Are you fascinated by forensic psychology? Ever wonder what a forensic psychologist actually does? Professor Keith Cruise will provide an overview of a forensic psychologist’s approach to conducting a forensic evaluation, discuss sample cases, and teach us what writers get wrong when it comes to forensic psychology.
Keith Cruise is Professor and Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology at Fordham University and Co-Director of the Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice (CTRJJ), a technical assistance center affiliated with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). He holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of North Texas and a Masters of Legal Studies degree from the University of Nebraska. Dr. Cruise conducts research on the clinical-forensic assessment of youth within the juvenile justice system. Various research projects have focused on developing and validating specialized risk assessment protocols, investigating the utility of mental health screening instruments with justice-involved youth, and understanding the connection between trauma exposure, trauma reactions, and delinquent behavior. Dr. Cruise’s clinical-forensic practice has involved providing direct care assessment and treatment services with justice-involved adolescents conducting post-disposition assessments of risk and treatment amenability, providing expert testimony to juvenile courts, and providing technical assistance and consultation to local and state juvenile justice systems in implementing trauma-informed screening and assessment practices. Dr. Cruise has received grant funding (NIJ, OJJDP, SAMHSA) to examine the effectiveness of enhanced mental health screening for poly-victimization, trauma-informed case planning, and the impact of trauma screening on service delivery and legal outcomes for justice-involved youth.