Forensic Briefs

Episode

• Dr. Shoba Sreenivasan - Justice-Involved Veterans 16.06.2026 24mnt

  In this episode, Dr. Shoba Sreenivasan explores the complex intersection of military service, trauma, sexual offending, and forensic risk assessment. She discusses why veterans appear disproportionately represented among people incarcerated for sexual offenses, what is known and unknown about repeat offending, and how SVP recidivism research complicates assumptions about risk. The conversation also examines VA services, housing barriers, trauma-informed care, and cultural issues in forensic a...
• Julie Goldenson - Evaluator as Human 28.05.2026 23mnt

  In this episode of Forensic Briefs, Dr. Julie Goldenson explores aspirational forensic report writing, emphasizing growth mindset, self-awareness, consultation, and trauma-informed practices as foundations for ethical, high-quality forensic mental health work.
• Michelle Guyton and Alexander Millkey - Forensic Telepsychology 13.05.2026 23mnt

  In this special host-led episode, Drs. Michelle Guyton and Alex Millkey discuss the rise of remote forensic psychological evaluations. They review the history of telehealth, summarize research on remote competency and psychiatric assessments, and present findings from their own Oregon-based study comparing in-person and remote fitness to proceed evaluations. The conversation explores benefits, limitations, unanswered questions, and practical considerations for clinicians navigating technology...
• Terry Kukor - Aspirational Forensic Practice and Consulting Work 28.04.2026 33mnt

  In this episode, Terry Kukor explores aspirational forensic practice and the role of consultation in strengthening forensic mental health work. He discusses what it means to “strive” under the Specialty Guidelines, emphasizing humility, curiosity, tolerance for uncertainty, empathy, and critical thinking. The conversation examines common impediments to high-level practice, the value of consultation in reducing bias and improving reasoning, and how thoughtful collaboration can help forensic cl...
• Rick Frederick and James Mikesell - Test Data and Transparency 07.04.2026 31mnt

  James W. Mikesell, PhD, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical and forensic psychologist with over two decades of experience conducting specialized forensic evaluations and consultations in civil, criminal, juvenile, and family law cases. He is board certified in both forensic and rehabilitation psychology and currently serves as President of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. Dr. Mikesell holds adjunct faculty appointments at Syracuse University and Upstate Medical University and is a...
• Rick Frederick and James Mikesell - Test Security and Due Process 24.03.2026 36mnt

  In the first of a two-part conversation, Drs. Rick Frederick and James Mikesell explore foundational issues surrounding psychologists as expert witnesses. The discussion addresses ethics, the specialty guidelines, discovery obligations, impeachment, and the tension between test security and due process rights. Drawing on case law, professional standards, and real-world practice, our guests outline why transparency, protective orders, and legal literacy are essential for ethical and effective ...
• ME Wood - ID and Forensic Evaluations 10.03.2026 36mnt
• Dave DeMatteo - Sequential Intercept Model 24.02.2026 34mnt

  Dr. David DeMatteo returns to Forensic Briefs to examine the Sequential Intercept Model and the evolution of problem-solving courts. Our conversation explores diversion points across the justice system, the rise and impact of drug and mental health courts, and the balance between public safety and public health approaches. Dr. DeMatteo highlights research, policy implications, and practical ways forensic clinicians can apply these frameworks in evaluations, testimony, and system-level reform.
• Reid Meloy - Threat Assessment Pathways 10.02.2026 30mnt

  In this episode of Forensic Briefs, Dr. Reid Meloy returns to examine threat assessment and management through the development and application of the TRAP-18. He discusses proximal warning behaviors, distal risk factors, time-sequencing of violent pathways, and emerging research using artificial intelligence in forensic risk assessment. The conversation also analyzes the Capital Gazette mass murder, highlighting failures in threat management and the critical warning sign of attackers “going d...
• Reid Meloy - Predatory vs. Affective Violence 30.01.2026 36mnt

