Focus on Forensic Psychology
Up until 10 years ago or so almost every psychology graduate wanted to be a clinical psychologist working in mental health. Nowadays, and mainly because of the success of "Cracker" and TV programmes like it, most of them want to be Forensic or Criminal Psychologists.
Forensic psychology is the interface between psychology and the law. Forensic psychologists may provide services which are both clinical and forensic in nature so, for example, it may involve treating individuals who are emotionally traumatized by an accident or commenting on the extent of that trauma as an expert. Offender profiling and crime analysis are the two areas that most of us identify as being their key role but in fact a great deal of the work is laborious, pain-staking background research.
Training covers a variety of areas, for example, examinating the evidence that consistent criminal tendencies can be reliably assessed and the extent to which personality factors can explain that consistency. The relationship between crime, law and moral judgement. Perspectives on the origins of the criminal tendency in childhood. The role of opportunism in criminal decision-making in relation to environmental factors and attempts to prevent crime. The role of victims in creating, defining and reporting crime, and the psychological consequences of crime for victims and potential victims. The actions of victims, police, witnesses and the courts. The behaviour, attitudes, and role of witnesses. The position of psychologically "abnormal" offenders. The assessment and treatment of offenders in both Special Hospital and prison settings including sex offenders, arsonists, violent offenders, female offenders who have been sexually abused, and the treatment of addictions.
Children are often required to testify in family court matters such as custody and access disputes, or in criminal cases such as sexual and physical abuse or domestic violence. Recent research about memory development in infancy and childhood, the reliability, credibility, and suggestibility of children's eyewitness memories, recovered memories of abuse, child protection, and family violence.
As far as I am aware there aren't that many institutions that have BPS accredited Forensic Courses (Leicester, Liverpool, Surrey, Birmingham, Glasgow Caledonian, Manchester Met, Kent and Portsmouth) though there are a number of non-accredited courses around the country. The BPS highlights the following areas as part of its accreditation - Psychology applied to investigation, legal process, custodial process and through care; assessment and intervention with victims and offenders (both adults and children), litigants and appelants etc; giving expert testimony.
Recommended Books:
Offender profiling and Crime Analysis
The Handbook of Psychology for Forensic Practitioners
Useful Websites:
The Ultimate Forensic Psychology Database
David Willshire's FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY & PSYCHIATRY LINKS