Forensic psychiatry is a branch of psychiatry deling with the assessment and treatment of offenders in prisons, secure hospitals and the community with mental health problems. It requires a sophisticated understanding of the links between mental health and the law. Forensic psychiatrists work closely with the legal system to determine competency of defendants to stand trial, give expert witness testimony in court, help make recommendations for defense tactics and sentencing, help solve crimes, and treat mental illness in criminals. According to the BLS, psychiatrists earn an average of $177,330 a year. The bottom 10 percent earn less than $70,920 while the top 10 percent earn more than $187,199 a year. Most forensic psychiatrists get paid by the hour for their work. The average hourly rate a psychiatrist charges, according to the BLS, is $85.35