Writing Reader-Friendly Forensic Reports

Presented by Sebastian Rilen, PsyD, LP, ABPP.
Register & Begin

2 Hours | 2 CEs

This on-demand professional training program on Writing Reader-Friendly Forensic Reports is presented by Sebastian Rilen, PsyD, LP, ABPP in partnership with Ohio Forensic Centers Consortium (OFCC).

Reader-friendly report writing is an innovative approach to assessment that aims to more clearly communicate ideas and opinions to readers. It uses proven visual strategies to help readers understand and process complex information. 

This program begins with an overview of the empirical basis for the consumer-driven writing method, tapping a wide variety of research exploring how people learn and digest written information. We’ll contrast these ideas with traditional forensic report writing models and illuminate how to enhance the reader’s understanding of our reports, especially when considering accessibility for an increasingly diverse reader population. We’ll turn to the structure of reports to consider the length and flow of an optimized narrative, with some options to cut redundancy and reduce density. Then we’ll shift to presentation, considering how visual strategies and formatting adjustments can promote better organization that improves retention and eases readers’ cognitive load. 

Examples are offered for using graphics in reports, and we’ll finish with practical suggestions to contribute to overall stronger forensic report writing. 

Program Outline:

  • Conceptual basis (introduction of method, overview of research)
  • Structure (report sections and flow)
  • Presentation (graphical strategies, color, formatting)
  • Frequently asked questions/common issues


Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program you will be able to:

  • Describe the conceptual basis and core research underlying reader-friendly methods

  • Describe how choices with structure and presentation can be combined to create reader-friendly strategies

Presented By

State Hospital of Minnesota Sebastian Rilen, Psy.D., LP, ABPP

Dr. Rilen was originally licensed in California, where he worked at a juvenile hall and a forensic group practice before moving to the Midwest. For the past ten years he has been employed by the State of Minnesota, first for the judicial branch and currently at the state hospital. As the Court’s examiner, Dr. Rilen has conducted numerous competency, criminal responsibility, sex offense, dispositional, waiver, risk assessment, and civil commitment evaluations. He also consults regularly on topics related to technology and the law, business principles of practice development, as well as gender diversity and the law. Additionally, in 2021, Dr. Rilen founded Streamline Forensics, where he conducts private practice evaluations for criminal, juvenile, and family courts. A secondary function of Streamline includes developing and administering continuing education and training on forensic topics, the lineup for which can be found at www.streamlineforensics.com. Dr. Rilen is board certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). He also serves as the vice chair of the Minnesota Board of Psychology, as the social media coordinator for the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP), and as a board member for the American Board of Professional Psychology Foundation (ABPPF), and the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP). When not working, Dr. Rilen can be found travelling with his family, or at home with his “pack” that includes his human family as well as dogs, hamsters, fish, and hedgehog.

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.