Farah Farhat

The need to staff forensic laboratories with qualified personnel created a demand for education facilities to prepare forensic scientists. Although there was a high demand for the need of educational facilities to provide educational training for forensic scientists there was a resistance to do so. Being an educator of forensics psychology placed educators in the middle of controversy, which was why it was difficult to create forensic science programs in colleges/universities. The field of forensic psychology was also at fault due to the lack of vocalization of it’s needs in order to help progress the field. In July of 1974 the Board of Regents of the state of Florida approved the B.S degree program in Forensic Science at FTU. The program was created with the help of forensic scientists giving insight as to what the B.S should incorporate in order to give students the right kind of education (Gould, 1975).

In 2001 “Forensic psychology” was approved as an applied area of specialization by the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA can now accredit postdoctoral fellowships in forensic psychology. Psychologists specializing in forensic practice can be certified through the American Board of Professional Psychology, and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology has provided high-caliber continuing education for years. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences offers Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, which is perhaps the most interdisciplinary organization available to forensic psychologists (Heilbmn et al., 2010). This transition in recognition helped accredit as well as educate forensic psychologists.

Media References (in order of appearance):

Webb, D. (n.d.). A Free And Comprehensive Guide To The World Of Forensic Psychology. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from All About Forensic Psychology: http://www.all-about-forensic-psychology.com/forensic-psychology-resource.html