assessments of suspects. It is generally accepted that criminal psychology was a predecessor to the broader field of criminology, which includes other fields such as [[Anthropological criminology|criminal anthropology]] which studies more systemic aspects of crime as opposed to individual suspects and court cases.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Vec |first=Milos |date=September 2007 |title=[The mind on the stage of justice: the formation of criminal psychology in the 19th century and its interdisciplinary research] |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18173066/ |journal=Berichte Zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=235–254 |doi=10.1002/bewi.200701101 |issn=0170-6233 |pmid=18173066}}</ref>

== Psychology's role in the legal system ==
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{{main|Forensic psychology}}
Psychologists are licensed professionals that can assess both mental and physical states. Profilers look for patterns in behaviors to link the individual(s) behind a crime. A group effort attempts to answer the most common psychological questions: If there is a risk of a sexual predator re-offending if put back in society; if an offender is competent to stand trial; whether or not an offender was sane/insane at the time of the offense.

Criminal psychologists can be used to do investigative work, like examine photographs of a crime, or conduct an interview with a suspect. They sometimes have to formulate a hypothesis, in order to assess what an offender is going to do next, after they have broken the law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://study.com/career_criminal_psychologist.html|title=Criminal Psychologist Career Info, Job Duties and Requirements|website=Study.com|access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref>

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The question of competency to stand trial is a question of an offender's current state of mind. This assesses the offender's ability to understand the charges against them, the possible outcomes of being convicted/acquitted of these charges and their ability to assist their attorney with their defense. The question of sanity/insanity or criminal responsibility is an assessment of the offender's state of mind at the time of the crime. This refers to their ability to understand right from wrong and what is against the law. The insanity defense is rarely used, as it is very difficult to prove. If declared insane, an offender may be committed to a secure hospital facility, potentially for much longer than they would have served in prison.<ref name="Turvey">{{cite book|last=Turvey|first=Brent E.|title=Criminal Profiling, 4th Edition An Introduction to Behavioral Evidence Analysis|year=2002|publisher=Elseiver Science Ltd|location=California|isbn=978-0127050416}}</ref>

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Criminal psychology is also related to [[legal psychology]] and [[forensic psychology]]. and crime investigations


== Profiling ==
== Profiling ==
{{Main|Offender profiling}}
{{Main|Offender profiling}}{{See also|Racial profiling}}
[[Offender profiling|Criminal profiling]], also known as offender profiling, is a form of [[criminal investigation]], linking an offender's actions at the crime scene to their most likely characteristics. This is used in criminal psychology to help law enforcement investigators narrow down and prioritize a pool of suspects. Part of a sub-field of forensic psychology called investigative psychology, criminal profiling has advanced substantially in methodology and grown in popularity since its conception in the late 1800s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Criminal Profiling: The Original Mind Hunter {{!}} Psychology Today United Kingdom |url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/wicked-deeds/201712/criminal-profiling-the-original-mind-hunter |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=www.psychologytoday.com |language=en}}</ref> However, there is a substantial lack of empirical research and effectiveness evaluations validating the practice of criminal profiling.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Fox |first=Bryanna |last2=Farrington |first2=David P. |date=December 2018 |title=What have we learned from offender profiling? A systematic review and meta-analysis of 40 years of research. |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bul0000170 |journal=Psychological Bulletin |volume=144 |issue=12 |pages=1247–1274 |doi=10.1037/bul0000170 |issn=1939-1455}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chifflet |first=Pascale |date=2015 |title=Questioning the validity of criminal profiling: an evidence-based approach |journal=Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology |language=en |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=238–255 |doi=10.1177/0004865814530732 |issn=0004-8658 |s2cid=145585868}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ribeiro |first=Rita Alexandra Brilha |last2=Soeiro |first2=Cristina Branca Bento de Matos |date=January 2021 |title=Analysing criminal profiling validity: Underlying problems and future directions |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2020.101670 |journal=International Journal of Law and Psychiatry |volume=74 |pages=101670 |doi=10.1016/j.ijlp.2020.101670 |issn=0160-2527}}</ref>


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Criminal profiling is a process now known in the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)]] as criminal investigative analysis. (see also: [[FBI method of profiling|''FBI method of profiling'']]) Profilers, or criminal investigative analysts, are trained and experienced law enforcement officers who study every behavioral aspect and detail of an unsolved violent crime scene, in which a certain amount of psychopathology has been left at the scene. The characteristics of a good profiler are discussed. Five behavioral characteristics that can be gleaned from the crime scene are described:
A major field within criminal psychology, known as criminal profiling, began in the 1940s. The [[United States]] [[Office of Strategic Services]] asked [[William L. Langer]]'s brother [[Walter C. Langer]], a well renowned [[psychiatrist]], to draw up a profile of [[Adolf Hitler]]. After the [[Second World War]], [[United Kingdom|British]] psychologist Lionel Haward, while working for the [[Royal Air Force]] police, drew up a list of characteristics which high-ranking war criminals might display. These characteristics helped to spot high-ranking war criminals amongst ordinary captured soldiers and airmen.

A renowned Italian psychologist [[Cesare Lombroso]] (1835-1909) was thought to be one of the first criminologists to attempt to formally classify criminals based on age, gender, physical characteristics, education, and geographic region. When comparing these similar characteristics, he better understood the origin of motivation of criminal behavior, and in 1876, he published his book called ''The Criminal Man''. Lombroso studied 383 Italian inmates. Based on his studies, he suggested that there were three types of criminals. There were born criminals, who were degenerates and insane criminals, who suffered from a mental illness. Also, he studied and found specific physical characteristics. A few examples included asymmetry of the face, eye defects and peculiarities, and ears of unusual size, etc.<ref name="Kocsis 7" />

In the 1950s, US psychiatrist [[Offender profiling#James A. Brussel|James A. Brussel]] drew up what turned to be an uncannily accurate profile of a bomber who had been terrorizing [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lambert|first=Laura|date=October 29, 2019|title=George Metesky {{!}} American terrorist|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Metesky|access-date=2020-01-29|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>

It was first introduced to the FBI in the 1960s, when several classes were taught to the American Society of crime lab directors. Most of the public at that time knew little if not anything about how profilers would profile people until TV came into play. Later films based on the fictional works of author [[Thomas Harris]] that caught the public eye as a profession in particular ''[[Manhunter (film)|Manhunter]]'' (1986) and ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|Silence of the Lambs]]'' (1991). The fastest development occurred when the [[FBI]] opened its [[FBI Academy|training academy]], the [[Behavioral Analysis Unit]] (BAU), in [[Quantico, Virginia]]. It led to the establishment of the [[National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Criminal Profiling Part 1 of 7|url=https://vault.fbi.gov/Criminal%20Profiling/Criminal%20Profiling%20Part%201%20of%207|access-date=2020-01-29|website=FBI|language=en-us}}</ref> and the [[Violent Criminal Apprehension Program]].

In the United Kingdom, Professor David Canter was a pioneer helping to guide police detectives from the mid-1980s to an offender who had carried out a series of serious attacks, but Canter saw the limitations of "offender profiling" - in particular, the subjective, personal opinion of a psychologist. He and a colleague coined the term '''[[investigative psychology]]''' and began trying to approach the subject from what they saw as a more scientific point of view.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Youngs|first1=Donna|last2=Canter|first2=David|date=2009|title=An emerging research agenda for investigative interviewing: hypotheses from the narrative action system|journal=Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling|volume=6|issue=2|pages=91–99|doi=10.1002/jip.105|issn=1544-4767}}</ref>

[[Offender profiling|Criminal profiling]], also known as offender profiling, is the process of linking an offender's actions at the crime scene to their most likely characteristics. This is used to help police investigators narrow down and prioritize a pool of most likely suspects. Profiling is a relatively new area of forensic psychology that during the past 20 years has developed from what used to be described as an art to a rigorous science. Part of a sub-field of forensic psychology called investigative psychology, criminal profiling is based on increasingly rigorous methodological advances and empirical research.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chifflet|first=Pascale|date=2015|title=Questioning the validity of criminal profiling: an evidence-based approach|journal=Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology|language=en|volume=48|issue=2|pages=238–255|doi=10.1177/0004865814530732|issn=0004-8658|s2cid=145585868}}</ref>

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Criminal profiling is a process now known in the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)]] as criminal investigative analysis. Profilers, or criminal investigative analysts, are trained and experienced law enforcement officers who study every behavioral aspect and detail of an unsolved violent crime scene, in which a certain amount of psychopathology has been left at the scene. The characteristics of a good profiler are discussed. Five behavioral characteristics that can be gleaned from the crime scene are described:


