Use and Misuse of Psychological Testing in Court

Expert Testimony
 

Presenter: David Shapiro, Ph.D., ABPP
Friday, November 14, 2025 ♦ 10:00am – 12:00pm EST
Zoom Webinar

This presentation will equip participants with the skills to maintain impartiality in forensic evaluations, recognize and manage potential biases, and avoid multiple relationships that can compromise objectivity in forensic practice. Participants will also learn to navigate ethical boundaries when dealing with the media, understanding what can and cannot be shared in forensic contexts. The session will further address the most common misuses of psychological testing in court, emphasizing the importance of adhering to validated data and avoiding unsupported adjustments.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

David Shapiro, Ph.D., ABPP is a Professor Emeritus at the College of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University. He was involved in teaching, training, and research in the forensic concentration. He holds a Diplomate in Forensic Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology (1979). Dr. Shapiro has authored fifteen books and approximately forty peer reviewed articles and book chapters in forensic psychology, ethics, and malpractice issues. He has served on the ethics committees of the American Psychological Association and the American Board of Professional Psychology and has received distinguished Contribution Awards from the American Academy of Forensic Psychology and from Division 42 of the American Psychological Association.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Participants will be able to:

• Discuss the concept of Impartiality in Forensic Assessment
• Describe the concept of multiple relationships in forensic work
• Explain the constraints necessary in dealing with the media

PROGRAM AGENDA

10:00 am – 10:30 am  Impartiality in forensic evaluations and testimony
10:30 am – 11:00 am  Avoiding multiple relationships that arise in forensic practice; laws regarding privileged communication
11:00 am – 12:00 pm  Major constraints in dealing with the media in forensic cases; most frequent misuses of psychological testing in the                                                      courtroom

For additional information on continuing education policies, please visit our web site at http://psychology.nova.edu/ce.