Criminal Psychologist vs. Forensic Psychologist

Criminal and forensic psychologists both work in the law enforcement and assisting the law with investigating and solving crimes. The difference between the two is that a criminal psychologist focuses primarily on determining the motive and creating a profile on the perpetrator, now forensic psychologists focus on the aftermath of a crime, like evaluating the suspect's mental state or counseling the victims and their families. They each work either different people as well. Criminal psychologists work with police officers and other law enforcement professionals, they mainly work as consultants or they counsel law enforcement officers after a crisis like an on the job shooting. Forensic psychologists work with people like offenders, victims and their family members, and witnesses and attorneys. Some forensic psychologists work in correctional facilities or a case-by-case basis, which is interviewing victims for a single case and having no further contact once they go to trial. Criminal psychologists can sometimes work full time at police departments or other law enforcement agencies, while they work there they provide routine counseling and guidance either during or after a crisis in a hostage negotiation or criminal psychologists can work in a private practice but serve as a consultant to law enforcement agencies, while they do this they help the officers understand the mind and the motive of the suspect. Forensic psychologists will help out rehabilitate offenders through therapy, anger management and other counseling services.  Forensic psychologists can also perform mental evaluations that determine if a suspect is competent to stand on trial and can testify in court, they also interview victims and witnesses but mostly in sensitive crimes with women and children.