  In this episode of Forensic Briefs, Dr. Reid Meloy examines the psychology of extreme violence through the lens of affective and predatory aggression. Drawing from decades of clinical, forensic, and psychoanalytic work, he discusses pathways to violence, planning and emotional states, psychosis and rationality, stochastic terrorism, and the role of social media and ideology. The conversation highlights practical implications for threat assessment, expert testimony, and understanding violent b...
• Emily Salisbury - Gender Responsive Strategies in Risk Assessment 13.01.2026 36mnt

  In this episode of Forensic Briefs, Dr. Emily Salisbury explores gender-responsive strategies within the criminal legal system. She discusses how trauma, relationships, economic marginalization, and gender norms shape women’s pathways into justice involvement. The conversation examines the risk-needs-responsivity model, gender-specific assessment tools, reproductive justice, and probation practices, highlighting how policy and practice changes can improve outcomes for justice-involved women a...
• Terry Kukor - Relevancy Focused Report Writing 30.12.2025 31mnt

  Dr. Terry Kukor explains how relevancy-focused reports shift forensic writing from procedure-based sections to findings-based answers. Learn practical filters for what belongs in a report, how to reduce cognitive strain, and why addressing disconfirming data strengthens credibility.
• Sharon Kelley - Misdemeanors and the Competency Crisis 17.12.2025 38mnt

  This episode examines the national competency crisis, focusing on misdemeanor defendants, rising incompetence findings, statutory responses across states, and the ethical, clinical, and systemic consequences for courts, evaluators, and defendants with serious mental illness.
• Andi Brierley - Peer Mentorship in the Legal System 24.11.2025 33mnt

  Andi Brierley joins Forensic Briefs to discuss his journey from incarceration to academia, exploring how lived experience informs desistance, peer mentorship, and rehabilitation. He highlights the power of credibility, connection, and rethinking “peer” roles in justice reform.
• Raquel Aldana - Immigration Evaluations 03.11.2025 38mnt

  Professor Raquel Aldana joins Forensic Briefs to discuss the role of trauma, truth, and narrative in immigration law. She examines how forensic evaluations and storytelling shape asylum outcomes and why culturally sensitive, trauma-informed practices are essential.
• Raquel Aldana - Trauma as inclusion in the immigration context 08.10.2025 36mnt

  Professor Raquel Aldana explores how trauma and law intersect in the immigration system, examining how legal processes can both harm and heal—and how forensic mental health evaluations are reshaping justice for displaced and marginalized communities.
• Mike Chavetz - Recommendations for Forensic Record Reviews 02.09.2025 39mnt

  Dr. Michael Chafetz is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist in private practice in New Orleans. He specializes in the validity of Social Security disability exams, especially in low-functioning claimants, and frequently serves as a court-appointed expert in litigated matters. His experiences, including a Daubert challenge related to record reviews, led to his co-authorship of an international AACN best practices article on reviewing records. He also conducts FAA evaluations and licens...
• Lisa Drago - Use of Social Media in Evaluations 06.08.2025 32mnt

  Dr. Lisa Drago explores the growing role of social media in forensic mental health evaluations. She discusses ethical considerations, challenges in interpretation, and the impact of online behavior on credibility, diagnosis, and risk assessments, offering valuable insights for professionals navigating this evolving digital landscape.
• Andrew Smith – Experts’ Inconclusive Reports Conceal Exculpatory Evidence in Forensic Cartridge Case Comparisons 15.07.2025 32mnt

  Andrew M. Smith is an Associate Professor of Cognitive Psychology at Iowa State University, where he investigates memory, judgment, and decision-making, particularly within legal contexts such as eyewitness identification and deception detection. His research combines computational modeling with behavioral experiments and has been published in leading journals. He has received funding from organizations including the FBI, NSF, and Arnold Ventures. Smith is a fellow of the Psychonomic Society ...
• Elizabeth Foster and Sharon Kelley - Feedback in Forensic Mental Health Assessments Short 30.06.2025 37mnt

  Dr. Lizzy Foster and Dr. Sharon Kelley discuss the ethical and legal challenges of providing feedback in forensic mental health assessments, offering a practical framework to help evaluators balance transparency, respect, and professional responsibilities.