What is a criminologist?

A criminologist in Quebec is a regulated professional who works at the intersection of the justice system, psychology, and criminal sociology to support offenders, victims, and vulnerable individuals.

A criminologist in Quebec acts primarily as a clinician and helping professional.

Core Role and Responsibilities

• Psychosocial and Risk Assessments: Evaluate an individual's needs, strengths, protective factors, and criminogenic risk (such as risk of recidivism or violence).

• Intervention Planning: Develop and implement personalized rehabilitation and support plans.

• Client Support: Work with voluntary or involuntary clients, including offenders, crime victims, families, and individuals dealing with substance abuse, intimate partner violence, or mental health struggles.

• Judicial Process Guidance: Accompany clients through the legal system and occasionally provide expert reports or testimony for the courts.

• Crime Prevention: Design programs and make recommendations regarding public safety and social reintegration.

Legal Status and Qualifications in Quebec

• Reserved Title & Regulation: The title of criminologist (criminologue) is legally reserved and regulated in Quebec.

• Order Membership: To practice as a criminologist, one must be a registered member of the Ordre professionnel des criminologues du Québec (OPCQ).

• Education: Requires a specialized undergraduate (bachelor's) or graduate (master's) degree in criminology from an accredited university program (such as Université de Montréal or Université Laval).