# amount of planning that went into the crime,
# amount of planning that went into the crime,
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The process of interpreting the behavior observed at a crime scene is briefly discussed.<ref>{{cite book|last=O'Toole|first=Mary Ellen|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781591022664/page/223|title=Pro-filers: Leading investigators take you inside the criminal mind|publisher=Amherst, NY US: Prometheus Books|year=2004|isbn=978-1-59102-266-4|location=New York|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781591022664/page/223 223–228]|url-access=registration}}</ref>
The process of interpreting the behavior observed at a crime scene is briefly discussed.<ref>{{cite book|last=O'Toole|first=Mary Ellen|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781591022664/page/223|title=Pro-filers: Leading investigators take you inside the criminal mind|publisher=Amherst, NY US: Prometheus Books|year=2004|isbn=978-1-59102-266-4|location=New York|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781591022664/page/223 223–228]|url-access=registration}}</ref>


Criminal psychologists also have to consider profiling through the lens of racial inequality. Race continues to be a major factor in the American criminal justice system. Over the years, federal and state prisons in the United States held 475,900 inmates who were black and 436,500 who were white, giving a difference of 39,400.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Western|first1=Bruce|last2=Wildeman|first2=Christopher|date=January 2009|title=The Black Family and Mass Incarceration|journal=The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science|volume=621|issue=1|pages=221–242|doi=10.1177/0002716208324850|issn=0002-7162|s2cid=53870729}}</ref> Negative stereotypes, which often portray Blacks as born criminals, contributes heavily to the disproportionate incarceration of Blacks. A persistent stereotype in American society, it has served as a justification for the unofficial policies and practices of racial profiling by criminal justice practitioners.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Welch|first=Kelly|date=August 2007|title=Black Criminal Stereotypes and Racial Profiling|journal=Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice|volume=23|issue=3|pages=276–288|doi=10.1177/1043986207306870|issn=1043-9862|s2cid=146764775}}</ref> Many modern psychologists disregard these outdated stereotypes, as race itself doesn't make an individual violent or a threat to society. The cultural, environmental and traditional concepts of communities play a major role in individual psychology, providing profilers with a potential basis for behavioral patterns learned by offenders during their upbringing.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Helms|first1=Janet E.|last2=Piper|first2=Ralph E.|date=April 1994|title=Implications of Racial Identity Theory for Vocational Psychology|journal=Journal of Vocational Behavior|volume=44|issue=2|pages=124–138|doi=10.1006/jvbe.1994.1009|issn=0001-8791}}</ref> They also evaluate if prison is a stable place for particular criminals, as some commit crimes due to mental health issues that have never been adequately addressed. There are many individual factors criminal psychologist will have to evaluate during their investigations, in order to piece together a thorough profile that serves both the legal requirements and provides a more humane perspective.
In a 2017 article by [[Pew Research Center|Pew research center]], it was found that federal and state prisons in the United States held 475,900 inmates who were black and 436,500 who were white.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gramlich |first=John |title=The gap between the number of blacks and whites in prison is shrinking |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/04/30/shrinking-gap-between-number-of-blacks-and-whites-in-prison/ |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref> Similar historical data supports the substantially higher incarceration of black people.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Western |first=Bruce |last2=Wildeman |first2=Christopher |date=January 2009 |title=The Black Family and Mass Incarceration |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0002716208324850 |journal=The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science |volume=621 |issue=1 |pages=221–242 |doi=10.1177/0002716208324850 |issn=0002-7162}}</ref> This is in contrast with census data which has placed the percentage of black people or African American people at about 12% of the US population.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Western|first1=Bruce|last2=Wildeman|first2=Christopher|date=January 2009|title=The Black Family and Mass Incarceration|journal=The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science|volume=621|issue=1|pages=221–242|doi=10.1177/0002716208324850|issn=0002-7162|s2cid=53870729}}</ref> Negative [[Ethnic stereotype|ethnic stereotypes]] contribute to this disproportionate incarceration; it has served as a justification for the unofficial policies and practices of racial profiling by criminal justice practitioners.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Welch|first=Kelly|date=August 2007|title=Black Criminal Stereotypes and Racial Profiling|journal=Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice|volume=23|issue=3|pages=276–288|doi=10.1177/1043986207306870|issn=1043-9862|s2cid=146764775}}</ref>

