There is reason why television shows on crime are so popular. The entire science of discovering the who, what, where, when and why of crime is so interesting that even the most minute details and discoveries can cause a view to be on the edge of their seat. It is for this reason that so many students have begun to enter the field of Criminology. Becoming a Criminologist gives you a front row seat to solving crime, and although it is an extremely interesting career path, is not nearly as glamorous as portrayed on television.

Although it involves science, for the most part you couldn't be a good Criminologist unless you had analytical thinking skills and the ability to think subjectively about the world around you. When studying criminology, you will be exposed to course work beyond the scope of simple criminology. All of these will affect your ability to reason deductively and perform your job to the best of your ability.

What specifically does a criminologist do? Criminology is the very basic study of crime. If you've ever heard the term "profiling" you will have hit upon one of the many tasks that is up to the criminologist. Working with law enforcement agencies such as the local police or as high up as the FBI, criminologists analyze crime, criminals, and patterns in order to create profiles both complex and simple. Profiling assists in capturing criminals in that you can get inside their heads prior to the crime being committed. In this way, the criminologist also assists in preventing crime, as police officers can identify behaviors and work to avoid situations before they arise. In addition, the criminologist will analyze the criminal justice system at large and identify patterns in laws and how they are broken.

To become a criminologist, you will need an Undergraduate degree with a major in Criminology. Courses taken during your time at University will include basic and abnormal psychology, criminal and constitutional law, sociology, and computer science. For those who wish advancement in their field, a Masters degree in Criminology is preferred.

When entering this field, you can expect employment with local police, FBI or CIA, or as a medical examiner. If you have a higher degree and experience, you can also become a professor at a University. As well, you could find a job as a social worker, security officer, or as a profiler for a large corporation.

The average salary for a person who chooses to be a criminologist is approximately $60,000 per year. For those with advanced degrees, the ability to make $100,000 per year is not out of reach. This is a career field that is rapidly growing, as the need to eliminate crime before it happens has never been more important to the safety and security of our country.

A criminologist has the benefit of providing a real service to those who employ them. Not only do they assist their employers in solving and preventing crime, they assist the public by making our neighborhoods and cities safer places to live. If altruism is your focus, becoming a criminologist is a sure to be a fulfilling career.

If you want to start or accelerate your career in the field of criminology, explore these accredited online criminology degree programs and request more information from our accredited colleges and universities today.

Labels: Criminal Psychology, Criminal Rehabilitation, Criminologist, Criminology, FBI

The study of criminal psychology, also called forensic psychology, focuses on the study of the thoughts, intentions, motivations, and reactions of lawbreakers. It does not only study the reasons why people commit criminal acts, but also their reactions after doing the crime, either in court or fugitive.

Criminal psychologists develop psychological profiles of perpetrators to help police understand the nature, patterns and motives of criminals. They study the childhood background of serial killers, the psychological pressures people experience that led them to rob banks to solve their financial problems. They are also concerned in the methods how criminals deal with the outcome of a crime, including criminals who decide to run or misbehave in court.

The perceptions of criminal psychologists are important in investigating a criminal. They can also make use of the diverse clues to obtain a clear and deep perception into the type of crime and the individual who executed it. Similarly, criminal psychologists also look at the profile of the victims the offender chooses, derive inferences about the criminal and possibly figure the target victims from their profiles.

Criminal psychologists often testify in court cases to assist the judges understand the mentality of the offender. A criminal psychology expert may be asked requested to observe or partake in the questioning and cross-examination of a crime suspect or to work together with the offended party to collect information. He can also collect psychological evidences from circumstances at the scene of the crime or the criminal's home, and propose places of search, which may satisfy the investigators.

Many criminal psychologists concentrate on working with juvenile delinquents or criminal victims. They generally have degrees in child psychology, and pursued further training in forensic psychology and criminology. These children may be their patients in a clinical practice. Criminal psychologists testify in court about child criminals, or suggest support to criminal examinations and inquiries involving children.

Criminal rehabilitation aims to lessen unlawful recidivism. In fact, it is the most cost-efficient form of crime prevention. Education is one of the means to successfully rehabilitate a criminal. The society is educated as a whole to uphold the significance of guarding the laws and guarantee that there is less prejudice against former prisoners. It ensures that former criminals have fewer tendencies to go back to a life of misconduct.

Education is also recommended to let the prisoners to improve and stay important to the changing world beyond the prison walls. In criminal rehabilitation, inmates are given the privilege to boost their knowledge because studies show that a lot of inmates do not have fundamental grade school education. This severely hinders their success of getting jobs; thus, they turn to criminal lives. Basic criminal rehabilitation courses ensure that inmates who signed up for the program have a standard level of literacy.

Read More about this topic:
Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling
Career Profile: Correctional Officer
The Test: Would You Be a Good Cop?
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Labels: Criminal Psychologist, Criminal Psychology, Criminal Rehabilitation, Forensic Science, Forensics