Psychology, Crime and Justice

Psychology, crime, and justice is a discipline that brings psychological science to bear on some of the most important and contested questions in the criminal justice system. It asks why people commit crimes, how memory and perception affect eyewitness testimony, what psychological assessment can tell us about offenders, how people can be effectively rehabilitated, and what the experience of being a victim, a suspect, or a prisoner does to the human mind. The field draws on cognitive, social, developmental, and clinical psychology, applying them to the forensic and justice context.

This three-year full-time degree at the University of Bedfordshire was previously known as Forensic Psychology and retains its specialist forensic psychology units, which have been developed with a panel of industry professionals to ensure they reflect current practice. You will study the psychological principles that underpin criminal behaviour and justice processes, develop your research and analytical skills, and engage with the practical applications of psychology in policing, courts, prisons, and rehabilitation settings. The typical entry tariff of 120 points makes the programme accessible while the specialist content ensures depth and professional relevance.

Graduates go on to careers in the criminal justice system, including work in the prison service, probation, police forces, forensic mental health services, victim support organisations, and social work. Many pursue postgraduate training in forensic psychology, which is required for Chartered Forensic Psychologist status with the British Psychological Society, and others go into research, policy, or academic roles. The combination of psychological understanding, research skills, and justice system knowledge also opens doors in policy analysis, social research, and the voluntary sector working with offenders, victims, and vulnerable groups.

Those who completed the Forensic Psychology version of this course and those entering the Psychology, Crime and Justice version gain equivalent specialist preparation.