Criminal Psychology vs. Forensic Psychology: Key Differences
Published on: July 18, 2024 | 6 minutes read
By: Diana M. Concannon
Crime documentaries dominate streaming platforms, and true-crime podcasts attract millions of listeners.[1] As public interest in crime and the justice system continues to grow, so does their curiosity about the professionals who work behind the scenes.
Two fields that are often confused are criminal psychology and forensic psychology. While both examine the relationship between clinical psychology and crime, one is primarily concerned with understanding why people commit crimes, while the other applies psychological knowledge within the legal and criminal justice system.
For students interested in human behavior, earning a degree in psychology and distinguishing between these fields is an important first step toward choosing the right educational and professional path.
What Is Criminal Psychology?
Criminal psychology focuses on understanding the thoughts, motivations, and behaviors of people who commit crimes. The field seeks to answer: Why do some individuals engage in criminal behavior, and what exactly happens at a crime scene to trigger or reflect these actions?
- Because of this focus, criminal psychologists may study patterns of criminal behavior, evaluate offenders, analyze risk factors associated with reoffending, or contribute research that helps agencies better understand specific types of crime.
- Some criminal psychologists also serve as expert witnesses, helping courts interpret psychological findings related to criminal behavior.
- Others contribute to criminal profiling, a process that uses behavioral evidence to develop hypotheses about an unknown offender’s characteristics, motivations, or likely actions.
Work settings vary but often include law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, government organizations, universities, and research institutions.
What Is Forensic Psychology?
While criminal psychology focuses primarily on offenders and criminal behavior, forensic psychology has a broader scope.
A forensic psychologist may evaluate a defendant’s competency to stand trial, conduct child custody assessments, provide expert testimony, assist attorneys with jury selection, or help agencies develop policies related to behavioral health and public safety. This broader application creates a wider range of professional environments. Forensic psychologists may work in:
- Courts and legal systems
- Correctional facilities
- Hospitals and treatment centers
- Government agencies
- Law enforcement organizations
- Private consulting practices
- Universities and research institutions
Rather than focusing solely on why crimes occur, forensic psychologists use psychological knowledge to inform decisions throughout the justice system.
Key Differences and Similarities Between Criminal and Forensic Psychology
| Category | Criminal Psychology | Forensic Psychology |
| Primary Focus | Understanding criminal behavior and offenders | Applying psychology across legal and justice settings |
| Typical Work | Behavioral analysis, offender assessment, profiling, research | Evaluations, expert testimony, court-related services, consulting |
| Primary Clients | Offenders, investigators, researchers | Courts, attorneys, agencies, and individuals involved in legal matters |
| Work Settings | Law enforcement, corrections, research, and education | Courts, corrections, hospitals, government agencies, and private practice |
| Scope | Narrower and offender-focused | Broader and justice-system focused |
Educational requirements frequently overlap. Many advanced positions in either field require graduate training, and some roles require a doctoral degree. Licensure requirements also vary: Professionals providing psychological assessments, diagnoses, or clinical services generally need licensure while research and analyst roles may not.[2]
Despite their differences, both fields share important similarities. For instance, both of these positions:
- Rely on psychological science to understand behavior
- Contribute to public safety
- Work alongside legal and law enforcement professionals
- Seek to improve decision-making within complex justice systems
Career Paths in Both Fields
Career opportunities in criminal psychology vs. forensic psychology can differ depending on education level, experience, and professional interests.
Criminal Psychology
Within criminal psychology, entry-level positions may include crime analyst, behavioral research assistant, intelligence analyst, or investigative support specialist.
Some professionals begin their careers in correctional settings or victim advocacy organizations before moving into more specialized work. With additional education and experience, opportunities may expand into criminal profiling, expert witness work, offender assessment, program leadership, or policy development. Advancement often depends on supervised experience or specialized training.
Forensic Psychology
Here, entry-level positions may include correctional counselor, forensic social worker, victim advocate, case manager, or behavioral health specialist working within justice-related settings. These roles often provide valuable experience working directly with individuals involved in the legal system.
More advanced professionals may move into forensic assessment, court consultation, supervision, program management, academic positions, or leadership roles within government agencies and correctional systems.
Criminal Psychology vs. Forensic Psychology FAQs
Is criminal psychology a subset of forensic psychology?
In many ways, yes. Criminal psychology is often viewed as a specialized area within the broader field of forensic psychology because it focuses specifically on criminal behavior and offenders.
Can a forensic psychologist work on criminal cases?
Yes. Many forensic psychologists work directly on criminal cases through evaluations, expert testimony, offender assessments, and consultation with courts or attorneys.
Do both fields require a doctoral degree?
Not always. Some entry-level and support roles may require only a bachelor’s or master’s degree. However, many advanced positions, particularly those involving psychological assessment, clinical work, or expert testimony, require doctoral training and licensure.
What is the difference between a criminal psychologist and a criminal profiler?
A criminal psychologist studies criminal behavior more broadly. A criminal profiler uses behavioral evidence to help develop investigative insights about unknown offenders. Profiling is one possible specialty within the larger field of criminal psychology.
Can you work in both fields?
Yes. The fields overlap considerably, and many professionals perform work that draws from both criminal and forensic psychology. Depending on training and job responsibilities, a psychologist may contribute to offender assessments, court proceedings, investigations, and broader justice-system initiatives throughout their career.
Deepen Your Knowledge With ĢƵ
The key difference between forensic psychology and criminal psychology is scope: While forensic psychologists work to understand a wide variety of players in the justice system, criminal psychologists are mostly focused on criminal behavior.
No matter which career appeals to you more, you will need to start with a high-quality program like the MS in Forensic Behavioral Science at ĢƵ. This degree track is designed specifically for future psychologists working in law enforcement, the justice system, and related industries.
Our curriculum is hands-on and allows students to specialize in specific concentrations, such as professional protection, forensic victimology, trial consulting, and more. Our faculty also features experienced experts in the field, and our instructors use the most up-to-date data and theoretical principles to train the next generation of psychologists.
Learn more about our forensic psychology graduate admissions and .
Sources:
[1] Swearing, Madyline. “Why We’re So Fascinated with True Crime Stories, and How It May Be Impacting Our Well-Being.” Boston University, August 11, 2025. https://www.bu.edu/articles/2025/why-were-fascinated-true-crime-stories/. Accessed June 18, 2026.
[2] Hosoda-Urban, Tamaki, Makiko Watanabe, and Ellen H. O’Donnell. “One psychology profession, many standards: A narrative review of training, licensing, and practice standards and their implications for international mobility.” INQUIRY the Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing. September 23, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580241284188. Accessed June 18, 2026.