Although legal psychology is not the same as forensic or prison psychology , they 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 be trained in these areas of behavioral science in order to be able to practice with total guarantee in this field of application (if that is their wish).

Psychology is applied in the courts of justice, in prisons and social reintegration centres , in the prevention of violence, for the study of the specificities or peculiarities of the behaviour 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 Junction 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 prison psychology

There are different quality training options around the Spanish territory, but… what are the best courses in legal, forensic and prison 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 Euros

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

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

This training proposal belongs to the graduate 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 (Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona)

  • Centre: UAB
  • Location: Barcelona
  • Duration: 1 month
  • Price: 200 euros

This course is ideal for keeping up to date in the field of legal and forensic psychology in both children and adolescents. This training is included in the “Diploma in Emotional Disorders and Child and Adolescent Legal Psychopathology” and in the “Master in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychopathology”, but it is possible to take it separately.

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

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

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

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

This semi-presential course offers a range of training that covers all the main aspects of Forensic Psychology. It includes contents such as forensic expertise, Forensic Psychology in the business environment, gender violence, mental disorders and their forensic implications and many other types of knowledge linked to this discipline.

It has an attendance period and a distance learning period, and its completion leads to the degree of Higher Specialization Course in Forensic Psychology issued by ISEP.

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

  • 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 performance of exercises (including the use of simulations and role-playing), with the advantage of giving all this in the context of small groups in which it is very easy to get feedback from the teachers.

5.Psychology’s Contribution to the Administration of Justice (COPCV)

  • Centre: Col-legi Oficial de Psicòlegs de la Comunitat Valenciana
  • Location: Alicante
  • Duration: ask for information
  • Price: 301 euros

A course in which one learns what the role of psychologists is in judicial processes , from the beginning of their work from the initial report to the completion of the oral trial. It is aimed at psychology professionals or students in their final year of university studies.

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

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

This course is a postgraduate degree that is aimed at professionals, graduates or undergraduates in psychology, social work and law. It is a theoretical and practical course in which research, theories, evaluation, prevention and treatment are studied in depth both in the field of criminal and penitentiary legal psychology and in family and minor legal psychology.

It is taught from the prestigious University of Valencia, so its educational quality is excellent. The program goes into different subjects that allow to obtain a good base to practice in the professional context with the maximum guarantees: forensic psychopathology, evaluation in forensic psychology, psychology of the delinquency, victimology, etc. It has an extension of 20 ECTS credits.

7. Course on Forensic Psychology (Instituto Superior de Formación Apertura Psicológica)

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

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

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