New Jersey DOH - Evaluation of Competency to Stand Trial: Update on Best Practices and the New Jersey Competency Report Template

Custom curriculum developed for the New Jersey Department of Health.
Register & Begin

6 Hours | 6 CEs

This training program provides an update on best practices in the evaluation of competency to stand trial, including new developments in the conceptualization of the Dusky standard, as well as practical and theoretical issues in competency evaluation. An overview of competency assessment tools is provided with a focus on the specific abilities to be evaluated, how to formulate a case conceptualization and ultimate opinion regarding a defendant’s adjudicative competence, and how to communicate opinions about competence in the written. Participants are provided the New Jersey competency report template and the latter part of this training focuses on the requirements of this template as a best practice for report writing.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program you will be able to:

  • Describe relevant case law impacting the interpretation of competency statutes

  • Describe developments in the conceptualization of the Dusky standard for competence

  • Describe the research on the evaluation of adjudicative competence

  • Describe the most recent clinical guidance on competency evaluation and the best practices model

  • Describe the process for case formulation and arriving at an opinion regarding competence

  • Describe required, appropriate, and inappropriate report content

  • Describe the required elements of New Jersey’s competency evaluation report template

  • Intended Audience

    This on-demand professional training program is intended for mental health and other allied professionals.

  • Experience Level

    This on-demand professional training program 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.

Presented By

Patricia A. Zapf, PhD

Patricia A. Zapf, Ph.D. is Vice President for Continuing & Professional Studies at Palo Alto University (PAU). Prior to coming to PAU she was a professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York (CUNY) for 16 years, during which time she was instrumental in the development of a new doctoral program in clinical psychology with an emphasis in forensic psychology and served as the program’s first Director of Clinical Training. Prior to her time at CUNY, she was on the psychology and law faculty at the University of Alabama. In 2009, Dr. Zapf founded CONCEPT Professional Training with the mission of elevating the level of practice in psychology and related professions.

Program curriculum

    1. Review Before Proceeding

    1. Lesson 1 Video

    2. Lesson Quiz

    1. Lesson 2 Video

    1. Lesson 3 Video

    2. Lesson Quiz

    1. Lesson 4 Video

    1. Lesson 5 Video

    2. Lesson Quiz

About this course

  • Free
  • 30 lessons
  • 5.5 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!

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. PaloAlto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 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), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Boardfor Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers#SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental HealthPractitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental healthcounselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT)has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT ProfessionalTraining, #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. CONCEPT Professional Training 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.