Evidence for Mental Health Professionals
Live online and in-person at ILPPP
May 15, 2023, 9:00 AM - 11:45 AM ET
Attorney Q&A to follow, 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET
REGISTER HERE >>
ADDITIONAL UPDATE: Following the presentation from Dr. DeMatteo, we will host a panel of expert attorneys from 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET, including:
James Peterson, Esq: Trial Attorney, Mental Health Litigation Unit, U.S. Department of Justice—Criminal Division
Laura Rose, Esq.: Mental Health Specialist for the Trial Division, Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia
These attorneys have extensive experience working with mental health experts. They will respond to clinician questions prompted by Dr. DeMatteo’s presentation and be available to answer other clinician questions about expert testimony and related matters
UPDATE: This training will now also be offered live online, in addition to in-person at ILPPP! As our room limit is at capacity, new registration after May 1, 2023, is open only for online attendance.
Trainees who have already registered prior to May 1, 2023, may attend in-person as was the original plan, or may attend online if they prefer. In-person training will be held in our classroom at the UVA Institute of Law, Psychiatry, & Public Policy, 1230 Cedars Court, Suite 108, Charlottesville, VA 22903. There is free parking on-site.
This half-day training will focus on evidence—expert reports and testimony—provided by mental health professionals in criminal and civil legal proceedings. After providing a brief legal primer, this presentation will describe the roles of mental health experts in the U.S. justice system and examine the admissibility standards for expert evidence provided by governing case law (Frye & Daubert) and various rules of evidence (e.g., Federal Rules of Evidence, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure). This presentation will also cover other topics related to the provision of expert reports and testimony by mental health professionals, including the bases of expert testimony, the rule against hearsay, subpoenas vs. show-cause orders vs. court orders, release of test materials, the role of discovery, answering the ultimate legal issue, ethics and professionalism, testifying to a “reasonable degree of scientific certainty,” and tips for handling cross-examination.
This introductory program is well-suited for forensic mental health professionals or clinicians interested in entering the forensic field. Please contact us for detailed information about the day’s schedule.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of the program, participants will be able to:
Describe the admissibility standards for expert evidence articulated by the Supreme Court of the United States.
Describe the federal rules of evidence that govern the recognition of experts and admissibility of expert evidence.
Identify several ethical and professional issues associated with the provision of expert evidence by mental health professionals in legal proceedings.
The Instructor
Dr. David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, ABPP is a Professor of Psychology and Professor of Law at Drexel University, and Director of Drexel’s JD/PhD Program in Law & Psychology. He holds a PhD in clinical psychology (forensic emphasis) from MCP Hahnemann University and a JD from Villanova Law School. His research interests include psychopathy, forensic mental health assessment, and diversion of justice-involved individuals. He has published 12 books and more than 150 articles and book chapters, and he has given more than 200 presentations and workshops. As Chair of the American Psychological Association’s Committee on Legal Issues, he assisted with several amicus curiae briefs submitted to the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Divisions 12 & 41) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. He is board certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology, and he is currently President of the American Board of Forensic Psychology. Dr. DeMatteo is also a former President of the American Psychology-Law Society (APA Division 41). He is currently Chair of the Committee to Revise the APA Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology. He conducts forensic mental health assessments of adults and adolescents on a variety of legal issues, and he has testified as an expert witness in several state and federal courts.
Neither the instructors nor the program planning committee (Daniel Murrie, Ph.D., Lucy Guarnera, Ph.D., & Angela Torres, Ph.D.) have any conflicts of interest or commercial support to disclose.
Continuing Education
Participants can expect to receive up to 2.5 hours of continuing education credits (CEUs) approved by the American Psychological Association (APA). ILPPP is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. ILPPP maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer continuing education for psychiatrists, attorneys, or social workers at this time. Please contact us with any questions.
Training Fees
$145: Standard registration
$75: Employees of Virginia DBHDS or a Community Services Board (CSB)
Please note that the reduced rate is available only for DBHDS and CSB employees, rather than all state employees, because DBHDS partially sponsors this training program.
Occasionally large facilities or state agencies outside Virginia want to send a team of trainees, for whom we can arrange a discounted group rate. Please contact us to discuss such arrangements.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours prior to the start of the training. All cancellations are assessed a $50 cancellation fee to cover administrative costs.
Please allow 30 days to receive a refund. Refunds will be processed according to the original payment method.
How to Register
Click the button below to register via UVA’s secure payment page. Approximately one week prior to the training, you will receive an email with detailed attendance instructions. Please contact training coordinator Dr. Daniel Murrie with questions.
Your credit card statement will read “UVA ILPPP PROGRAM CONF FEES” for this purchase.