Online Training Programs
In recent years, there has been an increasing focus upon the competence to proceed of youth being adjudicated in juvenile and adult courts. Since 2015, Dr. Kruh has partnered with Concept/Palo Alto University to offer training programs for practicing forensic mental health professionals relevant to conducting juvenile competence evaluations. These trainings are available online (by clicking on a title below). They include all materials and worksheets. Continuing education credits are available.
Best Practices in the Evaluation of Competence to Stand Trial in Juveniles
Fee: $500
Commitment: 20 hours
This comprehensive workshop focuses on conducting juvenile adjudicative competence evaluations that meet a best practices standard. In addition to didactic teaching, the training emphasizes the use of cases to highlight relevant issues and includes activities to help participants hone their interviewing, record reviewing, data interpretation, and report writing skills. This training was presented at the first Summer Forensic Institute hosted by John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2015.
The training covers foundational issues, including the evolution of legislation regarding juvenile competence and differences in legislation across states. The manner in which these legal standards can be translated into measurable forensic concepts is discussed, with a focus on how these concepts differ between juvenile and adult cases. The current empirical literature relevant to juvenile adjudicative competence is reviewed, with particular focus on the intersection of adolescent development and court-related functioning. All of this background sets the stage for a detailed discussion of conducting juvenile adjudicative competence evaluations. Preparation for the evaluation and the data collection process are examined, with particular focus upon developmentally sensitive competence interviewing, the role of available Forensic Assessment Instruments in juvenile adjudicative competence evaluations, and the importance of third-party corroboration. Methods for interpretation and integration of data are offered, as well as strategies for effective communication of findings. Throughout this discussion there is a focus upon sensitivity to functional limitations based in normal child development and developmental psychopathology. Juvenile competence remediation is also highlighted.
Conceptualizing and Applying Developmental Immaturity in Juvenile Competence Evaluations
Fee: $200
Commitment: 4 hours
State statutes increasingly recognize developmental immaturity as a basis for youth in juvenile court to be found incompetent. Participants learn key developmental concepts for clarity about relevant developmental issues, with a focus upon cognitive and psychosocial immaturity. The training program addresses how developmental immaturity impacts the interview process with practice interviewing in ways that accommodate various developmental profiles. This training was initially provided to the juvenile competence evaluators and attainment providers working with the Maryland Department of Health in 2020.
Developmentally Sensitive Competence Interviewing Using the JACI
Fee: $200
Commitment: 4 hours
State statutes increasingly recognize developmental immaturity as a basis for youth in juvenile court to be found incompetent. Only one focused competence assessment tool, the Juvenile Adjudicative Competency Interview (JACI) was developed specifically for the developmentally-sensitive assessment of competency. This training discusses the development of the JACI with focus upon the ways it considers the potential impact of cognitive and psychosocial immaturity upon a youth’s competence related abilities. The administration and interpretation of the JACI will also be explained (and practiced). This training was initially provided to the juvenile competence evaluators and attainment providers working with the Maryland Department of Health in 2020.
The Five Question Model to Conducting Juvenile Competency Evaluations
Fee: $150
Commitment: 3 hours
Evaluation quality is enhanced when a conceptual model is used that guides data gathering, data interpretation, and the communication of findings in a manner consistent with scientific, empirical, and ethical standards. The most widely accepted model for guiding evaluations of competence to stand trial was offered by Thomas Grisso in 1986 and was applied to juvenile competence evaluations in 2005. The model lays out Functional, Causal, Contextual, Conclusory, and Remediation questions that, when considered and opined upon by evaluators in a systematic manner, yield an effective and informative evaluation and a report that can assist the court. In this program, each of the questions are be explained, relevant research and forensic concepts are offered, and the process of forming opinions within each question is modeled so that participants can apply it to their evaluations. Taught with Christina Riggs Romaine, PhD.
Key Differences Between Juvenile Competency and Adult Competency Evaluations
Fee: $150
Commitment: 3 hours
In recent years, many U.S. jurisdictions have enacted statutory guidance around the conducting of competency evaluations for juvenile court cases. Evaluators with a history of conducting competency evaluations in criminal court cases may be required, recruited, or asked to assist with competency evaluations of juveniles. However, there are critical differences between these two tasks. This program reviews the types of questions, data, and analyses uniquely necessary when conducting juvenile competency evaluations as opposed to competency evaluations of adults. Grisso’s (1986) Five Question Model for conducting competency evaluations is used to structure the discussion. Within each question, participants are introduced to the ways that differences between adolescents and adults, as well as the unique procedures of the juvenile justice context, will impact what must be considered. Taught with Christina Riggs Romaine, PhD.
Case Conceptualization in Juvenile Competency Evaluations
Fee: $150
Commitment: 3 hours
The value of an evaluation model is best appreciated through its applied use. This program focuses on applying Grisso’s (2005) Five-Question Juvenile Competence Evaluation Model to a sample juvenile competence case. Evaluation materials for the case are distributed in a manner that parallels a typical evaluation process in many settings, progressing from the initial referral through collateral information gathering and interviewing of the youth. Taught with Christina Riggs Romaine, PhD.
