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Forensic Psychiatrist
A forensic psychiatrist has slightly different job responsibilities than a forensic psychologist. Forensic psychiatrists work in a specific sector of the psychiatry field where they combine their knowledge of law and psychiatry to provide information and a professional opinion for judges, juries, and attorneys and offer services for victims, offenders, and suspects.
This is a very rewarding career that lets individuals help people, serve the community, and uphold justice. For these reasons, people who go into this industry are usually honorable and service-oriented.
What Forensic Psychiatrists Do
In the court room, forensic psychiatrists have two important jobs: determining a person’s competency to stand trial (CST) and determining a person’s mental state at the time of the offense (MSO). Forensic psychiatrists may participate in either criminal or civil cases like malpractice or child custody cases and they can assist with legal documentation like making wills.
Forensic psychiatrists are often called as expert witnesses to give their opinion on the mental state of an individual involved in a case for the judge or to the jury to help them make important decisions. Forensic psychiatrists also assist the court by making recommendations on sentences.
A growing aspect of forensic psychiatry is the support sector. People with this specialty work with people who have broken the law, criminal suspects, and potential criminals to help prevent crimes and protect the community. These forensic psychiatrists analyze aspects of a person like their mental state, attitude, impulse, drug use, social and family circumstances, and use of assistance services to decide if the person is a risk. They also help victims as they recover from and cope with acts of crime and violence.
How to Start a Career as Forensic Psychiatrist
To land this exciting job, you will need earn your psychiatry degree. Enrolling in psychiatry courses at a college or university is a great place to start. People in this specialty usually take additional courses in forensic psychiatry, complete a one-year fellowship, and certify for forensic psychiatry through The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc.
