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The interface between the law and psychology is challenging and requires special skills and experiences. As a Psychologist performing forensic assessments I rely upon a review of the latest literature and the ethical practice guidelines provided by the American Psychological Association.
Here is a copy of my complete Vita




Education & Certifications
Certified Forensic Examiner, Missouri Department of Mental Health, April 2000

Licensed Psychologist, State of Missouri, 01881, June 1998

Doctorate Counseling Psychology. Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana. APA approved program. August 1991 to December 1996.

Masters Counseling Psychology. University of Missouri at Columbia. May 1987 to August 1989. Additional course work including group practicum and theory. August 1989 to May 1990.

Bachelors Psychology. Minor in Anthropology. University of Missouri at Columbia. August 1983 to May 1987.

Current Positions

Psychologist Private Practice
Forensic Psychology
June 1999 - Present

Part time private practice focused on forensic assessment. I perform forensic criminal evaluations examining the issue of responsibility, competency to proceed to trial, diminished capacity, sexually violent predator risk, and other relevant issues. I also perform Social Security Disability evaluations, Independent Psychological Exams, workplace violence evaluations, and other assessments. I have experience with depositions and trial testimony

Certified Forensic Examiner/Psychologist II
Missouri Department of Mental Health
Fulton State Hospital and Mid Missouri Mental Health Center
January 1999 - Present

I function as a full time Certified Forensic Evaluator for the Department of Mental Health. I complete court ordered evaluations for competency to proceed to trial, responsibility at time of offense, diagnoses, need for further hospitalization, conditional release, presentence recommendations, sexually violent predator risk assessment, and diminished capacity. Offenses range from misdemeanor to capitol cases and involve trial testimony and depositions. Evaluations were completed on an as needed basis at Mid Missouri Mental Health Center from 1999 to 2007. Evaluations have been full time at Fulton State Hospital since 2003

I also provide supervision to four unlicensed doctorate level clinicians and to pre doctoral interns performing both clinical work and Forensic Examinations. I also function as a voting member of the Forensic Review Committee, which offers opinions to the Hospital Administration regarding changes in status to criminally committed patients.

Past Clinical Experiences

Psychologist I / Associate Psychologist II - Adult Inpatient
Mid-Missouri Mental Health Center
September 1995 - February 2003

This full time position involved working as part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team, which provided acute psychiatric inpatient care to 18 counties in central Missouri. I worked as a primary therapist with an emphasis on psychological assessment, clinical interviewing, individual therapy, family therapy, and psychological consultation. The client population ranged in age from 17 to 90+ years. Patients had a wide range of diagnoses including personality disorders, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia. I also provided supervision for Interns from the Mid-Missouri Health Sciences Psychology Internship Consortium, an APA approved pre-doctoral internship program.


Assistant Admissions Officer - Adult Inpatient
Mid-Missouri Mental Health Center
#3 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65201, 573-884-1300
January 1996 - February 2003

This part time position required me to provide additional coverage for the Admissions Officer for Adult Inpatient at an acute care psychiatric hospital, which provided inpatient care to 18 counties in central Missouri. The Admissions Officer coordinates all admissions to the inpatient Adult Services ensuring compliance with state regulations, judicial orders, and hospital policies.

Seminars and Instruction

Presentations on psychological assessment, malingering, and forensic examination to Predoctoral interns and staff at Missouri Health Sciences Psychology Internship Consortium. 1996 to 2002.

Presentations on psychological assessment, malingering, and forensic examination Internship to Predoctoral interns and staff at Fulton State Hospital. 2003 to Present.

