Around one in five adults in Scotland were victims of crime in 2023-24. And almost 1.2 million crimes were committed. You could help reduce those numbers.

You'll work with a wide variety of people who have committed crimes. It could be anyone from young people experiencing the legal system for the first time to high-risk offenders with severe personality disorders. You may also work with families and people who have been victims of crime.

You'll try to understand why offenders act as they do. You'll find ways to help them overcome problems and make positive changes in behaviour.

Forensic psychology can be a demanding job. You'll deal with people acting aggressively, including possibly verbal or even physical assault. Patience, empathy and a genuine desire to help people will help you overcome challenges.

You could work in:

• prisons

• hospitals or other medical facilities

• universities

• charities

Your tasks might include:

• developing and carrying out treatment and rehabilitation programmes for offenders

• suggesting ways to reduce stress and improve life inside prisons for staff and prisoners

• offering expert advice to parole boards, mental health review tribunals or court cases

• supporting police investigations by doing criminal profiling

• researching causes and effects of criminal behaviour to improve professional practice

• writing reports

• Scottish Prison Service – careers in psychology

• Health and Care Professions Council – approved forensic psychology training programmes in Scotland

• NHS Scotland Careers – about this role in the National Health Service

• NHS Education for Scotland – psychology training information for the healthcare workforce