10 Hours / 10 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Evidence for Forensic Mental Health Professionals is presented by David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, ABPP.

This badge-earning program can be shared digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or your resume and counts towards various certificates. Enroll to earn credit and share your new digital credentials with prospective employers and colleagues. This program counts as a foundational program in the certificates:

  1. Criminal Forensic Assessment Certificate
  2. Child Custody Evaluation Certificate
  3. Civil Forensic Assessment Certificate
  4. Juvenile Forensic Assessment Certificate
  5. Violence Risk Assessment Certificate
  6. Child Custody Evaluation Certificate


This program focuses on legal concepts for forensic mental health professionals. After providing a primer on the structure of the United States court system, this program address legal concepts commonly encountered by forensic+ mental health professionals in both criminal and civil legal contexts, including admissibility standards for expert evidence, the legal foundation of expert testimony, discovery, expert reliance on inadmissible evidence (e.g., hearsay), responding to subpoenas, protecting test security (e.g., protective orders), ethics and professionalism, best-practice standards related to cross-examination, expert immunity, and diversity-related considerations. 

The program includes discussion of governing case law (e.g., Daubert, Frye), various rules of evidence (e.g., Federal Rules of Evidence, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure), and applicable ethical/practice guidance (e.g., Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology). 

This program is intended for forensic mental health clinicians (psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers) at all stages of their careers. The training is most useful for mental health professionals who conduct forensic mental health assessments in criminal and/or civil areas, and it is relevant to forensic mental health professionals in a variety of settings (e.g., private practice, correctional facility).

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the structure of the United States court system
  • 2 Describe the admissibility standards and legal foundations for expert evidence
  • 3 Describe the federal rules of evidence that are relevant to expert evidence (reports and testimony) provided by forensic mental health professionals
  • 4 Describe how expert evidence is affected by the rule against hearsay
  • 5 Identify several ethical, professional, and best-practice considerations associated with the provision of expert evidence by mental health professionals in legal proceedings
  • 6 Identify best practices for providing testimony in depositions, hearings, and trials
  • 7 Describe how to engage in forensic practice in a manner that recognizes the diversity of the examiners and attorneys with whom mental health professionals work

  • Intended Audience

    This training is appropriate for mental health and allied professionals, including those who conduct forensic mental health assessments in criminal and/or civil areas. It is designed for individuals involved in forensic mental health, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and other related roles.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Forensic Psychologists
    • Psychiatrists
    • Social Workers
    • Allied Health Professionals involved in forensic assessments

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed forensic mental health professionals at all experience levels.

    • Beginner: Participants new to forensic mental health or legal proceedings who seek foundational knowledge of the U.S. court system, expert roles, and basic legal concepts relevant to forensic practice.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience in forensic settings who are familiar with basic legal processes and wish to deepen their understanding of rules of evidence, expert testimony, and best-practice standards in both criminal and civil contexts.

    • Advanced: Participants with extensive forensic experience who are looking to refine their expertise in complex legal concepts, advanced evidentiary issues, and nuanced ethical and diversity-related considerations in forensic mental health practice.

  • Practice Setting

    Practice occurs at the intersection of mental health and the legal system, where clinicians conduct evaluations, draft evidence-informed reports, and provide expert testimony in both criminal and civil matters. Work is performed in structured, policy-driven environments governed by rules of evidence, discovery, subpoenas, protective orders, and ethical guidelines, with regular collaboration with attorneys and courts.


    Examples of Practice Settings:
    • Private forensic practice/consultation
    • Correctional and detention facilities
    • State forensic hospitals and inpatient units
    • Court-affiliated evaluation services
    • Outpatient clinics with forensic services
    • Academic medical centers and hospital-based programs
Presented By

David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, ABPP

David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, ABPP (Forensic), is a Professor of Psychology and Professor of Law at Drexel University, and Director of Drexel’s JD/PhD Program in Law & Psychology. He has published 14 books, more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, and more than 50 book chapters in his areas of interest, which include mental health law, psychopathic personality, forensic mental health assessment, and diversion of justice-involved individuals. He is a former President of the American Psychology-Law Society (APA Division 41) and the American Board of Forensic Psychology. He is also a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Divisions 1, 12, and 41) and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. He routinely consults with city agencies, state agencies, policymakers, correctional facilities, and law enforcement. He conducts forensic mental health assessments of adults and adolescents on a variety of legal issues, and he has testified as an expert witness in state and federal courts. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Law and Human Behavior. 


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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Legal primer (basics of the U.S. legal system)

  • Roles of experts in legal proceedings

  • Rules of evidence that govern the recognition of experts & admissibility of expert evidence

  • Reliance on inadmissible evidence (e.g., hearsay)

  • Responding to subpoenas

  • Discovery (e.g., protecting test security)

  • Strategies for experts during testimony

  • Expert immunity

Earning a Certificate

This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
View Certificates

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.