4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Criminal Competency and Responsibility in Individuals with ASD is presented by Bob Stinson, PsyD, JD, ABPP, and A.J McConnell, PsyD, in partnership with The American Academy of Forensic Psychology.

There are over 3 million individuals in the United States diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and prevalence estimates rates have doubled since 2000. Criminal competency evaluations and criminal responsibility evaluations are two of the most common criminal forensic evaluations completed. This program provides information and practical guidance for assessing criminal competency and criminal responsibility in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, with an emphasis on how characteristics of the disorder uniquely affect relevant psycholegal abilities.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe common characteristics of criminal offenders diagnosed with ASD
  • 2 Describe how attributes of ASD are most likely to impact psycholegal capacities related to criminal competency and criminal responsibility
  • 3 Describe key tools for use in assessing persons with ASD
  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals who want to develop specialized expertise in assessing criminal competency and criminal responsibility in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is particularly relevant for those working at the intersection of law and mental health, including forensic and clinical psychology, psychiatry, social work, counseling, and related fields.

    • Forensic Psychologist
    • Clinical Psychologist
    • Psychiatrist
    • Social Worker
    • Counselor
    • Allied Mental Health Professional
    • Mental Health Professional
    • Professionals working in legal or criminal justice contexts
  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with varying levels of experience in forensic assessment and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

    Beginner:
    New to conducting criminal competency and responsibility evaluations, with limited experience assessing individuals with ASD.

    Intermediate:
    Some experience with forensic evaluations and basic familiarity with ASD, seeking to deepen understanding of how ASD characteristics impact psycholegal capacities.

    Advanced:
    Extensive experience in forensic mental health assessment, including work with individuals with ASD, aiming to refine specialized assessment strategies and integrate advanced tools.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who assess criminal competency and criminal responsibility in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) typically work in environments where mental health and legal systems intersect. These settings may include forensic hospitals, correctional facilities, court clinics, private forensic practices, community mental health centers, and academic or research institutions. Their work often involves collaborating with legal professionals, providing expert testimony, conducting comprehensive assessments, and preparing detailed reports for courts or legal proceedings. The environment is structured, multidisciplinary, and may involve both direct client interaction and consultation with legal or clinical teams.

    • Forensic psychiatric hospitals
    • State or county court clinics
    • Correctional facilities (jails, prisons)
    • Private forensic assessment practices
    • Community mental health centers with forensic services
    • Academic medical centers or university-based forensic programs
    • Juvenile justice facilities
    • Law enforcement agencies with mental health consultation units
    • Government agencies

Presented By

Bob Stinson, PsyD, JD, ABPP, Board-Certified Forensic Psychologist

Bob Stinson, Psy.D., J.D., LICDC-CS, ABPP, is a board-certified forensic psychologist, an attorney at law, and a licensed independent chemical dependency counselor – clinical supervisor. Dr. Stinson is listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) and a Diplomate in forensic psychology with the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). He serves on the faculty of the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP). Dr. Stinson is a Past-President of the Central Ohio Psychological Association, the Ohio Psychological Association (OPA), and AAFP. He is a long-time member and past-Chair of the OPA Ethics Committee. Dr. Stinson has been an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Psychology at Wright State University’s School of Professional Psychology, an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Psychology at The Ohio State University Department of Psychology, a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and an Adjunct Professor of Law at The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law. Dr. Stinson worked for 15 years on a forensic unit of an inpatient psychiatric hospital, where he also served on the hospital’s Ethics Committee for a number of years, chairing it for his last two years. Dr. Stinson served as the Chief of Behavioral Health Services for the Ohio Department of Youth Services for over 3 years. Currently, he in private practice, owning a solo and group forensic psychology practice. He provides training and supervision to students, interns, and post-doctoral fellows. He lectures across the country in the areas of mental health law and ethics. In his law practice, he represents professionals as it relates to licensing board issues and related matters.

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Bob  Stinson, PsyD, JD, ABPP

Presented By

A.J. McConnell, PsyD, Psychologist at Forum Ohio, LLC.,

A.J. McConnell, Psy.D., NADD-CC is a psychologist at Forum Ohio, LLC., in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. McConnell’s expertise is in forensic evaluations of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities. He is also responsible for training and providing supervision as part of Forum Ohio LLC.’s Postdoctoral Fellowship, which has been granted the forensic psychology waiver by the American Board of Forensic Psychology. Dr. McConnell is also part-time faculty at The Ohio State University. He serves as the chair of the Education Committee for the Ohio Psychological Association and the chair of the Ohio Attorney General Task on Criminal Justice and Mental Illness: Best Practices and Mental Health Training for Jails.

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A.J.  McConnell, PsyD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • First, review the information and practical guidance for assessing criminal competency and criminal responsibility in individuals with ASD

  • Emphasize how ASD characteristics of the disorder uniquely affect relevant psycholegal abilities

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.

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).



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) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 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), SW CPE 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 and 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. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #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. CONCEPT Professional Training 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.