4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Evaluating Youth Facing Long Term Sentences in Adult Court is presented by Antoinette E. Kavanaugh, PhD, ABPP, in partnership with The American Academy of Forensic Psychology.

Since the Supreme Court’s decision in Roper v. Simmons, the death penalty cannot be imposed on youthful offenders. When minors are transferred to criminal court, however, they still face lengthy sentences ranging from twenty-plus years to Life Without Parole. The focus of this program is on conducting developmentally sensitive sentencing evaluations of youth and presenting findings in court, with much of the information being relevant to evaluating adults who were previously sentenced to extended sentences in criminal court and are returning to court to be resentenced (i.e., Miller/Graham proceedings).

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the holdings of key US Supreme Court cases regarding sentencing youthful offenders, and the implications for evaluation
  • 2 Describe and employ a model for conducting developmentally sensitive sentencing evaluations of youth appearing in criminal court
  • 3 Describe ethical challenges they are most likely to encounter when conducting these evaluations

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals who are interested in conducting developmentally sensitive sentencing evaluations for youth and young adults facing resentencing. It is particularly relevant for those specializing in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, or related disciplines with a focus on juvenile justice and legal evaluations.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Social Worker
    • Counselor
    • Allied Professional involved in legal or forensic settings
    • Specialist in forensic psychology or clinical psychology
    • Professional working in juvenile justice or legal evaluation fields

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at varying levels of experience with forensic evaluation and court testimony.

    Beginner:
    Little or no prior experience conducting sentencing evaluations of youth in criminal court; seeking foundational knowledge of relevant Supreme Court cases, ethical considerations, and developmentally sensitive evaluation models.

    Intermediate:
    Some experience with forensic or sentencing evaluations; seeking to deepen understanding of legal standards, refine evaluation techniques, and address complex ethical challenges in youth and adult resentencing contexts.

    Advanced:
    Extensive experience conducting forensic evaluations and testifying in court; seeking advanced strategies for complex cases, nuanced application of legal precedents, and leadership in ethical decision-making and best practices.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals conducting developmentally sensitive sentencing evaluations for youth and young adults typically work in environments where mental health and legal systems intersect. These settings require collaboration with legal professionals, court systems, juvenile justice agencies, and community organizations. The work often involves direct assessment of youth or young adults, report writing, and providing expert testimony in court. Practitioners may operate within public or private forensic mental health clinics, correctional facilities, juvenile detention centers, or as independent consultants. The environment is multidisciplinary, fast-paced, and requires sensitivity to both clinical and legal standards.

    • Forensic mental health clinics (public or private)
    • Juvenile detention centers or correctional facilities
    • Court-based evaluation units
    • Community mental health agencies with forensic services
    • Private practice specializing in forensic or legal evaluations
    • Academic medical centers with forensic psychology divisions
    • Government agencies (e.g., probation, parole, or child welfare)
    • Nonprofit organizations focused on juvenile justice reform

Presented By

Antoinette Kavanaugh, PhD, ABPP, Licensed, Board Certified Forensic Clinical Psychologist

Antoinette Kavanaugh, PhD, ABPP (Forensic Psychology) is in private practice in Chicago, where she evaluates juveniles and adults in a variety of civil and criminal proceedings. She is a lecturer at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University and served as the Clinical Director of the juvenile justice division of the Cook County Juvenile Court Clinic. With Dr. Thomas Grisso, Dr. Kavanaugh authored, Sentencing Juveniles in Adult Court, which is to be published by Oxford University Press.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Antoinette Kavanaugh, PhD, ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Focus on conducting developmentally sensitive sentencing evaluations of youth and presenting findings in court

  • Info is relevant to evaluating adults who were previously sentenced to extended sentences in criminal court and are returning to court to be resentenced (i.e., Miller/Graham proceedings)

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).



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.