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The 7 best courses in Legal Psychology, Forensic and Penitentiary

The 7 best courses in Legal Psychology, Forensic and Penitentiary

April 5, 2024

Although Legal Psychology is not equal to forensic psychology or penitentiary , are areas that are often related. The truth is that each of these specializations is composed of its own characteristics, and it is important to highlight the need for psychologists to train in these areas of behavioral science to be able to exercise with full guarantee in this field of application (if that is his desire).

Psychology it is applied in the courts of justice, in the prisons and the centers of reinsertion social, in the prevention of violence, for the study of the specificities or peculiarities of the behavior of criminals, etc. Therefore, the work of psychologists is fundamental in these contexts.


If you want to know the differences between these areas of psychology, you can read these articles:

  • "Legal Psychology: the point of union between Psychology and Law"
  • "Differences between criminal psychology and forensic psychology"
  • "Forensic Psychology: definition and functions of the forensic psychologist"

The best courses in Legal, Forensic and Penitentiary Psychology

There are different quality training options around the Spanish territory, but ... What are the best courses in legal, forensic and penitentiary psychology?

In the following lines you can find a list with the best training bets in these specialties.


1. Basic Foundations of Legal and Forensic Psychology (UNED)

  • Center: National University of Distance Education
  • Location: Online
  • Duration: 6 months
  • Price: € 240

This course in Legal Psychology is an excellent option for those interested in entering and specializing in this field, enjoying the advantages of online format. From this program and training work theoretical and practical knowledge of this interesting professional field that drinks both Psychology and the world of Law.

In particular, this course of the UNED focuses on training in processes of prevention, evaluation, research and explanation of psychological processes linked to the legal behavior of people.

This training proposal belongs to the program to the postgraduate program of this university and at the time of completion, it is possible to cursor other similar courses.


2. Course in Legal and Forensic Psychology Update (Autonomous University of Barcelona)

  • Center: UAB
  • Location: Barcelona
  • Duration: 1 month
  • Price: € 200

This course is ideal to stay updated in the field of legal and forensic psychology both in children and adolescents. This training is included in the "Diploma in Emotional Disorders and Child and Adolescent Legal Psychopathology" and in the "Master's Degree in Child-Juvenile Clinical Psychopathology", but it is possible to study it separately.

It is a theoretical training that aims to provide knowledge on the evaluation and therapeutic processes related to legal and forensic psychology in different topics: child abuse, psychological and physical abuse, divorce and separation, gender violence , etc. It also offers the possibility of deepening everything related to the expert report.

To be able to take the course it is necessary to have a background in psychology, and the program management must assess the admission.

3. Course in Legal and Forensic Psychology Update (ISEP)

  • Center: ISEP
  • Location: Madrid
  • Duration: 50 hours
  • Price: Consult

This blended course offers a range of training that covers all the main aspects of Forensic Psychology. In it, contents such as forensic expertise, Forensic Psychology in the field of the company are worked on, gender violence, mental disorders and their forensic implications and many other types of knowledge linked to this discipline.

It has a face-to-face and distance learning period, and its completion leads to obtaining the qualification Advanced Specialization Course in Forensic Psychology issued by ISEP.

4. Intervention of the Psychologist in the Judicial Context (PsicoJurix)

  • Center: PsicoJurix
  • Location: Alicante
  • Location: Alicante
  • Price: € 150 + VAT

A course aimed at training in the fundamental aspects of the intervention of psychologists in the judicial field. It has a methodology that combines theory and practice based on the realization of exercises (including the use of simulations and role-playing), with the advantage of all this in the context of small groups where it is very easy to have feedback from teachers.

5. Contributions of Psychology to the Administration of Justice (COPCV)

  • Center: Col·legi Oficial de Psicòlegs de la Comunitat Valenciana
  • Location: Alicante
  • Duration: request information
  • Price: € 301

A course in which you learn what is the role of psychologists in judicial processes , since you start your work from the initial report to the completion of the oral trial. It is intended for professionals of Psychology or students of last year of the university career.

6. University expert in criminal and forensic psychological expertise (University of Valencia)

  • Center: UV
  • Location: Online
  • Duration: 6 months
  • Price: € 660

This course is about a Postgraduate degree that is aimed at professionals, graduates or graduates in psychology, social work and law. It is a theoretical and practical course which delves into research, theories, evaluation, prevention and treatment both in the field of penal and penitentiary legal psychology, as well as in family and minor legal psychology.

It is taught from the prestigious University of Valencia, so its formative quality is excellent. The program delves into different topics that allow a good basis to exercise in the professional context with the maximum guarantees: forensic psychopathology, evaluation in forensic psychology, psychology of crime, victimology, etc. It has an extension of 20 ECTS credits.

7. Course in Forensic Psychology (Higher Institute of Psychological Aperture Training)

  • Center: ISFAP
  • Location: Online
  • Duration: 4 months
  • Price: € 125

A course that helps to know historical perspective of the field of forensic psychology and delve into the fundamental concepts for good professional development in this area of ​​specialization.

Through this ISFAP training option it is possible to acquire the tools to practice as an expert in this field, as well as know and apply the evaluation techniques of witnesses and other participants with a competence on the imputability. Pay special attention to the psychological disorders that affect this context. This course is online and lasts 4 months.


Crime: Crash Course Sociology #20 (April 2024).


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