Course Details

Course TitleUnmasking Hidden Biases in Forensic Evaluations: Practical Strategies for Accuracy and Justice
Date 4/18/2025
ProviderForensic Mental Health Association of CA
Phone916-540-7460
Emailfmhac@fmhac.net
Website
LocationSan Diego
Credit Hours3
Instructor(s)Melinda DiCiro, PsyD ABPP; Shoba Sreenivasan, PhD
Method of InstructionWorkshop/Seminar
Approving AgencyAPA
Course Syllabus

Course Description

Cognitive biases are invisible forces influencing the most seasoned experts. Biases distort decision-making, undermine objectivity, and skew outcome in legal contexts without realizing it. This session will equip forensic psychologists with actionable strategies to identify and mitigate bias in forensic evaluations. Dror's Pyramidal Hierarch of Bias will be discussed. It will provide valuable insights for protecting the integrity of forensic decision-making.

Course Objectives

List and define five fallacies forensic experts hold regarding expert vulnerability to bias; List and describe the three main levels of biasing influences on forensic evaluators; List three key ways to mitigate bias in forensic evaluation; Identify potential three fallacies and biasing influences to a case scenario, and three ways to mitigate bias in that case.