CONCEPT Continuing & Professional Studies, Palo Alto University

Sarah L. Desmarais, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at North Carolina State University. She received her Ph.D. from the Law and Forensic Psychology Program at Simon Fraser University and completed postdoctoral training in population and public health at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Desmarais’ research examines the assessment and treatment of risks and needs associated with criminal behavior, violence, and terrorism. She has more than 120 peer-reviewed publications in journals including the Law and Human Behavior, Criminal Justice and Behavior¸ and American Journal of Public Health. Her research has been funded by grants and contracts from agencies including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Justice, and the MacArthur Foundation. Her work has been featured in media outlets such as the Washington Post, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and The Atlantic. Dr. Desmarais is a co-author of the Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) and the Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability: Adolescent Version (START:AV), structured professional guides for assessing and managing risks associated with behavioral health problems. She has contributed to the development of related resources including the START Outcome Scale (SOS), the START User Feedback Survey, and the START Instructors’ Guide and Workbook. Dr. Desmarais trains and consults with agencies worldwide on the implementation of START, START:AV, and other strategies to support evidence-based practices and decision-making in behavioral health and criminal justice settings.

Dr. Tonia L. Nicholls is a Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, and Distinguished Scientist at the Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission, BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services.