AAFP: Restoration of Competency to Stand Trial in Community Settings
Presented by: Angela Torres, Ph.D., ABPP, and Laura Grossi, PhD, ABSMIP
4 Hours / 4 CEs
On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training
This on-demand professional training program on AAFP: Restoration of Competency to Stand Trial in Community Settings is presented by Angela Torres, Ph.D., ABPP and Laura Grossi, Ph.D., ABSMIP in partnership with American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP).
This program covers aspects of outpatient competency restoration, with a focus on community-based restoration. The program starts with reviewing the history and importance of competency to stand trial, and the reasons behind the development of alternatives to inpatient restoration. It outlines how clinicians should approach community-based restoration, from receipt of a court order to treatment interventions to referral for post-restoration evaluation. This program addresses how to develop a restoration program in the community, strategies for restoration interventions, and appropriate documentation methods.
This program is designed for mental health professionals involved in the restoration of competency to stand trial, with a particular focus on community-based restoration. It is intended to serve professionals at all career stages and with varying levels of familiarity with the topic—whether they are just being introduced to the field or possess advanced knowledge. The content is relevant to both evaluators and treaters engaged in the competency restoration process. Recognizing that, in community settings, individuals such as case managers or emergency services workers—often with little to no forensic experience—may be tasked with restoration responsibilities, the program is designed to be accessible and introductory in nature. While it offers foundational knowledge, it is also applicable to seasoned professionals, particularly those working in public mental health and community-based roles where restoration duties are frequently assigned regardless of prior forensic training.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- 1 Describe the general requirements for competency to stand trial and common reasons for incompetency
- 2 Describe factors that are predictive of successful restoration of defendants
- 3 Describe common restoration techniques and proper documentation
- 4 Describe the importance of identifying individuals appropriate for outpatient restoration and cross-system collaboration
Presented By
Angela Torres, Ph.D., ABPP (Forensic) Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Department of Forensic Services
Angela Torres, PhD, ABPP is the Chief Forensic Officer for the Department of Forensic Services at the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. In this role, she manages forensic services at the state hospitals, the DBHDS portion of the sexually violent predator program, juvenile justice and behavioral health initiatives, the juvenile competence restoration program, the forensic evaluation oversight system, jail diversion programming, and other state-wide initiatives at the intersection of behavioral health and justice. Dr. Torres is board certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. Prior to her current position, Dr. Torres was the Chief Forensic Coordinator at Central State Hospital, the Region IV Jail Team Supervisor, and the DBHDS Forensic Evaluation Oversight Manager. She has experience completing various forensic evaluations in Texas, Virginia, and the Federal system. She is involved in legislation and policy development regarding mental health and criminal justice. Dr. Torres lectures on behalf of DBHDS and the University of Virginia’s Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy, and routinely collaborates with the ILPPP on research projects addressing Virginia’s forensic services and the practice of forensic evaluations. She is also the Vice Chair of the Forensic Executive Council for NASMHPD and serves on various behavioral health and justice workgroups on the state and national levels. She may be reached at [email protected].
Presented By
Laura Grossi, PhD, ABPP (SMI) Virginia DBHDS/Eastern State Hospital
Dr. Laura M. Grossi is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia, who is board certified in serious mental illness (SMI) psychology, and credentialed as a Health Service Psychologist through the National Register. She works as a forensic evaluator at Eastern State Hospital, and in private practice in the Hampton Roads region. She primarily conducts pretrial evaluations of competency to stand trial and mental state at the time of the offense, among other clinical-forensic assessments. She also serves as a direct supervisor for the postdoctoral fellow at ESH, as the Psychology Practicum Training Director, and as Chair of the hospital’s Research & Review Committee. She has practical experience conducting competency restoration in group and individualized formats in Virginia, in an inpatient psychiatric setting. She volunteers as a peer reviewer for Central Office's Forensic Oversight Committee, peer reviews articles for several research journals, and acts as a grader for masters-level comprehensive examinations in forensic psychology at her alma mater. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Forensic Psychology, M.A. in Forensic Psychology, and M.A. in General/Theoretical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her B.A. in Psychology and B.A. in Law/Justice Studies are from Rowan University. Her research areas include psychodiagnostic assessment, malingering assessment, sexual/physical violence and victimization risk, and mental health policy. To date, she has edited 1 book, and authored/co-authored 14 empirical journal articles, 7 book chapters, and numerous conference presentations; additional works are in progress. She is a prior recipient of the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 18 (Psychologists in Public Service) Community & State Hospital section's Outstanding Service Award (2025), the American Academy of Forensic Psychology’s (AAFP’S) Dissertation Grant in Applied Law/Psychology (2017), and the American Psychological Foundation (APF) and APA Division 42’s Steven O. Walfish Competition Grant (2016).
Training Outline
Key topics covered in this training include:
-
Introduction to Competency to Stand Trial (CST): Importance, legal history, and criteria for CST
-
Restoration History: Initially inpatient, later outpatient restoration; identified need for alternatives
-
General Restoration Information: Includes success rates, length of stay, and predictors of restorability vs. unrestorability
-
Outpatient Restoration Origin: Started due to restrictive inpatient settings, cost, competency crisis, and lawsuits (Trueblood)
-
Defendant Routing into Outpatient Restoration: Based on evaluator opinions, legal requirements, and treatment needs
-
Types of Outpatient Restoration Models: Community-based, residential-based, and jail-based models
-
Providing Outpatient Restoration: Review court orders, records, assessments, and develop treatment plans
-
Treatment Planning: Includes case management, medication, psychoeducation, cognitive remediation, and techniques like the Slater Method
-
Capacity to Assist Counsel: Focus on CBT for psychosis, motivational interviewing, and anger management
-
Documentation and Communication: Importance of documenting interactions and treatment plans; avoid commenting on alleged offenses; communicate with the court and evaluators
We are proud to partner with
American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)
We are proud to partner with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) for this training. AAFP is a non-profit organization of board-certified forensic psychologists whose mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of forensic psychology as a specialized field of study, research, and practice. The Academy does this by providing high-quality continuing education workshops, providing a forum for the exchange of scientific information among its members, and conferring awards upon outstanding students and practitioners in the field of forensic psychology.
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.