Psychologist Fabian Schacht Discusses Forensic Psychology Practice
On April 29, 2026, forensic psychologist Fabian Schacht provided insights into the interdisciplinary field of forensic psychology, focusing on work within the correctional system.
Forensic psychologist Fabian Schacht offered an overview of the field on April 29, 2026, detailing the interdisciplinary nature of forensic psychology and the daily realities of working within the correctional system.
Schacht, with experience from the judicial authority and the Institute for Forensic Psychology and Forensic Medicine in Hamburg, described the broad scope of forensic psychology. The discipline encompasses sub-fields such as statement psychology, criminal psychology, victimology, and police psychology, operating wherever law intersects with psychology. He emphasized that practical experience gathered early on is crucial for career entry, more so than a perfect academic record.
The evening's core topic was the psychological service within correctional facilities. Schacht currently works at JVA Bochum with adult male offenders, noting the significant psychological burden of this population. Approximately two-thirds of inmates exhibit personality disorders, with nearly half showing antisocial traits. The psychological service's role is multifaceted, including diagnostics, prognoses, individual and group therapies, and advising other staff and management.
Criminal therapy focuses on recidivism prevention and reintegration. This involves reactivating protective factors and mitigating criminogenic ones, utilizing psychotherapeutic methods like behavioral therapy and schema therapy, alongside offense-specific group programs for violent and sex offenders. A key question is the likelihood of re-offending and the necessary changes to reduce it.
Schacht also addressed the challenges of this field, such as dealing with severe offenses, therapy within a coercive context, the tension between security interests and individual treatment goals, and working in a "total institution." He stressed that psychological treatment is one of many factors on the path to a life without further offenses, highlighting the importance of valuing small progress and maintaining professional distance.