Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology

The residency/fellowship in forensic psychology provides a broad variety of experience and advanced training, primarily in forensic psychological assessment. Time is divided approximately equally between two sites.  The Western State Hospital (WSH) forensic service provides opportunities for inpatient forensic assessments, particularly competency to stand trial and mental state at the time of the alleged offense. The trainee works within a multidisciplinary treatment team with other hospital staff.  The University of Virginia’s Institute for Law, Psychiatry, & Public Policy (ILPPP) provides a unique opportunity for both education and practical forensic training. The ILPPP provides formal training programs in a variety of topics, including: law, basic forensic evaluation skills, juvenile forensic evaluation, civil commitment; competency to stand trial, mental state at the time of the alleged offense, sex offender evaluations, violence risk assessment, capital sentencing, expert testimony and others. Residents/fellows may also attend law school classes by ILPPP faculty and affiliates. Within the UVA Forensic Clinic at ILPPP, the forensic fellow collaborates with faculty to conduct intensive forensic evaluations addressing criminal forensic issues (e.g., competence, sanity, risk assessment, capital sentencing, sex offender sentencing, and other less common evaluations). Fellows typically have some opportunity to assist in civil forensic evaluations (e.g., psychological injury) and other forms of consultation (e.g., threat assessment) as well.

Overall, residents/fellows who train at both WSH and ILPPP are exposed to a variety of referral questions, criminal defendants, and approaches to forensic evaluation. Depending on their background and expertise, fellows may assist with training other mental health professionals or psychology trainees. Fellows may participate in research projects with ILPPP faculty, or initiate their own. Dr. Daniel Murrie directs the fellowship and the work at ILPPP, while Dr. Gabby Trupp directs the work at WSH. Both sites feature several other psychologists and psychiatrists involved with the fellowship.

After the first year of residency, there is the possibility of a second year as a senior fellow, for trainees who have completed licensure and performed well.