Continuing & Professional Studies, Palo Alto University

This on-demand professional training program on Evaluation for Mitigation in Non-Capital Federal Sentencing Cases is presented by Claude J. Kelly, JD, and Gina Manguno-Mire, PhD in partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP).

Evaluations for sentencing are ubiquitous and commonly encountered by practicing forensic psychologists, but there is little guidance on how to conduct these evaluations in non-capital cases. Since the passage of the Sentencing Reform Act in 1984, federal judges have been tasked with considering how a defendant's "history and characteristics" bear upon sentencing. 

This program, co-presented with the Chief Federal Public Defender in the Eastern District of Louisiana, provides participants with the legal context for conducting non-capital federal sentencing evaluations, including an in-depth discussion of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines as illustrated by actual case examples used in mitigation evaluations in federal court. Finally, how to effectively and ethically communicate one's opinion through written reports and/or oral testimony is discussed. 

The program is intended for beginning forensic practitioners or evaluators with forensic experience who are looking to expand their current practice by learning to conduct mitigation evaluations of non-capital offenders. Federal case law, the goals, and purpose of sentencing, including the concept of moral culpability, are discussed in detail, focusing on the systematic evaluation of individual offender characteristics that bear upon individualized sentencing. The basis for sentencing mitigation, including the factors judges consider in departing from the sentencing guidelines, is discussed through the use of legal material and redacted forensic case examples.

We are proud to partner with Protect International Risk and Safety Services for this training. Protect International's threat assessment professionals are internationally recognized experts that have developed some of the world's most widely used and best-validated threat assessment tools. Protect International provides services and products related to violence risk assessment and management, also known as threat assessment and management. Protect International services and products include threat assessment training and support, case assessment and management, legal consultation, policy review and development, and program evaluation and research; along with threat assessment manuals, worksheets, licenses, and software applications for those tools.

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.