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Curriculum

Our curriculum is designed to help fellows gain the necessary knowledge and skills to ethically apply scientific and clinical expertise to: (1) legal issues involving criminal, civil, correctional, or legislative matters; (2) the legal regulation of psychiatry; and (3) psychiatric evaluation and treatment to those in forensic settings. In addition to supervised clinical experiences and core didactics, there are ample elective options to support and enhance each fellow’s individual learning goals. 

Sample Schedule of Forensic Assignments

Monday

  • RPC/RFU - 8:00-12:00
  • RPC/RFU - 12:30-5:00 - Scholarly project/elective

Tuesday

  • Wayne County Jail - 8:00-12:00
  • RPC/RFU - 1:00-5:00

Wednesday

  • RPC/RFU - 8:00-5:00

Thursday

  • RPC/RFU 8:00-12:00
  • Sociolegal Center 12:30-5:00

Friday

  • RPC/RFU 8:00-12:00
  • Sociolegal Center 12:30-5:00

Forensic Seminars

Sample Combined Seminar Schedule

Psychiatry and the Death Penalty

  • Presented by J. Richard Ciccone, MD

Prisoner Rights

  • Presented by Robert Weisman, DO

Sex Offenders

  • Presented by J. Richard Ciccone, MD

Malingering Mental Illness

  • Presented by Robert Weisman, DO

Civil Competence

  • Presented by J. Richard Ciccone, MD

Interviewing, Interrogations and Criminal Confession

  • Presented by Robert Weisman, DO

Forensic Case Conferences & Mock Trials

  • Conducted by Robert Weisman, DO, J. Richard Ciccone, MD, and R.P. Singh, MD

Sample Legal Seminar Schedule

Sentencing

  • Hon. Richard Keenan

Worker’s Compensation / Disability Claims / Social Security Disability Claims

  • Richard Tubiolo, Esq.

Allen v. Farrow: Child Abuse and Custody Litigation 

  • Joyce Parker, Esq.

Socio-Legal Seminar Schedule

Competence to Stand Trial: Overview of Concept

  • Presented by J. Richard Ciccone, MD

Right to Refuse Treatment

  • Presented by J. Richard Ciccone, MD

Assessment of Dangerousness

  • Presented by Robert Weisman, DO

Evolution of the Insanity Defense

  • Presented by J. Richard Ciccone, MD

Forensic Report Writing

  • Presented by Robert Weisman, DO

Personality Disorders in the Forensic Setting

  • Presented by Robert Weisman, DO

Electives

There is dedicated time during the fellowship to pursue personal interests via electives; some elective options include:

  • Child forensic psychiatry
  • Geriatric forensic psychiatry
  • School Threat Assessment Teams
  • Correctional psychiatry
  • Family and Mental Health court experience
  • Private evaluation of civil and criminal forensic cases
  • Profiling and statement analysis
  • R-FACT: Nationally recognized Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) Program
  • St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center Free Health Clinic
  • Workplace Threat Assessment
  • Law Enforcement Evaluations
  • History of forensic psychiatry

Research and Scholarship

Fellows prepare a Scholarly Project on a topic of their choice in forensic psychiatry, and have the opportunity to publish their work in peer reviewed journals. Prior topics have included: Jurors response to forensic psychiatric testimony, Sex offender assessment and management, Mental health court effectiveness, Children’s rights in the context of the psychiatric emergency room, Epidemiologic study of mass shooters, and Victims of crimes and psychiatric sequelae. At a minimum, fellows are expected to prepare a scholarly work suitable for presentation to the faculty at a Journal Club. Many fellows choose to present their scholarly projects at state or national meetings. The fellowship also provides logistical and clerical support for those fellows who wish to publish their scholarly projects.

Steinberg Lecture Series

Over three decades ago, the Department of Psychiatry created the Charles E. Steinberg Fellowship and Lecture in Psychiatry and the Law to recognize the invaluable contributions that Mr. Steinberg made to the field of Forensic Psychiatry and to our institution. The lecture series has featured nationally and internationally recognized experts, covering a wide range of topics.

The Steinberg Lectureship Series—Presentations 2012-2018

  • 9/28/2018
    “History, Evolution and Application of the Insanity Defense”
    Hon. Eugene M. Fahey
    Associate Judge
    New York State Court of Appeals

  • 9/15/2017
    “Public Safety, the Community and the University in Times of Change”
    Cedric Alexander, Psy.D.
    Deputy Mayor, City of Rochester
    Professor of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center

  • 9/30/2016
    “Birth and Death of the Asylum: Blessing or Curse?”
    J. Richard Ciccone, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry
    Director, Psychiatry and Law Program
  • 29th - 9/24/2015
    “Medical Innovations: Determining Their Constitutional Validity”
    Hon. Jeffrey S. Sutton
    United States Court of Appeals, 6th District
  • 28th - 10/16/2014

    “The Impaired Physician: Clinical and Legal Issues”
    John S. McIntyre, M.D.
    Past President of the American Psychiatric Association
    Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
    University of Rochester Medical Center

  • 27th - 11/12/2013

    “Do We Know As Much As We Think We Do?: And What Do We Do If We Don’t?”
    John Petrila, J.D.,LL.M.
    Chair and Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management
    College of Public Health, University of South Florida

  • 26th - 9/20/2012

    “Performance Narrative and Forensic Psychiatric Reporting”
    Ezra Griffith, M.D.
    Professor of Psychiatry
    Yale School of Medicine