== The four roles of criminal psychologists ==
In 1981, one of the fathers of UK's criminal psychology – Professor Lionel Haward – described four ways that psychologist may perform upon being professionally involved in criminal proceedings. These four ways include:<ref>{{Cite web|last=didacticsequenceswordpress|date=2017-01-26|title=The Four Rules of Criminal Psychologist.|url=https://researchesenglishp7.wordpress.com/2017/01/26/the-four-rules-of-criminal-psychologist/|access-date=2021-07-09|website=CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY|language=en}}</ref>

'''Clinical:''' In this situation, the psychologist is involved in assessment of an individual in order to provide a clinical judgment. The psychologist can use assessment tools, interview or psychometric tools in order to aid in their assessment. These assessments can help police and other comparable organizations to determine how to process the individual in question. For example, the psychologist helps to find out whether the individual is capable to stand trial, or whether the individual has a mental illness that relates to whether they are able to understand the proceedings.

'''Experimental:''' In this case, the task of the psychologist is to perform research in order to inform a case. This can involve executing experimental tests for the purposes of illustrating a point or providing further information to courts. This may involve false memory,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Newman |first1=Louise |title=Do trauma victims really repress memories and can therapy induce false memories? |url=https://theconversation.com/do-trauma-victims-really-repress-memories-and-can-therapy-induce-false-memories-84998 |website=THE CONVERSATION |publisher=Misha Ketchelle |access-date=13 November 2021 |ref=false-memory}}</ref> eyewitness credibility experiments, and more. For example, this way involves questions similar to, "how likely would a witness see an object in 100 meters?" That could be answered.

'''Actuarial:''' This role involves usage of statistics in order to inform a case. A psychologist may be asked to provide the probability of an event occurring. For example, the courts may ask how likely it is that a person will reoffend if a sentence is declined.


The cultural, environmental and traditional concepts of communities play a major role in individual psychology, providing profilers with a potential basis for behavioral patterns learned by offenders during their upbringing.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Helms|first1=Janet E.|last2=Piper|first2=Ralph E.|date=April 1994|title=Implications of Racial Identity Theory for Vocational Psychology|journal=Journal of Vocational Behavior|volume=44|issue=2|pages=124–138|doi=10.1006/jvbe.1994.1009|issn=0001-8791}}</ref> They also evaluate the safety of prisons for those incarcerated, as some individuals may be predisposed to [[recidivism]] if the prisoners' mental health is not or not adequately addressed. There are many individual factors contributing to developing a criminal profile that both meets legal requirements and treats profiled individuals humanely.
'''Advisory:''' Here, a psychologist may advise police about how to proceed with the investigation. For example, psychologists help to determine the best way to interview the individual, the best way to cross-examine a vulnerable or another expert witness, and how an offender will act after committing the offense.<ref>{{cite web|title=Everything about criminal psychology|url=http://www.e-criminalpsychology.com/}}</ref>


== Career paths ==
== Education and Careers in Criminal Psychology ==
A [[bachelor's degree]] in psychology as well as a [[master's degree]] in a related field are needed in order to pursue a career in criminal psychology. A [[doctorate]], either a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] or a [[Doctor of Psychology|Psy.D]],, would likely yield higher pay and more lucrative job opportunities. In addition to your degrees, a licensing exam is required by state or jurisdiction.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-09-15|title=Criminal Psychology Careers {{!}} CareersinPsychology.org|url=https://careersinpsychology.org/criminal-psychology-careers/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=careersinpsychology.org|language=en-US}}</ref> 
A [[bachelor's degree]] in psychology or criminal justice as well as a [[master's degree]] in a related field are needed in order to pursue a career in criminal psychology. A [[doctorate]], either a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] or a [[Doctor of Psychology|Psy.D]], typically yields higher pay and more lucrative job opportunities.{{Cn|date=May 2022}} In addition to degrees, a licensing exam is required by state or jurisdiction.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-09-15|title=Criminal Psychology Careers {{!}} CareersinPsychology.org|url=https://careersinpsychology.org/criminal-psychology-careers/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=careersinpsychology.org|language=en-US}}</ref> 


If you wish to pursue a career as a criminal profiler, you will also need a master's degree or a doctorate and many years of experience.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How to Become a Criminal Profiler|url=https://www.criminaljusticeprograms.com/specialty/criminal-profiler/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=Criminal Justice Programs|language=en-US}}</ref> After passing your examinations for your state you can become a licensed [[psychologist]].
Criminal profilers require a master's degree or a doctorate, several years of experience and in some cases passing state examinations to become a licensed [[psychologist]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=How to Become a Criminal Profiler|url=https://www.criminaljusticeprograms.com/specialty/criminal-profiler/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=Criminal Justice Programs|language=en-US}}</ref>


Criminal profilers can work in various settings including offices and courtrooms and can be employed at a number of institutions. Some include local, state, or federal government, and others can be self-employed as independent consultants.The average amount of a criminal psychologist is $58,246 and can increase to $95,000. Several factors contribute to how much a person makes within the field, and that is how much time a person has worked within the field, and the city with which a person works in. Criminal psychologists who work within larger cities tend to make more than psychologists who work in lower populated cities. Those who work for hospitals or federal government tend to have a lower salary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Criminal Psychologist Career: Job Duties, Skills & Education |url=https://www.psychologyschoolguide.net/psychology-careers/criminal-psychologists/ |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=www.psychologyschoolguide.net}}</ref> Some of the top paying states for forensic psychologists are New Hampshire, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, and California.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=10 Top Career Paths in Forensic Psychology (2021 Update)|url=https://psychologydegreeguide.org/resources/careers-in-forensic-psychology/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=Psychology Degree Guide|language=en-US}}</ref>
Criminal profilers can work in various settings including offices and courtrooms and can be employed at a number of institutions. Some include local, state, or federal government, and others can be self-employed as independent consultants. {{As of|2021}}, the average amount of a criminal psychologist is $58,246 and can increase to $95,000. Several factors contribute to how much a person makes within the field, including how much time a person has worked within the field, and the city with which a person works in. Criminal psychologists who work within larger cities tend to make more than psychologists who work in lower populated cities. Those who work for hospitals or federal government tend to have a lower salary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Criminal Psychologist Career: Job Duties, Skills & Education |url=https://www.psychologyschoolguide.net/psychology-careers/criminal-psychologists/ |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=www.psychologyschoolguide.net}}</ref> Some of the top paying states for forensic psychologists are New Hampshire, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, and California.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=10 Top Career Paths in Forensic Psychology (2021 Update)|url=https://psychologydegreeguide.org/resources/careers-in-forensic-psychology/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=Psychology Degree Guide|language=en-US}}</ref>


Forensic psychology careers are continuing to close the gap between psychology and the criminal justice system. These careers include: <ref name=":0" />
Forensic psychology careers include: <ref name=":0" />


# Correctional counselor
# Correctional counselor
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# Correctional psychologist
# Correctional psychologist


==Comparison to forensics==
==Applied criminal psychology==
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{{See also|Forensic psychology|Forensic psychiatry}}
The effect of psychological and social factors on the functioning of our brain is the central question that forensic or criminal psychologists deal with, due to the fact it is the seed of all our actions. For [[forensic psychiatry]], the main question is 'Which patient becomes an offender?', or 'Which offender becomes a patient?'. Another main question asked by these psychiatrists is, 'What came first, the crime or the mental disorder?'. Psychologists look at environmental factors along with genetics to determine the likeliness of a particular person to commit a crime.
The effect of [[psychosocial]] factors on brain functioning and behavior is a central part of analysis for both forensic and criminal psychologists, under the category of [[applied psychology]]. For forensic psychiatry, major areas of criminal evaluations include assessing the ability of an individual to stand trial, providing an opinion on what the mental state of the individual was at the time of offense, risk management for future offenses ([[recidivism]]), providing treatment to criminals including medication and psychotherapy, and being an [[expert witness]]. This process often involves [[psychological testing]].<ref name="Turvey">{{cite book |last=Turvey |first=Brent E. |title=Criminal Profiling, 4th Edition An Introduction to Behavioral Evidence Analysis |publisher=Elseiver Science Ltd |year=2002 |isbn=978-0127050416 |location=California}}</ref> Forensic psychologists have largely similar roles to forensic psychiatrists, although are typically unable to prescribe medication.


Criminal and forensic psychologists may also consider the following questions:
Criminal and forensic psychologists may also consider the following factors:


#The current presence of mental disorders
#Is a mental disorder present now? Was it present during the time of the crime?
#What is the level of responsibility of the offender for the crime?
#The level of accountability or responsibility an individual has for a crime due to mental disorders
#What is the risk of reoffending and which risk factors are involved?
#Likelihood of [[recidivism]] and involved risk factors
#[[Epidemiology]] of related mental disorders under consideration
#Is treatment possible to reduce the risk of reoffending?
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Criminal psychology is also related to [[legal psychology]] and [[forensic psychology]] and crime investigations.


