Panel Discussion 26 - Preparing Clinical Psychology Trainees for Work in Forensic Settings: The Development and Oversight of Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Training in Jails, Prisons, Juvenile Facilities, and State Hospitals

There is a critical need for evidence-based assessment and treatment in forensic and correctional settings, with 50-60% of people in prisons and jails meeting criteria for substance use and other disorders. Moreover, specialized assessments that must be completed by forensic psychologists (e.g., competency to stand trial) are commonly needed for legally-involved populations. However, there are limited opportunities for clinical psychology students to receive training in forensic settings and most trainees graduate without any experience working with legally-involved populations (Otto & Heilbrun, 2019; Magaletta et al., 2013). This limits the number of psychologists who can competently provide evidence-based services in forensic settings and contributes to treatment disparities. The four members of this panel have been pioneers in building forensic training opportunities for clinical psychology students at the predoctoral and postdoctoral levels. With decades of collective experience developing, implementing, and overseeing clinical forensic training tracks, this panel will review the importance of integrating forensic experiences at multiple points in the training sequence (i.e., externship, internship, postdoctoral) and in multiple settings (i.e., jails, prisons, state hospitals, juvenile facilities). The implementation process will be discussed, including how to build partnerships and training infrastructure within criminal legal agencies, and critical aspects of overseeing and sustaining these programs, including securing funding, obtaining accreditation, and providing clinical supervision. The panel will describe several specialized forensic training experiences (e.g., competency restoration, substance use disorder treatment, neuropsychological assessment, violence/risk assessment). Our panel also features clinical psychology trainees who will share the impact forensic training experiences had on their professional goals. Given that many individuals with substance use and other mental health disorders experience legal problems at some point, it is critical for clinical psychologists to have formal opportunities to train in forensic and correctional settings.