FEATURED AUTHOR

Ron Roesch

Professor of Psychology
Simon Fraser University

Ron Roesch is Professor of Psychology at Simon Fraser University. He has a PhD in clinical psychology from University of Illinois. His research focuses on competency assessment of adults and youth, and assessment and treatment of young offenders. He has served as president of the American Psychology-Law Society (APLS) and was Editor of the journals Law and Human Behavior and Psychology, Public Policy and Law. He received APLS’s Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Psychology and Law Award

Biography

I am Professor of Psychology and Director of the Mental Health, Law, and Policy Institute at Simon Fraser University. He received his PhD in clinical psychology in 1977 at the University of Illinois. My research focuses on competency assessment of adults and youth, jail/prison mental health programs, and youth violence.
I have had the privilege of editing several scholarly journals. I was Editor-in-Chief of the journals Law and Human Behavior, Psychology, Public Policy and Law, and International Journal of Forensic Mental Health. I served as president of the American Psychology-Law Society and the International Association of Forensic Mental Health. I am a fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association. My research on competency to stand trial has won awards from the American Psychological Association and the American Bar Association. I have co-authored a number of books and practice manuals, including Forensic assessments in criminal and civil law: A handbook for lawyers;Evaluation of Competence to Stand Trial (2009); Fitness Interview Test-Revised (2006); Jail Screening Assessment Tool (JSAT): Guidelines for Mental Health Screening in Jails (2005), and Multi-problem Violent Youth: A Foundation for Comparative Research on Needs, Interventions, and Outcomes (2002). My teaching interests include undergraduate and graduate courses on psychology and law.
I received the Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring in the Field of Psychology and Law Award in 2009 from the American Psychology-Law Society (APLS), and in 2010 received APLS’s Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Psychology and Law Award. In 2011, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Contributions to Psychology and Law from the European Association of Psychology & Law.

Education

PhD University of Illinois, 1977

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

My research focuses on competency assessment of adults and youth, jail/prison mental health programs, and youth violence.

Personal Interests

Books

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