Risk Communication & Expert Testimony: Best Practices

The Importance of Risk Communication: Expert Testimony

Presented by: Stephen D. Hart, PhD

1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on The Importance of Risk Communication: Expert Testimony is presented by Stephen D. Hart, PhD in partnership with Protect International Risk and Safety Services.

Risk communication is one of the most important and most challenging strategies for ensuring that management strategies are implemented, and violence is prevented. This program focuses on best practices related to the structure, content, and process of expert testimony. Case illustrations highlight promising practices and challenging issues when providing expert testimony (e.g., maintaining neutrality and objectivity). This program is appropriate for those new to the field of violence risk/threat assessment, as well as experienced professionals who are looking for an update on issues and best practices related to risk communication.

Learning Objectives

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

1 Describe basic elements and key issues related to expert testimony
2 Describe promising practices and challenging issues related to providing expert testimony

Intended Audience

This training is designed for mental health and allied professionals who may be required to provide expert testimony in the context of violence risk and threat assessment. The program is particularly relevant for those specializing in forensic psychology, forensic psychiatry, criminal justice, or social work with a focus on risk evaluation and management. Participants typically work in settings such as courtrooms, correctional institutions, hospitals, and community agencies. The training aims to enhance their skills in delivering expert testimony and managing complex risk assessment cases.
Experience Level
- Designed for professionals with foundational knowledge or experience in mental health, forensic assessment, or risk management
- Suitable for those new to providing expert testimony as well as those seeking to refine and update their skills in this area
- Not intended for laypersons or those without a background in mental health or allied professions
Practice Setting
- Mental health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers)
- Allied professionals involved in risk assessment (e.g., criminal justice professionals, forensic evaluators)
- Forensic psychologists and forensic psychiatrists
- Social workers specializing in forensic or risk management settings
- Professionals working in courtrooms, correctional facilities, hospitals, or community agencies
- Individuals who may be called upon to provide expert testimony in legal or administrative proceedings

Presented By

Stephen D. Hart, PhD

Dr. Stephen D. Hart obtained BA, MA, and PhD degrees in psychology at the University of British Columbia. He has been on faculty in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University since 1990, and has held the rank of Professor since 2001. He also served as a Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Bergen in Norway between 2000 and 2021. His expertise is in the field of clinical-forensic psychology, with a special focus on the assessment of violence risk and psychopathic personality disorder. He has co-authored more than 250 books, chapters, and articles. He has served as editor of two scientific journals; a member of the editorial board of eight journals; and ad hoc reviewer for more than 40 journals. He has served as an executive committee member of several professional organizations, including President of the American Psychology-Law Society and the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services. He has received various distinctions for his professional work, including the Career Achievement Award from the Society of Clinical Psychology, the Saleem Shah Award for Early Career Research Excellence in Psychology and Law from the American Psychology-Law Society and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology, and the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals. He maintains an active practice in violence risk assessment. He has consulted with government agencies from more than 25 countries; led more than 500 training workshops around the world; and given expert evidence before courts, tribunals, inquests, review boards, and parliamentary committees in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

Core knowledge
Relevant reseach

We are proud to partner with

Protect International Risk and Safety Services

We are proud to partner with Protect International Risk and Safety Services for this training. Protect International's threat assessment professionals are internationally recognized experts that have developed some of the world's most widely used and best-validated threat assessment tools. Protect International provides services and products related to violence risk assessment and management, also known as threat assessment and management. Protect International services and products include threat assessment training and support, case assessment and management, legal consultation, policy review and development, and program evaluation and research; along with threat assessment manuals, worksheets, licenses, and software applications for those tools.

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.

American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.
Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).

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) 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 Board for 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 Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #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 Professional Training, #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.