Presented in collaboration with:
Best Practices in the Evaluation of Competence to Stand Trial in Juveniles
Fee: $500
Commitment: 20 hours
This comprehensive workshop focuses on conducting juvenile adjudicative competence evaluations that meet a best practices standard. In addition to didactic teaching, the training emphasizes the use of cases to highlight relevant issues and includes activities to help participants hone their interviewing, record reviewing, data interpretation, and report writing skills. This training was presented at the first Summer Forensic Institute hosted by John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2015.
The training covers foundational issues, including the evolution of legislation regarding juvenile competence and differences in legislation across states. The manner in which these legal standards can be translated into measurable forensic concepts is discussed, with a focus on how these concepts differ between juvenile and adult cases. The current empirical literature relevant to juvenile adjudicative competence is reviewed, with particular focus on the intersection of adolescent development and court-related functioning. All of this background sets the stage for a detailed discussion of conducting juvenile adjudicative competence evaluations. Preparation for the evaluation and the data collection process are examined, with particular focus upon developmentally sensitive competence interviewing, the role of available Forensic Assessment Instruments in juvenile adjudicative competence evaluations, and the importance of third-party corroboration. Methods for interpretation and integration of data are offered, as well as strategies for effective communication of findings. Throughout this discussion there is a focus upon sensitivity to functional limitations based in normal child development and developmental psychopathology. Juvenile competence remediation is also highlighted.
Conceptualizing and Applying Developmental Immaturity in Juvenile Competence Evaluations
Fee: $200
Commitment: 4 hours
State statutes increasingly recognize developmental immaturity as a basis for youth in juvenile court to be found incompetent. Participants learn key developmental concepts for clarity about relevant developmental issues, with a focus upon cognitive and psychosocial immaturity. The training program addresses how developmental immaturity impacts the interview process with practice interviewing in ways that accommodate various developmental profiles. This training was initially provided to the juvenile competence evaluators and attainment providers working with the Maryland Department of Health in 2020.
Developmentally Sensitive Competence Interviewing Using the JACI
Fee: $200
Commitment: 4 hours
State statutes increasingly recognize developmental immaturity as a basis for youth in juvenile court to be found incompetent. Only one focused competence assessment tool, the Juvenile Adjudicative Competency Interview (JACI) was developed specifically for the developmentally-sensitive assessment of competency. This training discusses the development of the JACI with focus upon the ways it considers the potential impact of cognitive and psychosocial immaturity upon a youth’s competence related abilities. The administration and interpretation of the JACI will also be explained (and practiced). This training was initially provided to the juvenile competence evaluators and attainment providers working with the Maryland Department of Health in 2020.
The Five Question Model to Conducting Juvenile Competency Evaluations
Fee: $150
Commitment: 3 hours
Evaluation quality is enhanced when a conceptual model is used that guides data gathering, data interpretation, and the communication of findings in a manner consistent with scientific, empirical, and ethical standards. The most widely accepted model for guiding evaluations of competence to stand trial was offered by Thomas Grisso in 1986 and was applied to juvenile competence evaluations in 2005. The model lays out Functional, Causal, Contextual, Conclusory, and Remediation questions that, when considered and opined upon by evaluators in a systematic manner, yield an effective and informative evaluation and a report that can assist the court. In this program, each of the questions are be explained, relevant research and forensic concepts are offered, and the process of forming opinions within each question is modeled so that participants can apply it to their evaluations. Taught with Christina Riggs Romaine, PhD.
Key Differences Between Juvenile Competency and Adult Competency Evaluations
Fee: $150
Commitment: 3 hours
In recent years, many U.S. jurisdictions have enacted statutory guidance around the conducting of competency evaluations for juvenile court cases. Evaluators with a history of conducting competency evaluations in criminal court cases may be required, recruited, or asked to assist with competency evaluations of juveniles. However, there are critical differences between these two tasks. This program reviews the types of questions, data, and analyses uniquely necessary when conducting juvenile competency evaluations as opposed to competency evaluations of adults. Grisso’s (1986) Five Question Model for conducting competency evaluations is used to structure the discussion. Within each question, participants are introduced to the ways that differences between adolescents and adults, as well as the unique procedures of the juvenile justice context, will impact what must be considered. Taught with Christina Riggs Romaine, PhD.
Case Conceptualization in Juvenile Competency Evaluations
Fee: $150
Commitment: 3 hours
The value of an evaluation model is best appreciated through its applied use. This program focuses on applying Grisso’s (2005) Five-Question Juvenile Competence Evaluation Model to a sample juvenile competence case. Evaluation materials for the case are distributed in a manner that parallels a typical evaluation process in many settings, progressing from the initial referral through collateral information gathering and interviewing of the youth. Taught with Christina Riggs Romaine, PhD.
Presented in collaboration with:
