California training: Complex issues in SVP evaluations

California's Department of Mental Health has just announced an exciting training featuring several prominent psychologists in the sex offender field. The two-day training, March 9-10 in beautiful Seaside (by Monterey), features:

Dr. Robert Prentky, a psychology professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey and a leading researcher and practitioner in the field of sex offender risk

Dr. Howard Barbaree, Clinical Director of the Law and Mental Health Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, a pioneer in the study of the mitigating effects of aging and treatment on sex offender risk

Dr. Richard Wollert, a sex offender evaluator and treatment provider in Washington State who has published cutting-edge work on the application of mathematical principles (such as base rates, probability theory and Bayes' Theorem) to risk assessment

Dr. Brian Abbott, a forensic psychologist in San Jose, California, whose recent published work critiques the scientific reliability and validity of actuarial tools used to assess sex offender recidivism risk

More information and online registration is available through the event's cosponsor, the College of Continuing Education at the California State University in Sacramento. The fee is a bargain -- only $100 including lunch, and they've negotiated a steeply discounted hotel rate as well. If you’re a psychologist, it's a great way to get up to speed on recent developments in sex offender risk assessment while earning six units of CE credits.

Kudos to the Sex Offender Commitment Program of the Department of Mental Health for organizing such an exciting training!

Click HERE for more information.

Also coming up in Seaside:

By the way, while I'm promoting conferences at the Embassy Suites in Seaside (pictured above), don't forget the Forensic Mental Health Association's annual conference there on March 24-26. I will be giving a training on "Ethical Considerations in Psychiatric Diagnoses in Forensic and Correctional Settings." They've also got an entire track on Competency to Stand Trial. The brochure and registration information are online HERE.