Invited Presentation

Mental Retardation From an Evaluator’s Perspective – Missouri Prosecutor’s Capital Litigation Conference. April 15, 2008

Conferences and Training

Legal and Ethical Risks and Risk Management in Professional Practice - Eric Harris, J.D., Ph.D., April 17, 2008

What we know and what we don’t know about assessing and treating sexual offenders - Judith Becker, Ph.D., November 9, 2007 – Fulton Missouri

Psychopathy Checklist – Revised - Stephen Hart, Ph.D., April 26 and 27, 2006, Columbia, MO

American Family and Conciliatory Courts – 6th international Symposium on Child Custody Evaluations, October 14-16, 2004

  • Should Evaluators Recommend? The Ultimate Question (Part I) - Randy Fuerst, J.D., Lake Charles,LA
  • Negotiating the Ultimate Question (Part II)
  • The Trial–The Ultimate Question (Part III)
  • Advanced Institute on Psychological Testing - James R. Flens, Psy.D., Brandon, FL
  • Drug and Alcohol Assessment in Child Custody Evaluations - Claude Schleuderer, Ph.D., Ulster County Mental Health, Kingston,NY
  • Interviewing Children - Mindy F. Mitnick, Ed.M., M.A., Licensed Psychologist,Minneapolis,MN
  • Assessing Children’s Feelings and Perceptions in Divorcing Families - Mary Elizabeth Lund, Ph.D., Santa Monica, CA and Angus Strachan, Ph.D., Santa Monica, CA
  • The Investigative Component in Child Custody Evaluations - William G. Austin, Ph.D., Steamboat Springs, CO; Jonathan W. Gould, Ph.D., Charlotte, NC; and David A. Martindale, Ph.D., ABPP, Morristown,NJ
  • Post-Evaluation Procedures and Ethical Considerations - David A. Martindale, Ph.D., Morristown, NJ; Barbara F. Steinberg, Ph.D., Ormond Beach, FL; and Jan Tyler, Ph.D., Burlington, VT

Advanced Seminar on Custody Evaluations - Jonathon Gould, Ph.D., September 9-10, 2004

Sexually Violent Predator Evaluations in Missouri
Richard Scott, Ph.D., Missouri Department of Mental Health, December 2003.

Legal and Ethical Risks and Risk Management in Professional Practice II: Special High Risk Populations
Ed Harris, M.ED, JD, American Psychological Association Insurance Trust, April 11, 2003

Assessment of Workplace Violence
George Hargrave, Ph.D., American Academy of Forensic Psychology, October 27, 2002

Violence and Threat Assessment
Reid Meloy, Ph.D., September 30 & October 1, 2002.

The Sexually Violent Offender
Roy Hazelwood, (FBI, Ret.) May 2-3, 2002

Missouri Department of Mental Health Forensic Conference
April 2001

Relapse in Schizophrenia
June 2000

Missouri Department of Mental Health Forensic Conference
April 2000

Missouri Department of Mental Health Forensic Conference
April 1999

MMPI-2 Conference
Metropolitan Psychiatric Center Missouri November, 1998

Detection of Malingering and Deception
Randy K. Otto, Ph.D., American Academy of Forensic Psychology, November 1998

Violence and Risk Assessment
Stephen Hart, Ph.D., American Academy of Forensic Psychology, November 1998

Violence and Psychopathology
October 1998

Dangerous Liaisons - Violence and Attachments
Metropolitan Psychiatric Center, Missouri Institute of Mental Health, October 1997


Pre-Doctoral Internship Experience

Mid-Missouri Health Sciences Psychology Internship Consortium, Columbia, Missouri
#3 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65201, 573-884-1300

Other Professional Clinical Experiences

Outpatient Therapist
Family Counseling Center of Missouri, Inc.
Columbia, Missouri
September 1990 to August 1991


Unit Therapist
Cope Care of Moberly - Moberly, Missouri
August 1989 to August 1990

Professional Memberships

American Psychological Association
American Psychology -- Law Society

Research

Kline, Jeffrey S. (1996). "Male College Students' General Satisfaction With Different Styles Of Therapy And Different Sexed Therapists." Unpublished Dissertation, Indiana State University., Terre Haute, Indiana.

Kline, Jeffrey S. (1989). "Comment Constructiveness in Peer Review Groups." Unpublished masters thesis, University of Missouri - Columbia.