4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on A New Way to Write Forensic Reports is presented by Terry Kukor, PhD., ABPP, in partnership with The American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP).

This program focuses on a bold new way of approaching forensic report writing. Ever wonder why we structure our forensic reports as we do or why we include some things that don’t seem pertinent in forensic reports? Do you dread typing or dictating lengthy histories? Do you struggle to make decisions about what data points are relevant in forensic reports? Have longer reports left you wondering if anyone reads more than the conclusion? If so, this program can help. It identifies specific strategies for decision-making about what data to include and practical approaches for implementing these strategies in report writing. 

It begins by focusing on core principles upon which efforts to reformulate the structure of forensic reports should be based. We anchor these principles to primary sources of authority related to forensic evaluations and report writing. This leads to a step-by-step review of how to map clinical data to functional legal capacities effectively. Finally, this program ties this all together and introduces a novel report-writing strategy that emphasizes efficiency, clarity, and relevancy.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the rationale for restructuring reports summarizing forensic evaluations
  • 2 Describe principles to guide the restructuring process
  • 3 Describe models for restructured reports that meet professional standards and legal needs
  • 4 Describe specific methods for maximizing relevancy in forensic reports
Presented By

Terry Kukor, Ph.D., ABPP

Terry Kukor, Ph.D., ABPP, is board certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. In late 2023 he retired from his salaried position at the Netcare Forensic Center in Columbus, Ohio, where he had held a variety of roles including Director of Forensic Services, Senior Forensic Psychologist, and Training Director for the Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology. He is now in independent practice. 

Dr. Kukor has specialized in criminal forensic evaluation for more than 30 years, and has performed or consulted on thousands of criminal forensic psychological evaluations. Dr. Kukor currently serves as an Associate Faculty in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University. He is a past Co-Chair for the American Academy of Forensic Psychology CE Workshops. In 2016 he was presented the Howard H. Sokolov Forensic Mental Health Leadership Award by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. In 2019 he was recognized with the Distinguished Contributions to Forensic Psychology Award by AAFP. Passionate about finding ways to improve forensic practice with critical thinking, Dr. Kukor conducts workshops on relevancy focused report writing, sanity evaluations, and critical thinking in forensic assessment.


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  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health and allied professionals who specialize in forensic psychology, particularly those involved in conducting and writing forensic evaluations.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Forensic Psychologists
    • Clinical Psychologists
    • Psychiatrists
    • Licensed Clinical Social Workers
    • Licensed Professional Counselors
    • Forensic Evaluators
    • Neuropsychologists

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for mental health professionals at various stages of experience with forensic report writing.

    • Beginner: Participants new to forensic report writing or with limited experience will gain foundational knowledge of core principles, relevant standards, and practical strategies for structuring effective reports.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience in forensic evaluations and report writing will deepen their understanding of decision-making about data inclusion, learn to apply restructuring models, and enhance report clarity and relevancy.

    • Advanced: Participants with extensive experience in forensic report writing will refine their skills by integrating novel, evidence-based strategies to maximize efficiency and meet evolving professional and legal standards.

  • Practice Setting

    They practice at the intersection of mental health and law, conducting evaluations in both secure and community-based environments where legal questions drive clinical decision-making. The work is structured, documentation-heavy, and evidence-based, emphasizing efficient mapping of clinical data to functional legal capacities, collaboration with legal stakeholders, and clear, defensible reporting that may include testimony.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Court clinics and courthouses
    • Jails, prisons, and detention centers
    • Forensic psychiatric units and state hospitals
    • Community mental health centers
    • Private practice/independent clinics
    • Academic medical centers
    • Juvenile justice programs
    • Government agencies (e.g., probation, parole, public defender/prosecutor offices)
We are proud to partner with

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

We are proud to partner with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) for this training. AAFP is a non-profit organization of board-certified forensic psychologists whose mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of forensic psychology as a specialized field of study, research, and practice. The Academy does this by providing high-quality continuing education workshops, providing a forum for the exchange of scientific information among its members, and conferring awards upon outstanding students and practitioners in the field of forensic psychology.

Learn More About Our Partner

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.