⚫
The question of competency to stand trial is a question of an offender's current state of mind. This assesses the offender's ability to understand the charges against them, the possible outcomes of being convicted/acquitted of these charges and their ability to assist their attorney with their defense. The question of sanity/insanity or criminal responsibility is an assessment of the offender's state of mind at the time of the crime. This refers to their ability to understand right from wrong and what is illegal. The insanity defense is rarely used, as it is very difficult to prove. If declared insane, an offender may be committed to a secure hospital facility, potentially for much longer than they would have served in prison.<ref name="Turvey" />
Accordingly, individual psychiatric evaluations are resorted to measuring personality traits by [[psychological testing]] that have good validity for the purpose of the court.<ref name=Turvey/>


==Key studies==
==Key studies==
⚫
{{Update section|date=May 2022}}
A number of key studies of psychology especially relevant to understanding criminal psychology have been undertaken. These include:<ref>Francis Pakes, Suzanne Pakes - [https://books.google.com/books?id=Hw9iU0pRBMAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Criminal+psychology&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Criminal%20psychology&f=false Criminal Psychology] published by [[Routledge]] 6 Dec 2012, 184 pages, {{ISBN|1135846073}}, Routledge Studies in Development and Society [Retrieved 2015-09-20]</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gross |first=Richard |date=14 August 2015 |title=Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k-1ACgAAQBAJ&q=Richard+Gross+Psychology |publisher=[[Hachette (publisher)|Hachette UK]] |isbn=978-1471829758 |access-date=25 May 2019}}</ref>
A number of key studies of psychology especially relevant to understanding criminal psychology have been undertaken. These include:<ref>Francis Pakes, Suzanne Pakes - [https://books.google.com/books?id=Hw9iU0pRBMAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Criminal+psychology&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Criminal%20psychology&f=false Criminal Psychology] published by [[Routledge]] 6 Dec 2012, 184 pages, {{ISBN|1135846073}}, Routledge Studies in Development and Society [Retrieved 2015-09-20]</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gross |first=Richard |date=14 August 2015 |title=Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k-1ACgAAQBAJ&q=Richard+Gross+Psychology |publisher=[[Hachette (publisher)|Hachette UK]] |isbn=978-1471829758 |access-date=25 May 2019}}</ref>


Revision as of 12:02, 7 May 2022

For the science pertaining to the intersection between psychology and the legal system, see Forensic psychology.

Criminal psychology, also referred to as criminological psychology, is the study of the views, thoughts, intentions, actions and reactions of criminals and suspects.[1][2] It is a subfield of criminology and applied psychology.

Criminal psychologists have many roles within legal courts, including being called upon as expert witnesses and performing psychological assessments. Some types of psychiatry also deal with aspects of criminal behavior. Several definitions are used for criminal behavior, including behavior punishable by public law, behavior considered immoral, behavior violating social norms or traditions, or acts causing severe psychological harm. Criminal behavior is often considered antisocial in nature.[3]

History

Criminal psychology originated from the late 18th century. There were four key aspects of the development of criminal psychology: philosophical, medical, legal and biological. Before criminal psychology, there was a conflict in criminal law between medical experts and court judges on determining how to proceed with a majority of cases which necessitated the development of a specialised field for individual investigations and assessments of suspects. It is generally accepted that criminal psychology was a predecessor to the broader field of criminology, which includes other fields such as criminal anthropology which studies more systemic aspects of crime as opposed to individual suspects and court cases.[4]

Profiling

Main article: Offender profiling
See also: Racial profiling

Criminal profiling, also known as offender profiling, is a form of criminal investigation, linking an offender's actions at the crime scene to their most likely characteristics. This is used in criminal psychology to help law enforcement investigators narrow down and prioritize a pool of suspects. Part of a sub-field of forensic psychology called investigative psychology, criminal profiling has advanced substantially in methodology and grown in popularity since its conception in the late 1800s.[5] However, there is a substantial lack of empirical research and effectiveness evaluations validating the practice of criminal profiling.[6][7][8]

Criminal profiling is a process now known in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as criminal investigative analysis. (see also: FBI method of profiling) Profilers, or criminal investigative analysts, are trained and experienced law enforcement officers who study every behavioral aspect and detail of an unsolved violent crime scene, in which a certain amount of psychopathology has been left at the scene. The characteristics of a good profiler are discussed. Five behavioral characteristics that can be gleaned from the crime scene are described:

  1. amount of planning that went into the crime,
  2. degree of control used by the offender,
  3. escalation of emotion at the scene,
  4. risk level of both the offender and victim, and
  5. appearance of the crime scene (disorganized versus organized).

The process of interpreting the behavior observed at a crime scene is briefly discussed.[9]

In a 2017 article by Pew research center, it was found that federal and state prisons in the United States held 475,900 inmates who were black and 436,500 who were white.[10] Similar historical data supports the substantially higher incarceration of black people.[11] This is in contrast with census data which has placed the percentage of black people or African American people at about 12% of the US population.[12] Negative ethnic stereotypes contribute to this disproportionate incarceration; it has served as a justification for the unofficial policies and practices of racial profiling by criminal justice practitioners.[13]

The cultural, environmental and traditional concepts of communities play a major role in individual psychology, providing profilers with a potential basis for behavioral patterns learned by offenders during their upbringing.[14] They also evaluate the safety of prisons for those incarcerated, as some individuals may be predisposed to recidivism if the prisoners' mental health is not or not adequately addressed. There are many individual factors contributing to developing a criminal profile that both meets legal requirements and treats profiled individuals humanely.

Career paths

A bachelor's degree in psychology or criminal justice as well as a master's degree in a related field are needed in order to pursue a career in criminal psychology. A doctorate, either a Ph.D. or a Psy.D, typically yields higher pay and more lucrative job opportunities.[citation needed] In addition to degrees, a licensing exam is required by state or jurisdiction.[15] 

Criminal profilers require a master's degree or a doctorate, several years of experience and in some cases passing state examinations to become a licensed psychologist.[16]

Criminal profilers can work in various settings including offices and courtrooms and can be employed at a number of institutions. Some include local, state, or federal government, and others can be self-employed as independent consultants. As of 2021, the average amount of a criminal psychologist is $58,246 and can increase to $95,000. Several factors contribute to how much a person makes within the field, including how much time a person has worked within the field, and the city with which a person works in. Criminal psychologists who work within larger cities tend to make more than psychologists who work in lower populated cities. Those who work for hospitals or federal government tend to have a lower salary.[17] Some of the top paying states for forensic psychologists are New Hampshire, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, and California.[18]

Forensic psychology careers include: [18]

  1. Correctional counselor
  2. Jail supervisor[19]
  3. Victim advocate
  4. Jury consultant
  5. Forensic social worker
  6. Expert witness
  7. Forensic psychology professor
  8. Forensic psychology researcher
  9. Forensic case manager
  10. Criminal profiler
  11. Forensic psychologist
  12. Correctional psychologist

Comparison to forensics

See also: Forensic psychology and Forensic psychiatry

The effect of psychosocial factors on brain functioning and behavior is a central part of analysis for both forensic and criminal psychologists, under the category of applied psychology. For forensic psychiatry, major areas of criminal evaluations include assessing the ability of an individual to stand trial, providing an opinion on what the mental state of the individual was at the time of offense, risk management for future offenses (recidivism), providing treatment to criminals including medication and psychotherapy, and being an expert witness. This process often involves psychological testing.[20] Forensic psychologists have largely similar roles to forensic psychiatrists, although are typically unable to prescribe medication.

Criminal and forensic psychologists may also consider the following factors:

  1. The current presence of mental disorders
  2. The level of accountability or responsibility an individual has for a crime due to mental disorders
  3. Likelihood of recidivism and involved risk factors
  4. Epidemiology of related mental disorders under consideration

Criminal psychology is also related to legal psychology and forensic psychology and crime investigations.

The question of competency to stand trial is a question of an offender's current state of mind. This assesses the offender's ability to understand the charges against them, the possible outcomes of being convicted/acquitted of these charges and their ability to assist their attorney with their defense. The question of sanity/insanity or criminal responsibility is an assessment of the offender's state of mind at the time of the crime. This refers to their ability to understand right from wrong and what is illegal. The insanity defense is rarely used, as it is very difficult to prove. If declared insane, an offender may be committed to a secure hospital facility, potentially for much longer than they would have served in prison.[20]

Key studies

A number of key studies of psychology especially relevant to understanding criminal psychology have been undertaken. These include:[21][22]

See also

References

  1. ^ Richard N. Kocsis, Applied criminal psychology: a guide to forensic behavioral sciences, Charles C Thomas Publisher, 2009, pp.7
  2. ^ Andrews, D. A.; Bonta, James (2010). The Psychology of Criminal Conduct. Routledge. ISBN 9781437778984.
  3. ^ admin. "Criminal Behavior". Criminal Psychology. Retrieved 2019-04-15.
  4. ^ Vec, Milos (September 2007). "[The mind on the stage of justice: the formation of criminal psychology in the 19th century and its interdisciplinary research]". Berichte Zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte. 30 (3): 235–254. doi:10.1002/bewi.200701101. ISSN 0170-6233. PMID 18173066.
  5. ^ "Criminal Profiling: The Original Mind Hunter | Psychology Today United Kingdom". www.psychologytoday.com. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  6. ^ Fox, Bryanna; Farrington, David P. (December 2018). "What have we learned from offender profiling? A systematic review and meta-analysis of 40 years of research". Psychological Bulletin. 144 (12): 1247–1274. doi:10.1037/bul0000170. ISSN 1939-1455.
  7. ^ Chifflet, Pascale (2015). "Questioning the validity of criminal profiling: an evidence-based approach". Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology. 48 (2): 238–255. doi:10.1177/0004865814530732. ISSN 0004-8658. S2CID 145585868.
  8. ^ Ribeiro, Rita Alexandra Brilha; Soeiro, Cristina Branca Bento de Matos (January 2021). "Analysing criminal profiling validity: Underlying problems and future directions". International Journal of Law and Psychiatry. 74: 101670. doi:10.1016/j.ijlp.2020.101670. ISSN 0160-2527.
  9. ^ O'Toole, Mary Ellen (2004). Pro-filers: Leading investigators take you inside the criminal mind. New York: Amherst, NY US: Prometheus Books. pp. 223–228. ISBN 978-1-59102-266-4.
  10. ^ Gramlich, John. "The gap between the number of blacks and whites in prison is shrinking". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  11. ^ Western, Bruce; Wildeman, Christopher (January 2009). "The Black Family and Mass Incarceration". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 621 (1): 221–242. doi:10.1177/0002716208324850. ISSN 0002-7162.
  12. ^ Western, Bruce; Wildeman, Christopher (January 2009). "The Black Family and Mass Incarceration". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 621 (1): 221–242. doi:10.1177/0002716208324850. ISSN 0002-7162. S2CID 53870729.
  13. ^ Welch, Kelly (August 2007). "Black Criminal Stereotypes and Racial Profiling". Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice. 23 (3): 276–288. doi:10.1177/1043986207306870. ISSN 1043-9862. S2CID 146764775.
  14. ^ Helms, Janet E.; Piper, Ralph E. (April 1994). "Implications of Racial Identity Theory for Vocational Psychology". Journal of Vocational Behavior. 44 (2): 124–138. doi:10.1006/jvbe.1994.1009. ISSN 0001-8791.
  15. ^ "Criminal Psychology Careers | CareersinPsychology.org". careersinpsychology.org. 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  16. ^ "How to Become a Criminal Profiler". Criminal Justice Programs. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  17. ^ "Criminal Psychologist Career: Job Duties, Skills & Education". www.psychologyschoolguide.net. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  18. ^ a b "10 Top Career Paths in Forensic Psychology (2021 Update)". Psychology Degree Guide. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  19. ^ "12 Different Career Paths With a Forensic Psychology Master's Degree". Insight Digital Magazine. 2017-04-17. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  20. ^ a b Turvey, Brent E. (2002). Criminal Profiling, 4th Edition An Introduction to Behavioral Evidence Analysis. California: Elseiver Science Ltd. ISBN 978-0127050416.
  21. ^ Francis Pakes, Suzanne Pakes - Criminal Psychology published by Routledge 6 Dec 2012, 184 pages, ISBN 1135846073, Routledge Studies in Development and Society [Retrieved 2015-09-20]
  22. ^ Gross, Richard (14 August 2015). Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour. Hachette UK. ISBN 978-1471829758. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  • David Canter (2008) Criminal Psychology London: Hodder Education
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