Forensic psychology is a subfield of legal psychology that deals with the psychiatric and psychological assessment of offenders, as well as specific treatment approaches to reduce the risk of reoffending. The focus is especially on high risk violent and sex offenders, for which professional risk assessment and reduction are of particular sociopolitical importance.
The Department of Psychology offers both a bachelor’s and a master’s program in forensic psychology. The programs are highly practice-oriented and maintain close links with Corrections and Rehabilitation in the canton of Zurich (JuWe, short for German “Justizvollzug und Wiedereingliederung, an internationally leading institution in the field of forensic psychology.
Forensic psychology was first recognized as an independent area of focus by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2001, nevertheless, there is still a lack of training available in this field. With the forensic psychology programme, the University of Konstanz contributes to closing this gap and expanding education opportunities in this field. The specific training in Konstanz concentrates on teaching methods for assessing risk of recidivism, on preventive treatment approaches for violent and sex offenders and on the scientific evaluation and the further development of instruments for risk assessment and for risk-reducing interventions.
