Program

Fellows gain expertise in forensic mental health assessment through training and supervision in three broad areas: clinical forensic experience, didactic and experiential learning, and research.

Clinical Forensic Experience

By Maine statute, the State Forensic Service oversees all court ordered mental health evaluations in adult and juvenile cases pursuant to criminal matters.  The unique statewide nature of the State Forensic Service ensures Fellows have opportunities to conduct forensic mental health assessments covering an assortment of referral questions, settings, and circumstances with individuals from a variety of backgrounds.  The fellowship trains examiners to consider the historical and systemic impact of prejudice in both the mental health and criminal justice systems on the individuals they assess. Fellows gain experience conducting evaluations in a variety of settings (and conveying to the court the benefits and limitations of such), including in jails or prisons, hospital visiting rooms, local courthouses, by videoconference, and at the offices of attorneys and the State Forensic Service.

Forensic mental health assessment in criminal court matters is the major area of study.  All Fellows conduct evaluations on competence to stand trial, criminal responsibility and abnormal condition of mind, and violence risk assessment with adult defendants. Fellows have the opportunity to conduct evaluations for at least one other type of referral question, which may include any of the above referrals with a juvenile defendant, juvenile bindover to adult court, and recommendations for treatment and sentencing. Referrals are primarily for evaluations with pretrial defendants, but Fellows also conduct risk assessments for individuals acquitted of crimes after a finding of Not Criminally Responsible and may have an opportunity for involvement in a post-conviction review.

Fellows work with and learn from at least three different supervisors with advanced training and experience in forensic mental health assessment.  Fellows are assigned a different direct supervisor for each of three four-month rotations (September to December, January to April, and May to August).  Fellows may also work with someone other than one of their three primary supervisors for individual case assignments.  In addition, Fellows participate in supervision with the Training Director focused on their overall training plan and professional development.

Didactic and Experiential Learning

Fellows receive education on the legal, ethical, and practice foundations of forensic psychology through weekly didactic seminars as well as other formal training experiences. Our didactic series is designed to inform Fellows on a wide range of areas relevant to forensic practice, consistent with the recommendations put forth in the Education and Training Guidelines for Forensic Psychology (2007). The didactic series is broken into two primary sessions: one on forensic mental health and one on landmark mental health case law.

• The forensic mental health didactic reviews the history of mental health practitioner participation in legal contexts, foundations of forensic mental health assessment, specialty areas of assessment in criminal arenas, specialty areas of assessment in civil arenas, and juvenile justice, among others. Fellows learn about specialized forensic assessment instruments relevant to these areas and how to utilize research findings to guide practice. Fellows learn the context in which historical changes to forensic mental health research and practice occurred, including the impact of American systems and differences observed internationally. They explore factors that continue to impact disparities in access to mental health care and sentencing for black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities.
• The landmark mental health case law didactic provides a foundation of skills necessary for reading legal cases and understanding their relevance to forensic mental health practice. Fellows learn to read case law and write case briefs in order to understand the essential elements of these cases for practicing forensic psychology. Fellows learn to apply Constitutional principles to forensic psychology practice, as well as the relevant statutory and regulatory framework. Fellows learn the sources of law to review to answer future questions that may arise during their forensic psychology practices.

In addition to these didactics, Fellows participate in other experiential learning activities. All Fellows gain valuable testimony experience. They participate in a mock trial during the training year, and Fellows may have the opportunity to testify in court on their own evaluations. Fellows are also responsible for teaching at least one didactic for clinical doctoral students, interns, other trainees, and their supervisors. Topics may include their research interests, specialty practice area, case study, or any other area relevant to the practice of forensic psychology. Toward the end of the training year, Fellows deliver a formal case presentation to their supervisors incorporating their experiential and didactic learning. They are expected to demonstrate an understanding of how individual and sociological factors impacted their case conceptualization. Finally, Fellows are invited to attend workshops hosted by the State Forensic Service that provide continuing education to practicing examiners and other professionals with related interests (e.g., state hospital staff, practicing attorneys). Recent workshop topics included the development of a new instrument to assess intervention needs and treatment progress in youth with problematic sexual behavior, conducting forensic evaluations with transgender individuals, and the factors relevant to forensic assessment in domestic violence cases.

Research

Ten percent of Fellows’ time is reserved for research-related activities. The primary goal of the research component of the fellowship program is to advance Fellows’ professional goals through engagement in research. The secondary goal is to contribute to the advancement of the field through sharing of research findings. We anticipate all Fellows will, at a minimum, be active consumers of relevant research on issues related to their individual cases. Fellows are also encouraged to engage in independent and collaborative research projects. Early in the year, Fellows work with a mentor to develop an individualized research plan based on their interests. Projects may take a variety of forms. The statewide data at the State Forensic Service offers Fellows a unique opportunity to examine historical trends and system-level research questions. Funding is available for Fellows to attend professional conferences and present research.