4 Hours | 4 CEs

This on-demand professional training program on Conceptualizing and Applying Developmental Immaturity in Juvenile Competence Evaluations is presented by Ivan Kruh, PhD., in partnership with The National Youth Screening & Assessment Partners 

State statutes increasingly recognize developmental immaturity as a basis for youth in juvenile court to be found incompetent. Participants learn key developmental concepts for clarity about relevant developmental issues, with a focus upon cognitive and psychosocial immaturity. The training program addresses how developmental immaturity impacts the interview process with practice interviewing in ways that accommodate various developmental profiles.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program you will be able to:

  • Describe key elements of cognitive and psychosocial development that have been found to be relevant to competence to stand trial

  • Describe ways to assess elements of psychosocial development in forensic practice

  • Develop clarity about linguistic practices that detract from and enhance communication with school-age children and adolescents

Presented By

Ivan Kruh, PhD

Dr. Ivan Kruh received his PhD in Clinical Psychology with a concentrated study of Forensic Psychology from the University of Alabama. For ten years, he was the Director of Juvenile Forensic Evaluations in Washington State and coordinated a post-doctoral fellowship in Juvenile Forensic Psychology at the University of Washington. In private practice, he conducts juvenile forensic evaluations and consults to state juvenile forensic evaluation systems. He is the Director of Juvenile Competency Services at National Youth Screening and Assessment Partners (NYSAP).

  • Intended Audience

    This self-paced program is intended for mental health and other allied professionals.

  • Experience Level

    This self-paced program is appropriate for beginner, intermediate, and advanced level clinicians.

  • CE / CPD Credit

    APA, ASWB, CPA, NBCC Click here for state and other regional board approvals.

Curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome

    • Review Before Proceeding

  • 2

    Introduction

    • Lesson 1 Video

    • The Competence of Adolescents as Trial Defendants

    • Developmental Incompetence to Stand Trial in Juvenile Courts

    • Lesson Quiz

  • 3

    Developmental Issues

    • Lesson 2 Video

    • Building Consensus on Developmental Maturity

    • Psychosocial Maturity and Desistance From Crime

    • Prospects for Remediating Juveniles Adjudicative Incompetence

    • Additional Resources

    • Lesson Quiz

  • 4

    Developmentally Appropriate Interviewing

    • Lesson 3 Video

    • Plea Agreement Diagram Script

    • Plea Agreement Diagram

    • Cognitive vs Psychosocial Maturity

    • Evaluating Juvenile Transfer and Disposition

    • Lesson Quiz

  • 5

    Evaluation

    • Instructions

    • Evaluation

Develop a Specialty Area of Practice

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  • Expert Instructors

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  • CE Credit

    Earn CE credit for meaningful professional training that will elevate your practice

  • Convenience & Flexibility

    Learn at your own pace, from wherever you might be!

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The National Youth Screening & Assessment Partners

We are proud to partner with The National Youth Screening & Assessment Partners (NYSAP) for this training. The National Youth Screening & Assessment Partners (NYSAP) is a technical assistance and research group, dedicated to helping juvenile justice and related programs nationwide. Since 2000, NYSAP has assisted juvenile justice systems to make decisions about adolescents that are consistent with youths’ health and positive development and with the community’s interests by helping systems use reliable, evidence-based methods for screening and assessment. We provide training, technical assistance, and quality implementation services to agencies and programs in the areas of risk screening and risk-needs assessment, behavioral health screening, and competence to stand trial evaluations. NYSAP professionals have played a key role for 25 years in research on juveniles’ competence to stand trial and in developing juvenile competence standards for forensic clinical practice, law, and policy. In response to the growing demand for juvenile competence evaluations nationally, we provide consultation to assist agencies in developing or refining their juvenile competence service delivery system, as well as creating and conducting quality assurance procedures. We train clinicians and juvenile justice stakeholders (e.g., judges, attorneys, and community partners) in practice standards for conducting high quality juvenile competence evaluations.
Partner Website