JPD - Forensic Psychologist, Cook County Juvenile Court

Employer Profile:

Job Summary:

Essential Duties:

1. Conduct court ordered forensic evaluations for the Juvenile Justice Division of the Cook County Juvenile Court to address pending legal questions related to detention and sentencing decisions, fitness to stand trial, risk of violence/recidivism, problematic sexual behaviors, and capacity to waive Miranda rights. Review relevant records; conduct multiple forensic interviews with evaluation subjects (youth who are the subjects of juvenile court petitions); interview parents/guardians and relevant collateral sources; administer and interpret psychological tests; and write comprehensive, well-supported reports that answer the Court’s questions and comport with forensic best practices.
2. Conduct forensic child protection evaluations to address pending legal questions such as visitation, change of permanency goal, termination of parental rights, return home, motion for case closure, and motion to vacate or transfer guardianship. Review relevant records; conduct multiple forensic interviews with evaluation subjects (parents or other caregivers who are parties to a child protection matter); interview children who are the subjects of a child protection petition; interview caseworkers and other relevant collateral sources (e.g., community therapists); administer and interpret psychological tests; and write comprehensive, well-supported reports that answer the Court’s questions and comport with forensic best practices.
3. Provide on-call coverage (several times per month, during court business hours) for same-day evaluations of a parent’s capacity to consent to specific adoption and/or voluntarily relinquish parental rights. Review available records, conduct a brief clinical interview with the parent and prepare a brief report of findings.
4. Testify in court as an expert witness regarding forensic evaluations tendered to court.
5. Participate in supervision and training initiatives, including but not limited to regular meetings with primary supervisor, monthly psychologist and staff meetings, and internal and external trainings related to child protection, juvenile justice and forensic evaluation.
6. Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Strong communication skills, including the ability to effectively convey information and opinions through written reports and oral testimony.
2. Cultural competence, including an awareness of how experiences, beliefs and values of diverse individuals and groups affect clinical forensic interactions and practice.
3. Knowledge of ethical and best practice standards for the practice of clinical and forensic psychology.
4. Ability to work cooperatively in an interdisciplinary setting.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from an APA accredited program or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience from which comparable skills can be acquired.
• Successful completion of an APPIC accredited pre-doctoral internship.
• Current Illinois psychologist license (out of state applicants must be eligible for licensure in Illinois).
• Clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and families.
• Experience working with court-involved populations in a clinical or forensic capacity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Pre-doctoral training in forensic psychology and/or psychology and the law.

• Completion of a forensic post-doctoral fellowship and/or two to three years post-doctoral experience conducting forensic evaluations, with preference given to those candidates with experience in child protection or juvenile justice settings.
• Experience conducting evaluations pertaining to problematic sexual behavior and eligibility for Illinois licensure as a sex offender evaluator (see Title 68, Section 1280 of the Illinois Administrative Code, for details)
• Experience providing courtroom testimony pertaining to forensic evaluations.
• Fluency in Spanish, sign language or other non-English languages.

• Work is performed primarily at the Cook County Juvenile Center, 2245 W. Ogden Ave, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60612.
• Requires the ability to travel occasionally (two to three times monthly) to community locations and suburban courthouses as part of conducting evaluations.