Top 5 Cities That Have the Highest Demand for Forensic Psychologists

When considering a career in forensic psychology, you will want to take into account not only which schools offer the best programs, but also where you will most likely end up working once you graduate. Forensic psychology is a relatively new field and is one of the fastest growing areas of psychology. But this doesn’t mean that every city in the United States will be looking to hire. While forensic psychologists work with the police department, using their expertise to help solve crimes such as murder and assault, the cities with the highest crime rates aren’t necessarily the ones with the highest demand for forensic psychologist.

According to statistics for 2009, the following were the US cities with the highest crime rate: St. Louis, Camden, Detroit, Flint, and Oakland. Does this mean that these cities have the highest demand for forensic psychologists? Not at all. In fact, the top five US cities that have the most jobs in the field of forensic psychology are completely different.   There is a difference between crime and violent crime, and the cities with a rise in violent crime have the biggest need for forensic psychologists.

1. Raleigh, North Carolina

While Raleigh’s overall crime rate is expected to be lower in 2011 than it has been in years, the city is experiencing an increase in violent crimes. In 2009, Raleigh’s violent crime rate was higher that the national average by 14.77%. If the trend continues in the same direction, the demand for forensic psychologists will only continue.

2. Richmond, Virginia

Unlike Raleigh, Richmond is experiencing a decline in overall crime and violent crime. But, the city’s crime rate is still higher than the national average, which explains why there are jobs available in the field of forensic science. In fact, in 2009 Richmond’s violent crime rate was higher than the national average by 86.88%. So, even when a crime rate is lowering, if it was already unbelievably high the demand for forensic psychologists will still be there.

3. Austin – Round Rock, Texas

Austin’s overall crime rate and violent crime rate are both increasing and it is expected that both rates will be higher in 2011. While the violent crime rate is 21.86% higher than the national average, the city’s property crime rate is a whopping 106.12% higher than the national percentage.

4. Santa Rosa – Petaluma, California

Like Raleigh, Santa Rosa is experiencing a lowering of its overall crime rate while it’s violent crimes increase. For 2009 the city’s violent crime rate was higher than the national average by 19.45%. Because of this increase, you can expect the need for forensic psychologists to continue.

5. San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio is another US city that is experiencing an increase in overall crime and violent crimes. And this trend is expected to continue. San Antonio’s violent crime rate was 32.95% higher than the national average for 2009. Its property crime rate was higher than the national average by 120.71%. If the trend continues over the next few years and crime continues to go up, the need for forensic psychologists will be greater.

Right now these are the five cities that have the largest number of forensic psychologists. As their violent crime rates continue, they will need to hire more workers in the field of forensic psychology to keep up with the demand. And as the field becomes more established, other cities will follow suit, hiring forensic psychologists to help them solve crimes. While the rates of violent crimes differ from year to year, it is easy to see from past trends where the crime rate will be most serious.

Are you interested in a career in forensic psychology? If so, what about the job appeals to you the most?

post by David Arkham

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Posted by Make The List Staff on September 22, 2011. Filed under Science, The List. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry