Kirk Heilbrun, PhD - Drexel University

TITLE: Guidelines for Effectively Conceptualizing, Conducting, and Communicating Forensic Psychological Evaluations (70 min.) LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Compare forensic and therapeutic evaluation 2. Describe important sources of information in law, science, ethics, and practice 3. Define the major steps in conceptualizing a specific forensic evaluation 4. Explain the major steps in conducting a specific forensic evaluation 5. Identify the major steps in communicating the results of a specific forensic evaluation. ABSTRACT: Forensic psychological evaluations conducted at the request of judges and attorneys are now associated with clear guidelines influenced by relevant law, science, ethics, and practice standards. This introductory-level webinar will briefly describe the nature of forensic assessment, focusing on the distinction between such assessment and other kinds of psychological evaluation. It will identify important sources of authority with which evaluators must be familiar and summarize the guidelines relevant to conceptualizing, conducting, and communicating the results of forensic evaluations. BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Kirk Heilbrun is currently Professor and Interim Head, Department of Psychology, Drexel University, and co-director of the Pennsylvania Mental Health and Justice Center of Excellence. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology in 1980 from the University of Texas at Austin and completed postdoctoral fellowship training from 1981-82 in psychology and criminal justice at Florida State University. His current research focuses on juvenile and adult offenders, legal decision-making, forensic evaluation associated with such decision-making, and diversion. He is the author of a number of articles on forensic assessment, violence risk assessment and risk communication, and the treatment of mentally disordered offenders, and he has published 10 books in this area. His practice interests also center on forensic assessment, and he directs a clinic within the Drexel Department of Psychology in this area. He is board certified in Clinical Psychology and in Forensic Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology, and has previously served as president of both the American Psychology-Law Psychology/APA Division 41, and the American Board of Forensic Psychology. He received the 2004 Distinguished Contributions to Forensic Psychology award and the 2008 Beth Clark Distinguished Service Contribution Award from the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. USER RATINGS: 3.9 out of 5 STARS (12) American Psychological Association (APA) Buros Center for Testing is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Buros Center for Testing maintains responsibility for this program and its content. National Association of School Psychologists Buros Center for Testing is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Buros Center for Testing maintains responsibility for this program and its content. There is no known commercial support for this program. INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLEMENTS PROVIDED WHEN PURCHASED FOR A COURSE: PowerPoint slides References/additional readings For a brief preview of this video, click link below.