Chapter 5: Training in Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology training cannot follow a single template because the discipline encompasses varied roles, from laboratory researchers studying eyewitness memory to clinical practitioners conducting competency evaluations and risk assessments. The chapter traces the development of dedicated forensic programs since 1973 and identifies three primary training models: the scientist-practitioner approach emphasizing research and evidence-based methods, the practitioner-scientist model focused on direct clinical service delivery, and the scientist-scholar pathway oriented toward expanding the knowledge base and teaching. A central challenge discussed is that traditional general clinical training, while providing essential therapeutic foundations, often leaves practitioners unprepared for the distinctive demands of legal contexts, including unfamiliarity with jurisdiction-specific legal standards, fundamental differences between clinical and forensic treatment goals, and the ethical complexities unique to legal settings. The chapter describes multiple educational routes including specialized doctoral programs, joint degree offerings combining psychology with law or legal studies, internship and fellowship placements, and continuing education options for career transitions. Critical issues addressed include the evaluation of faculty expertise and mentoring fit, the balance between classroom instruction and hands-on clinical experience, the development of legal research competencies, the absence of national accreditation standards specific to forensic specialties, and the particular challenges facing forensic scientists in designing ecologically valid research within legal constraints. Throughout the discussion, the authors emphasize that prospective students and training programs must navigate these complexities deliberately, and they highlight a significant gap in the field: the absence of rigorous empirical research documenting which training approaches actually produce the most competent and effective forensic professionals.