4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Forensic Evaluations in the Age of Social Media is presented by Michael Vitacco, Ph.D., ABPP, in partnership with The American Academy of Forensic Psychology.

The focus of this program is the use and misuse of data derived from social networking sites (SNS) in forensic evaluations. SNS data are increasingly being introduced as evidence in a variety of legal proceedings, including criminal responsibility, competence to proceed, personal injury, and child custody case evaluations. 

Discussed in this program are legal and professional sources of authority that shape the use of SNS data, research regarding how SNS data are now being used in forensic evaluations, and, using de-identified case examples, how SNS can be of value in forensic evaluations.

 

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe recent scholarship focusing on social media’s use in forensic evaluations
  • 2 Describe court cases where social media has been used to address forensic questions
  • 3 Describe how social media may be used as collateral information in forensic examinations
  • 4 Describe ethical ramifications of using social media as collateral information in forensic examinations
  • 5 Describe research and data related to cultural consideration of using social media as a collateral source in forensic examinations

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals who are interested in or currently specializing in forensic psychology, with a focus on the integration and application of digital evidence in forensic psychological evaluations. Participants will gain practical knowledge and skills relevant to the use of digital evidence in evaluations, regardless of their current level of experience or specialization.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Psychiatrist
    • Counselor
    • Social Worker
    • Legal Professional
    • Case Manager
    • Probation Officer
    • Individuals specializing in forensic psychology

  • Experience Level

    This program is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with varying levels of experience in forensic evaluation and the use of social networking site (SNS) data.

    Beginner:
    Participants new to forensic evaluations or unfamiliar with the integration of SNS data as collateral information in legal proceedings.

    Intermediate:
    Participants with some experience conducting forensic evaluations who seek to deepen their understanding of legal, ethical, and cultural considerations related to SNS data.

    Advanced:
    Participants with substantial forensic experience who wish to critically evaluate recent scholarship, complex case law, and nuanced ethical issues regarding SNS data in forensic contexts..

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals specializing in forensic psychology and the integration of digital evidence, such as social networking site (SNS) data, typically work in environments where legal and mental health systems intersect. These settings require secure access to sensitive information, collaboration with legal professionals, and adherence to strict ethical and confidentiality standards. Workspaces may include private offices, forensic units within hospitals, correctional facilities, court clinics, government agencies, or private practices. These environments are equipped for confidential interviews, digital evidence review, and multidisciplinary case discussions.

    • Forensic units in psychiatric hospitals or general hospitals
    • Private forensic psychology or psychiatry practices
    • Court clinics or court-appointed evaluation centers
    • Correctional facilities (jails, prisons, juvenile detention centers)
    • Government agencies (child protective services, probation departments)
    • Law enforcement agencies (consulting roles)
    • Legal offices or law firms (as expert consultants)
    • Community mental health centers with forensic services
    • Academic or research institutions specializing in forensic psychology

Presented By

Michael Vitacco, PhD, ABPP, PhD, ABPP

Michael Vitacco, PhD, ABPP, is a professor at Augusta University in the School of Public Health and an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior. He is board-certified in forensic psychology and has a small forensic consulting practice. Dr. Vitacco has over 120 publications with emphases in social media, response style, conditional release, and violence risk assessment.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Michael Vitacco, PhD, ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Use and misuse of data derived from social networking sites (SNS) in forensic evaluations

  • Legal and professional sources of authority that shape the use of SNS data

  • Research regarding how SNS data are now being used in forensic evaluations

  • Case examples

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.