5 Hours / 5 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Not So Uncommon Topics in Competency Evaluations is presented by Candyce Shields, Ph.D., ABPP, in partnership with The American Academy of Forensic Psychology.

This program examines topics that arise less commonly but that are no less influential in the assessment of competency to stand trial. Topics include: developing informed opinions about the likelihood/probability of restoration to competence; amnesia for the offense in evaluations of competence to stand trial; imposition of a viable insanity defense over a defendant’s objection; and competence to waive the right to counsel (proceed pro se). Relevant case law and literature are reviewed. General and specific conceptual considerations in performing evaluations that involve the topic areas are discussed.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe factors relevant to developing informed opinions regarding the likelihood/probability of restoration to competence
  • 2 Describe relevant case law and factors relevant to developing informed opinions where amnesia for the alleged offense(s) is at issue in evaluations of competence to stand trial
  • 3 Describe relevant case law and literature regarding the imposition of an insanity defense on defendants
  • 4 Describe relevant case law and factors relevant to developing informed opinions when evaluating specific competencies to waive counsel

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health professionals who are involved in or interested in conducting competency to stand trial evaluations, with a focus on forensic psychology or forensic mental health. It is intended for those who specialize in forensic evaluations of adjudicative competence for the criminal courts.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Psychiatrists
    • Psychologists
    • Social Workers
    • Forensic Evaluators
    • Forensic Psychologists
    • Forensic Psychiatrists

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience with forensic evaluations related to competency to stand trial.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to forensic mental health assessments and seek foundational knowledge of relevant case law, conceptual considerations, and evaluation procedures for less common competency issues.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some experience with forensic evaluations and are looking to deepen their understanding of complex topics such as restoration to competence, amnesia, and the imposition of an insanity defense, including application of case law and literature.

    • Advanced: Participants are highly experienced in forensic mental health and seek to refine their expertise in nuanced competency evaluations, integrating advanced case law analysis and contributing to best practices in the field.

  • Practice Setting

    Practitioners work at the intersection of mental health and the criminal legal system, providing court-ordered assessments of adjudicative competence in secure and non-secure clinical environments. Their work involves structured evaluations, report writing, and testimony within multidisciplinary processes guided by case law and statutory requirements regarding restoration, amnesia, insanity defense decisions, and waiver of counsel.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Jail and detention center clinics (pretrial CST evaluations)
    • Forensic psychiatric/state hospitals (inpatient evaluation and restoration)
    • Court-affiliated forensic clinics or competency dockets
    • Community mental health programs providing court-ordered evaluations
    • Private forensic practice/consulting for courts and counsel
    • Academic medical centers with forensic services
    • Outpatient competency restoration programs
Presented By

Candyce Shields, PhD, ABPP

Dr. Candyce Shields earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo, Michigan; a master’s degree in rehabilitation psychology and counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and a master’s and her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. She completed a predoctoral internship at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, North Carolina and a postdoctoral fellowship in forensic psychology at the Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston, Wyoming. She is an Early Career Grant recipient from the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) and achieved board certification in forensic psychology in 2008 from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). Dr. Shields formerly served as a member of the examination faculty for the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP), reviewing practice samples and conducting oral examinations for board certification. She is the past treasurer of and current membership coordinator for the AAFP. She has taught multiple workshops nationally for the AAFP on the topics of evaluating competence to stand trial and legal insanity. Dr. Shields is currently employed as an Assistant Director of Evaluation Services and Forensic Psychologist at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Saline, Michigan. At the Center she conducts forensic evaluations relative to competence to stand trial, legal insanity, and competence to waive Miranda. She is also an Adjunct Clinical Instructor with the Department of Psychiatry in the University of Michigan Medical School. She is the 2016 recipient of the Distinguished Contributions to Forensic Psychology award given by the AAFP.

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Developing informed opinions about the likelihood/probability of restoration to competence

  • Amnesia for the offense in evaluations of competence to stand trial

  • Imposition of a viable insanity defense over a defendant’s objection

  • Competence to waive the right to counsel (proceed pro se)

  • Relevant case law and literature are reviewed

We are proud to partner with

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

We are proud to partner with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) for this training. AAFP is a non-profit organization of board-certified forensic psychologists whose mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of forensic psychology as a specialized field of study, research, and practice. The Academy does this by providing high-quality continuing education workshops, providing a forum for the exchange of scientific information among its members, and conferring awards upon outstanding students and practitioners in the field of forensic psychology.

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.