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Assessing competency in criminal defense is a complex task because it is both functional and contextual. It depends not only on a defendant’s general mental state, but on their specific abilities in relation to the demands of their particular case. Competency can fluctuate over time due to a range of factors, making it rarely a one-time, clear-cut determination. This complexity underscores the importance of close communication between defense teams and forensic experts.

Presented by ARC and Daniel Murrie, Director of the Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, this webinar will examine how to address competency effectively in high-stakes criminal cases. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of what legal competence entails, how to recognize potential signs of incompetence, and how to work effectively with experts to support fair and just outcomes.

Presenter Bio

Daniel Murrie, PhD serves as Director of the Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy (ILPPP) and a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Dr. Murrie directs the University of Virginia (UVA) Forensic Clinic, the UVA Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology, and Virginia’s state-sponsored training program for psychologists and psychiatrists who are becoming eligible to perform court-ordered forensic evaluations. As a forensic psychologist, Dr. Murrie performs a variety of forensic evaluations around the country, with a particular emphasis on evaluations of trial competence and evaluations in capital cases. As a consultant, he works with state administrators and advocacy groups—and serves as a federally-appointed monitor—to help states improve their forensic service systems, particularly competence-related services.