A forensic psychologist uses clinical skills to assist the trier of fact in rendering decisions that are life altering for an individual. The forensic psychology emphasis area offers specialized training that focuses on the intersection of psychology and the legal system. The emphasis introduces students to theories and concepts of psychology used in criminal and civil courts, correctional settings, and forensic mental health facilities. Students will be trained on relevant legal statutes and the use of forensic assessment tools to assess risk, malingering, and legal issues such as competency and sanity. Courses throughout the program include the instruction and practice in providing expert witness testimony, assessing competency, evaluating future dangerousness, and identifying mitigating factors. Students will be trained on proper courtroom and correctional setting etiquette, writing for the courts, and communication skills to interact with legal professionals. Additionally, students will develop extensive knowledge in psychological ethics and the rights of psychiatric patients.
Forensic Research
Forensic Clinical Research Team
Supervised by Dr. Julie Costopoulos
Dr. Costopoulos leads a forensic research team focused on psychological phenomena in legal settings. Current studies examine the efficacy of programs for mentally ill offenders, the preparation of students for forensic environments, and the ability to exaggerate psychiatric symptoms undetected. Dr. Costopoulos provides students with hands-on experience in forensic psychology research, preparing them for careers in the field.
Current research areas include:
- Psychopathology, Memory, and Cognition
- Mental Health Court
- Jail Re-entry
- Malingering
- Forensic Assessment
Center for Criminal Case Analysis
Supervised by Dr. Marshall Jones
The Center for Applied Criminal Case Analysis (CACCA) focuses on innovative research to address complex criminal justice issues. By partnering with law enforcement agencies, CACCA conducts applied research, including data-mining of offender and victim records and developing custom tools for criminal case file analysis and presentence reports. The research informs policy and practice, with findings shared at conferences and through practitioner training. CACCA offers students opportunities to engage in real-world research, contributing to criminal justice solutions.
Current research areas include:
- Data-mining of offender and victim records
- Custom analysis tools for criminal case file and presentence report evaluations
- Crime analysis and criminal case evaluation methodologies
- Policy development and practice recommendations based on research findings
Child, Applied Memory, and Law (CAMaL) Lab
Supervised By Dr. Travis Conradt
Dr. Conradt leads the CAMaL Lab at Florida Tech, where research focuses on how emotional, social, cognitive, and developmental factors influence children’s memory and suggestibility in legal settings. The lab also explores memory processes in college students, such as the impact of stress on false memory formation and accuracy. In collaboration with the Zero Views Project, the team is currently studying how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect academic performance and resilience in college populations. CAMaL offers students hands-on opportunities to engage in applied memory research with real-world implications for forensic interviewing, eyewitness testimony, and child development.
Students on the CAMaL research team gain experience in:
- Conducting memory and cognition studies with child and adult participants
- Coding, entering, and analyzing psychological data
- Community engagement and participant recruitment
- Contributing to presentations and research publications
- Exploring intersections of memory, emotion, and forensic applications
Investigation, Interviewing, Influence and Decision-Making Lab (I 3 D Lab)
Supervised By Dr. Brandon May
Dr. May leads the I 3 D Lab, where student researchers focus on four core themes:
(1) Forensic investigation (e.g., behavioral considerations of criminal behavior and police investigation),
(2) interrogation/interviewing (e.g., suspect interrogations);
(3) influence (e.g., the use of covert influence campaigns by states); and
(4) decision-making (e.g., high-stakes decision-making in counter-terrorism operations).
The I 3 D Lab also touches on areas related to technology (e.g., Artificial Intelligence; VR; UAVs) in law enforcement, security, and defense fields. In collaboration with international partners – including, but not limited to Cranfield University (UK), Liverpool John Moores University (UK), Queensland Police (AUS), Centre for Research in Covert Human Intelligence (UK-US), Centre of Forensic Interviewing (UK), Implemendez (EU) – the I 3 D Lab provides students with opportunities to engage in real-world applied research, live operational research, and conceptual programs that innovate and drive agile solutions for police, security and defense partners.
Current research areas include:
- Developing and evaluating AI tools for Law-Enforcement
- Data mining Body Worn Video from UK Fire and Rescue Service
- Data mining and analysis of 999 emergency call data
- Evaluating electoral influence strategies for foreign adversarial states
- Developing counter-influence campaigns using visual and textual narratives
- Evaluating cross-cultural victimization of online-sex workers.
- Re-assessing the motivations and executive thresholds for domestic terrorists
Courses Offered
Fundamentals of Forensic Psychology -Introduces the interaction of psychology and the legal system. Applies the methods, theories, and concepts of psychology to the legal system and the law. Includes the courts, correctional and forensic mental health facilities, and judicial and legislative agencies.
Clinical Forensic Assessment- Introduces the assessment tools necessary to respond to the needs of the law in criminal responsibility, psychopathy, psychopathology, competency to stand trial and assist counsel, substance abuse, future dangerousness, cognitive abilities, and mitigating factors. Also examines the ethical requirements of the psychologist as an expert witness.
Forensic Psychology (Psychology & the Law)- The interaction of psychology and the law; emphasis on the psychologist as an expert witness and as a consultant to attorneys and the court; and an evaluation of the rights of psychiatric patients
Additional Seminars in Forensic Psychology – Additional seminars are held at the discretion and availability of faculty and special presenters.
Practicum Sites
- Court Assessment Team – At this site, students conduct evaluations within the jail and directly question defendants under direct supervision. Students will also have the opportunity to coauthor reports with Dr. Costopoulos relating assessments to a legal standard submitted to the court. Testimony may be required in some cases.
- Treasure Coast Forensic Treatment Center - Provide services to residents in a maximum security, private, forensic mental health treatment facility Duties include forensic assessments (competency evaluations, risk assessments, malingering assessments, and others); consultation to the facility units; integrated psychological assessments (cognitive screenings, full battery assessments); and report writing (competency reports and interim progress reports).
- Circles of Care Inpatient Psychiatric Facility- This site offers practicum students the opportunity to work on inpatient units with patients across the lifespan who experience acute and chronic mental illness and substance use disorders by providing group and individual therapy as well as assessment.
- Department of Corrections – This site offers the opportunity to work within an adult correctional facility with inmates serving their sentence.
Forensic Psychology Students in Training (FPST)
Forensic Psychology Students in Training (FPST) is an organization open to all Psy.D. graduate students with a forensic interest. Coordinated by Dr. Costopoulos, we meet throughout the semester to discuss various topics in the field of forensic psychology. The didactic trainings on forensic topics are a great way to connect with other forensic-minded individuals in the Psy.D. program and meet members of the community who present. Students have the opportunity to participate in mock trials, can request topics to be presented on, and also have the opportunity to present on forensic areas of interest. Past presentation topics have included safety in forensic settings, psychodynamic treatment in a forensic setting, mental health court, interviewing for a forensic internship, and forensic cultural competence.
If you have any questions related to the Forensic experience within the Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program, or questions about forensic psychology careers, please feel free to contact Dr. Costopoulos.