Training Program
The primary training mission of the Law & Psychiatry Program is to provide high-quality post-graduate preparation for service as public-sector forensic psychiatrists and forensic psychologists. These programs include:
- The Postdoctoral Residency (Fellowship) in Forensic Psychology provides specialty training in forensic psychology, exposes trainees to forensic assessments in multiple settings, transitions trainees to independent forensic practice as psychologists, and prepares trainees for the American Board of Professional Psychology examination in forensic psychology.
- The Fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry is ACGME-accredited, provides training about the legal system and legal issues affecting psychiatric practice, trains psychiatrists to consult to the legal system, and prepares psychiatrists for forensic work in the public sector.
Other training experiences through the Law & Psychiatry program include:
- The Forensic Track of the Doctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology prepares interns for careers as psychologists within forensic mental health systems, with an eye toward understanding the complicated systemic issues the diverse forensic population faces.
- The Forensic Rotation of the Psychiatry Residency Program exposes residents (PGY-2) to psychiatric formulation and consultation within the public sector forensic setting.
- Guest lectures by program faculty for community college, undergraduate, graduate/professional, and continuing education (CE, CLE, CME) courses.
Legal Externship with UMass Dartmouth:
- The legal practicum is an externship for one second- or third-year law student. The practicum consists of an overview of civil commitment and substituted judgment law, as well as the areas in which mental health intersects with criminal cases in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The extern observes civil commitment cases held in Worcester District Court, will review cases with the supervising attorney, and will work and consult with forensic mental health experts.