1.5 Hours / 1.5 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Landmark Criminal Law and Procedure Cases Involving Persons with Mental Disabilities is presented by Michael Perlin, JD, and Heather Ellis Cucolo, JD in partnership with Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates (MDLPA).

This program discusses and analyzes key decisions (predominantly by the US Supreme Court) in criminal law and procedure that forensic mental health professionals must understand. We cover the most relevant and precedent-setting cases in this area and explain the ethical, legal, and practical outcomes of the case holdings. 

Having a background in these particular constitutional and policy-driven cases is necessary to enhance expert testimony, advocacy, judicial education, community and correctional programs, and overall competence in understanding the criminal system as it relates to persons with a mental or developmental disability. 

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe Describe key U.S. Supreme Court decisions as they apply to forensic science
  • 2 Describe which factors contribute to caselaw decisions for persons with a mental or developmental disability
  • 3 Describe the significance of quality of counsel and expert testimony

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for forensic mental health professionals with prior training in constitutional law and key policy-driven cases in criminal law and procedure. It is most relevant to those in forensic psychology, psychiatry, or related fields who work with individuals with mental or developmental disabilities in the criminal legal system. Participants may provide evaluation, treatment, or expert testimony, and benefit from a deeper understanding of precedent-setting case law to strengthen their testimony, advocacy, and program development.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Forensic Psychologists
    • Forensic Psychiatrists
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Clinical Psychologists
    • Neuropsychologists
    • Social Workers specializing in forensic settings
    • Expert Witnesses in mental health cases
    • Behavioral Health Consultants in the criminal legal system

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of familiarity with criminal law and forensic practice.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to the intersection of mental health and criminal law, with limited exposure to key Supreme Court decisions and their implications for forensic practice.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some experience applying legal standards in forensic settings and are familiar with foundational case law, but seek deeper understanding of precedent-setting decisions and their impact on expert testimony and advocacy.

    • Advanced: Participants have substantial experience in forensic mental health, regularly engage with complex legal and ethical issues, and seek to refine their expertise in analyzing and applying Supreme Court decisions to specialized cases involving mental or developmental disabilities.

  • Practice Setting

    Format Practice occurs at the intersection of the criminal legal system and behavioral health, including courtrooms, correctional facilities, forensic hospitals, and community-based programs serving people with mental or developmental disabilities. Professionals conduct evaluations, provide treatment and consultation, and deliver expert testimony informed by constitutional case law to guide decisions, services, and program design.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Trial and appellate courts (including mental health courts)
    • Jails and prisons
    • Forensic hospitals and competency restoration units
    • Community corrections (probation and parole)
    • Public defender, prosecutor, and court services agencies
    • Law enforcement consultation and crisis response teams
    • Juvenile justice facilities and youth forensic services
    • Reentry and diversion programs

Training Instructors:

Michael L. Perlin, JD

Michael L. Perlin, JD

Michael L. Perlin is Professor of Law Emeritus at New York Law School (NYLS), where he was director of NYLS’s Online Mental Disability Law Program and director of NYLS’s International Mental Disability Law Reform Project in its Justice Action Center. He is co-founder of Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates and is currently Adjunct Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law, and Instructor, Loyola University New Orleans, Department of Criminology and Justice

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Heather Ellis Cucolo, JD

Heather Ellis Cucolo, JD

Heather Ellis Cucolo is a Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law and the facilitator of the joint JD/MA program with John Jay College of Criminal Justice at New York Law School (NYLS). She is also an adjunct professor in the JM Program at Emory University School of Law and a Fellowship faculty member at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Competency
    -Substantive standards
    -Procedural issues

  • Insanity
    -Substantive standards
    -Procedural issues

  • Trial practice
    -Confessions

    -Testimony as to dangerousness

  • Sentencing

  • Death penalty
    -Mitigation
    -Intellectual disabilities
    -Serious mental illness

We are proud to partner with

Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates (MDLPA)

Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates (MDLPA)

We are proud to partner with Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates, LLC for this training. MDLPA is a boutique educational training company that offers specialized mental disability law consulting, the creation or enhancement of distance learning programs, in-house or online courses, and day or weekend training seminars to reputable organizations, educational institutions, professional groups, and advocacy groups focused on providing advanced knowledge and skills to persons working with marginalized populations.

Learn More About Our Partner

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.