1 Hours / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Working Memory: Implications for Criminal Justice, Forensic Mental Health, and Legal Professionals is presented by Jerrod Brown, Ph.D.

Working memory can be defined as the ability to temporarily store information while this information is being actively processed. Working memory requires individuals to exhibit attentional control while managing and manipulating relevant information across the span of a few seconds. The capacity to perform this executive function is critical in everyday tasks such as linguistic comprehension, cognitive reasoning, problem-solving, decision-making, and learning in general. Common among individuals with learning (e.g., dyslexia) and behavioral (e.g., ADHD) disorders, deficits in working memory vary on an individual basis. When present, these working memory deficits often mean the individual can temporarily store and manipulate fewer pieces of information, resulting in a limited capacity to successfully complete complicated tasks. A primary consequence of working memory deficits is the temporary or permanent loss of information. Practically, this can make it difficult for individuals suffering from working memory deficits to comprehend and remember directions, respond to questions, execute tasks, and recall the sequence of events. Struggles with these capabilities can often result in proneness to frustration and bouts of inattention. The presence of such working memory deficits can be particularly dangerous in criminal justice settings where the memories of suspects, defendants, victims, and witnesses are often the basis of life-altering legal decisions. Despite the grave consequences of such decisions, there are few advanced education and training opportunities for professionals in criminal justice settings on working memory deficits.

To address existing needs in this critical area, this training familiarizes attendees with working memory deficits and their impact on criminal justice and legal settings. First, attendees acquire a basic understanding of working memory deficits, including definitions and warning signs. Second, the training guides attendees on an exploration of the biological and environmental causes and risk factors of working memory deficits. In particular, the training highlights the role that disorders such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and schizophrenia can play in the manifestation of working memory deficits. Third, the training reviews the diverse consequences of working memory deficits in criminal justice and legal systems. This includes an active discussion of how suspects, defendants, and witnesses with working memory deficits can have deleterious impacts on the legal process. Fourth, attendees learn techniques to help improve the screening and assessment of individuals with working memory deficits in criminal justice settings. This is imperative as these individuals often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as a result of inaccurate self-report information obtained during the assessment process. Fifth, the training identifies treatment techniques, strategies, and programs that have been empirically shown to improve working memory deficits. Sixth, this training draws to a close with a review of the current research literature on working memory deficits and highlights future research directions in this area. Together, these six key training objectives present an opportunity for criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal professionals to gain a greater understanding of the impact of working memory deficits in the criminal justice system while offering a path forward to mitigating these issues.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe working memory deficits including definitions and warning signs
  • 2 Describe the biological and environmental causes and risk factors of working memory deficits
  • 3 Describe the diverse consequences that working memory deficits can have in the criminal justice system from criminal investigations and trials to treatment and supervision
  • 4 Describe techniques to improve the screening and assessment of individuals with working memory deficits in criminal justice settings
  • 5 Describe treatment techniques, strategies, and programs that have been shown to improve working memory deficits
  • 6 Describe the current research literature and highlight existing knowledge gaps that can be addressed with future research

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and legal professionals who want to understand working memory deficits and their impact on criminal justice and legal settings. It is designed for those specializing in forensic mental health, clinical psychology, legal evaluation, and related fields, offering insights relevant to professionals involved in criminal justice and legal contexts.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Psychiatrist
    • Counselor
    • Social Worker
    • Attorney
    • Judge
    • Legal Evaluator

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at all experience levels who work in or with criminal justice, forensic, or legal settings.

    • Beginner: New to the topic of working memory deficits, seeking foundational knowledge of definitions, warning signs, and basic impacts on legal and forensic contexts.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who would benefit from this training typically work in environments where mental health, legal, and forensic issues intersect. These settings often involve high-stakes decision-making, assessment, and intervention with individuals affected by cognitive and behavioral challenges. Practice settings may include correctional facilities, forensic hospitals, courtrooms, law offices, community mental health centers, social service agencies, and educational institutions. Professionals in these environments routinely interact with justice-involved individuals, conduct legal or psychological evaluations, provide expert testimony, or support clients navigating complex legal processes. Their work requires a nuanced understanding of cognitive deficits, such as working memory impairments, and their impact on legal outcomes and client well-being.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Forensic psychiatric hospitals conducting competency and risk assessments
    • Correctional facilities providing mental health services to inmates
    • Courtrooms where judges, attorneys, and legal evaluators assess witness or defendant credibility
    • Community mental health centers supporting justice-involved clients
    • Law offices representing clients with cognitive or behavioral disorders
    • Social service agencies assisting individuals with legal system involvement
    • Private practices specializing in forensic psychological or psychiatric evaluation
Presented By

Jerrod Brown, PhD

Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). Jerrod has also provided consultation services to a number of caregivers, professionals, and organizations pertaining to topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), confabulation, suggestibility, trauma, and other life adversities, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting. Jerrod has completed four separate master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in Neuropsychology, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Other Health Disabilities (OHD), and Traumatic-Brain Injuries (TBI). Jerrod has also conducted over 200 workshops, webinars, and on-demand training for various organizations and professional and student audiences. In 2021, Jerrod completed a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership and Organizational Strategy from Walden University and a Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology from San Diego State University Global Campus. Currently, Jerrod is pursuing a graduate certificate in Neuroscience and Law from Michigan State University. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters and recently co-edited the book Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals (Brown & Weinkauf, 2018) with Erv Weinkauf. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs. 

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.