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 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 focused on juvenile justice and legal evaluations.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental health professionals (psychologists, social workers, counselors)
    • Forensic psychologists
    • Clinical psychologists
    • Juvenile justice specialists
    • Legal evaluators
    • Allied professionals involved in legal or forensic settings

  • Experience Level

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

    • Beginner: Participants new to forensic mental health or sentencing evaluations will gain foundational knowledge of key Supreme Court cases, ethical considerations, and developmentally sensitive evaluation models.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience in forensic or court-involved work will deepen their understanding of complex legal standards, refine their evaluation skills, and enhance their ability to present findings in court, including in Miller/Graham resentencing proceedings.

    • Advanced: Participants with extensive experience in forensic evaluation and court testimony will have opportunities to critically analyze nuanced ethical dilemmas, apply advanced models to complex cases, and contribute expertise to evolving best practices in this area.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals practice in interdisciplinary, court-involved environments where developmentally sensitive sentencing and resentencing evaluations for youth and young adults are conducted, documented, and presented. Work spans forensic mental health and justice system contexts with close collaboration among legal stakeholders and correctional or community-based services.

    Examples of Practice Settings:
    • Juvenile and criminal courts (including Miller/Graham resentencing proceedings)
    • Court-affiliated forensic evaluation clinics
    • Juvenile detention centers and youth correctional facilities
    • State or county prisons housing young adults
    • Forensic inpatient units and secure psychiatric hospitals
    • Community mental health agencies serving court-involved youth
    • Private/group practices providing court-ordered evaluations
    • Public defender or prosecutor offices and mitigation teams
Presented By

Antoinette Kavanaugh, PhD, ABPP

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.


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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).


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.