10 Hours / 10 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Report Writing for Forensic Evaluations is presented by Randy Otto, PhD, ABPP. This badge-earning program can be shared digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or your resume and counts towards various certificates. Enroll to earn credit and share your new digital credentials with prospective employers and colleagues. This program counts as a foundational program in the certificates:

  1. Criminal Forensic Assessment Certificate
  2. Child Custody Evaluation Certificate
  3. Civil Forensic Assessment Certificate
  4. Juvenile Forensic Assessment Certificate
  5. Violence Risk Assessment Certificate


Conducting well-constructed forensic psychological evaluations is not enough to persuade judges, attorneys, and other referral sources about the adequacy of one’s work and opinions. Reports and affidavits are the primary vehicles by which psychologists communicate to judges, attorneys, and others what data they considered, what actions they took, and the opinions they formed and the underlying reasoning. 

Thus, writing clear and concise reports is a critical component of most forensic psychologists’ practice. Research on forensic examiners’ report-writing practices is reviewed; how forensic practice guidelines, the ethics code, and rules of evidence and procedure shape reports are considered; principles for the organization and structure of forensic reports are proposed; and elements of good and bad reports are highlighted using multiple real-world examples from redacted reports.

 More focused matters such as the use of jargon; specificity in word choice; identifying sources of information; distinguishing between observation and inference; and common report writing errors are considered, as well. Finally, preparation of affidavits, and how their structure and substance differs from reports, is tackled.


Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the various functions that reports and affidavits which summarize forensic evaluations serve
  • 2 Describe reports that meet obligations imposed by common rules of evidence and rules of procedure
  • 3 Describe reports that meet obligations imposed by the ethics code and related practice guidelines
  • 4 Describe 3 reasons for, and the value of, including in forensic reports competing for hypotheses, alternative explanations, and data that are inconsistent with one’s expert opinions
  • 5 Describe reports that make clear distinctions between facts, assumptions, reasoning, opinions, and expert opinions, and describe the value of doing so
  • 6 Describe jargon that is most typically included in reports and the advantages and disadvantages of including such
  • 7 Describe reports that are jargon-free
  • 8 Describe common report writing errors
  • 9 Describe test results in their reports in two different ways
  • 10 Describe the primary purpose of affidavits and describe how they differ from reports in function and development
  • 11 Demonstrate effective affidavits

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for individuals involved in forensic psychology and related fields who conduct evaluations within legal contexts. It is suitable for professionals at any stage of their career, including students, early-career practitioners, and experienced experts. The program is appropriate for those seeking to develop, update, or expand their expertise in forensic or legal evaluation.

    • Students pursuing careers in forensic psychology or related fields
    • Early-career professionals entering forensic or legal evaluation roles
    • Experienced practitioners seeking to update or expand their expertise
    • Mental Health Professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors)
    • Allied professionals working in legal, correctional, or forensic settings

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals.

    • Beginner: New to forensic psychological evaluations and report writing; seeking foundational knowledge of report structure, relevant guidelines, and common errors.

    • Intermediate: Some experience with forensic report writing; looking to refine skills in applying ethical standards, rules of evidence, and distinguishing between observation and inference.

    • Advanced: Extensive experience in forensic evaluation and report writing; aiming to master nuanced aspects such as integrating competing hypotheses, minimizing jargon, and preparing effective affidavits.

  • Practice Setting

    Participants in this training typically work in environments where psychological expertise intersects with the legal system. These settings require professionals to conduct forensic evaluations, prepare reports, and communicate findings to courts, attorneys, and other legal stakeholders. Workplaces are often structured, confidential, and may involve collaboration with legal, correctional, or clinical teams. The practice setting emphasizes adherence to legal standards, ethical guidelines, and clear communication through written reports and affidavits.

    • Court clinics or forensic evaluation units within hospitals
    • Private practices specializing in forensic or legal evaluations
    • Correctional facilities or juvenile detention centers
    • Government agencies (e.g., departments of mental health, probation, or parole)
    • Academic or research institutions with forensic psychology programs
    • Law enforcement agencies or police departments
    • Community mental health centers providing court-ordered assessments
Presented By

Randy Otto, PhD, ABPP

Randy K. Otto, PhD, MLS, joined the faculty in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in May 2025, where he serves as Professor and Chief of the Division of Forensic Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Otto was a member of the faculty at the University of South Florida between 1989 and 2022, and Nova Southeastern University between 2022 and 2025.

Dr. Otto, licensed to practice psychology in New Mexico and Florida, is board certified in clinical psychology and forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Rochester, and masters and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from Florida State University. After serving as a clinical psychology intern at the Medical University of South Carolina, he completed a two year, NIMH-funded fellowship in the College of Law and Department of Psychology at the University of Nebraska, where he was awarded a master’s degree in legal studies.

Dr. Otto’s research, writing, and practice is devoted to matters of forensic psychological assessment. In press is the fifth edition of Psychological Evaluations for the Courts: A Handbook for Mental Health Professionals and Lawyers, which he co-authored with co-authors Chris Slobogin, John Petrila, and Lois Oberlander. With Irv Weiner, he edited the fourth edition of the Handbook of Forensic Psychology, and he is also the lead author of books devoted to forensic practice ethics and forensic report writing and testimony. Dr. Otto chaired the APA committee that revised the Specialty Guidelines on Forensic Psychology that were adopted in 2013. He serves as a consultant to the committee that is working on the current revision. He chaired APA's Committee on Legal Issues and served on the ABA committee that revised the Criminal Justice Mental Health Standards. He was the lead author of the book, Ethics in Forensic Psychology Practice. 


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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • First, research on forensic examiners’ report-writing practices is reviewed, considering how forensic practice guidelines, the ethics code, and rules of evidence/procedure shape reports.

  • Second, principles for the organization and structure of forensic reports are reviewed, highlighting elements of good and bad reports with examples

  • Third, jargon; specificity in word choice; identifying sources of information; distinguishing between observation and inference; and common report writing errors are discussed

  • Fourth, the preparation of affidavits and how their structure and substance differ from reports is tackled

Earning a Certificate

This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
View Certificates

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.