2.5 Hours / 2.5 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Insanity Evaluations: Advanced Applications is presented by Robert A. Schug, PhD.

This program is designed for experienced (advanced-level) forensic psychologists and psychiatrists who specialize in conducting court-appointed insanity evaluations. It is also suitable for other mental health professionals interested in insanity assessment, provided they have some prior experience in this field.

The psycho-legal question of insanity is one of the most challenging to address in forensic assessment, as understanding an individual’s mental state at the time of a criminal offense presents unique challenges, particularly when a period of time has passed between the offense and the evaluation.

This program presents advanced techniques and strategies in the assessment of insanity for the forensic evaluator, utilizing what the presenter refers to as a “researcher mentality.” Three primary sources of evaluation data are discussed, with an emphasis on psychological testing and less conventional, more “out-of-the-box” sources of collateral information. Advanced data analysis and integration, case conceptualization and formulation, report writing, courtroom testimony, and other important considerations are also discussed.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the conceptual and practical challenges of conducting insanity evaluations with an eye for addressing the specific criteria of insanity
  • 2 Describe robust sources of data for the insanity evaluation, with a focus on psychological testing and collateral data acquisition and analysis
  • 3 Describe evaluation data to a psycho-legal opinion regarding insanity
  • 4 Describe and defend insanity evaluation methodologies to triers-of-fact via courtroom testimony

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for professionals specializing in forensic psychology or psychiatry, as well as other mental health professionals who are involved in or interested in court-appointed insanity evaluations, particularly those focused on criminal responsibility assessments.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Forensic psychologists
    • Forensic psychiatrists
    • Clinical psychologists
    • Social workers
    • Mental health professionals

  • Experience Level

    This training is intended for mental health professionals with varying levels of experience in forensic insanity evaluations.

    • Intermediate: Participants have conducted several insanity evaluations, are familiar with relevant legal standards, and seek to deepen their skills in data integration, report writing, and courtroom testimony.

    • Advanced: Participants are experienced forensic evaluators who regularly conduct court-appointed insanity assessments and are seeking advanced strategies, novel data sources, and enhanced methodologies for complex cases.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals in this area typically work in court-linked and secure clinical environments conducting court-ordered insanity evaluations, including structured interviews, psychological testing, and comprehensive record review. Settings range from inpatient forensic hospitals and correctional facilities to court clinics and outpatient or private consultative practices, with frequent collaboration with attorneys and the courts.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Court-affiliated forensic evaluation clinics
    • Private forensic practices/consultancies
    • Academic medical centers with forensic psychiatry/psychology services
    • Community mental health centers with forensic evaluation programs
    • Jails and prisons (specialized mental health/forensic units)
    • State forensic hospitals (insanity/criminal responsibility and competency units)
Presented By

Robert A. Schug, Ph.D.

Dr. Robert Schug is a neurocriminologist and clinical psychologist specializing in the biology and psychology of the criminal mind. Professor, forensic evaluator, and a true “criminal mind scientist,” his research focuses on understanding the relationship between extreme forms of psychopathology and antisocial, criminal, and violent behavior from a biopsychosocial perspective—with the application of advanced neuroscience techniques from areas such as neuropsychology, psychophysiology, and brain imaging.

He received his original Ph.D. in Psychology (Clinical Neurosciences), along with a doctoral respecialization in Clinical Psychology and extensive clinical training as a Forensic Psychologist working with jail inmates, outpatient sex offenders on parole/Federal probation, as well as State hospital forensic psychiatric inpatients who have been found Incompetent to Stand Trial or Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. A seasoned writer, Dr. Schug has published a leading textbook on mental illness and crime, along with numerous empirical articles related to psychopathy, schizophrenia, and homicide offenders in prominent psychiatric, psychological, personality assessment, criminal justice, and neuroscience journals. He has also authored and co-authored edited book chapters for several successful texts in forensic psychology, criminology, and the neurosciences. Additionally, he has established a one-of-a-kind university research study involving interviews and neurocognitive assessment of incarcerated serial killers, through which he has pioneered innovative biopsychosocial developmental timeline and sequencing approaches to the study of multiple homicide offenders, as well as a multilevel approach to the assessment of personalities associated with extreme and repetitive violence.

Dr. Schug has extensive media experience and is often sought out by media outlets to provide expert commentary and insight in news stories involving cases of extreme violence. He has appeared on numerous episodes of true-crime television programs for major cable networks, and in interviews and documentary films which have aired worldwide.

Dr. Schug is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and is on the Los Angeles Superior Court Approved Panel of Psychiatrists and Psychologists. He maintains a private practice that focuses on forensic assessment, and often conducts court-appointed evaluations in criminal cases within and outside of the State of California, along with providing expert witness testimony.

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Introductory Material
    Overview of key statistics on the insanity plea and the primary challenges involved in conducting insanity evaluations.

  • Conceptual Issues (M’Naughten Standard)
    Nature/quality of act and wrongfulness

  • Adopting the “Researcher Mentality”
    Approaching forensic questions with curiosity, methodological rigor, and critical evaluation of all available evidence.

  • The Evaluation: Primary Sources of Data
    Overview of defendant interviews, observations, psychological testing, offense-time versus current mental state, and appropriate use of specific measures.

  • Collateral Interviews
    Key considerations and strategies for conducting collateral interviews, including approaches to standardizing procedures across different interviewees.

  • Other Collateral Data
    Use of jail records, observations, timelines, jail calls, body-worn camera footage, and relevant social media to support organized and comparative analysis.

  • Report Writing
    Identifying weak reports, linking mental state to the offense, producing effective reports, and appropriately using references and scientific literature.

  • Testimony and Other Considerations
    Effective testimony and additional factors shaping forensic conclusions.

  • Case Examples

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.