20 Hours | 20 CEs

This self-paced training program on Evaluations for High Stakes Sentencing is presented by Mark Cunningham, PhD, ABPP.

Landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases such as Woodson, Jurek, Atkins, and Miller mandated individualized sentencing when the death penalty is sought or a defendant is facing a life-without-parole for an offense committed as a juvenile. Mental health professionals are routinely called upon to assist in illuminating the associated considerations of moral culpability and specific deterrence. The course is divided into four modules, each focusing on a high stakes sentencing context or issue:


1. Evaluation for capital mitigation

2. Capital violence risk assessment for prison

3. Evaluation of intellectual disability

4. Evaluation in juvenile murder.


For each type of evaluation, Dr. Cunningham describes the conceptual underpinnings, evaluation procedures, relevant research literature, and presents an analysis/integration of case data. He provides extensive illustrations of how the findings can be effectively communicated in reports and through slide-assisted testimony.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

  • Describe the contrasting theories of the State and defense at capital sentencing and how these are operationalized in evidence and argument

  • Describe moral culpability and its relationship to choice

  • Describe the procedures in conducting an evaluation of capital mitigation

  • Describe four methodologies for violence risk assessment

  • Describe the various sources for rates of serious prison violence and specify the primary inmate-specific correlates

  • Describe the conceptual basis for the exclusion of persons with ID from death-sentencing

  • Describe the two sources for the primary diagnostic criteria for ID and their common elements

  • Describe the evolution of diagnostic criteria for ID from DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5

  • Describe the four primary factors in brain maturation

  • Describe how brain immaturity impacts decision-making and susceptibility to peer influences

Presented By

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  • Intended Audience

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

  • Experience Level

    This self-paced course 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. Review Before Proceeding

    1. Lesson 1 Video

    1. Lesson 2 Video

    2. Lesson Quiz

    1. Lesson 3 Video

    2. Lesson Quiz

    1. Lesson 4 Video

    2. Informed Consent

    3. Lesson Quiz

    1. Lesson 5 Video

    2. Lesson Quiz

About this course

  • $500.00
  • 39 lessons
  • 12.5 hours of video content

Develop a Specialty Area of Practice

Transforming mental health professionals into experts

  • Expert Instructors

    Professional training developed and delivered by the field's leading experts

  • 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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