Commencement ETC PC

03/06/2026

Violent behavior is often discussed in simple terms.
Research suggests the reality is more complex.

Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis studied individuals on death row and found high rates of severe childhood abuse, neurological injury, and trauma histories.

Her work challenged the idea that criminal behavior can always be understood without considering developmental and psychological factors.

In forensic psychology, understanding risk, responsibility, and behavior often requires looking at a person’s history, not only the offense.

Recognizing complexity does not excuse harm.
It helps us understand it more accurately.

03/05/2026

Reposting my first reel during Women’s History Month.

As a woman working in forensic psychology, I’m especially aware of how much this field has been shaped by women whose work is often overlooked.

This month I’m highlighting some of those contributions while also sharing more about what this field actually looks like in practice.

03/05/2026

Memory feels reliable.
Research shows it can be surprisingly fragile.

Dr. Elizabeth Loftus is one of the most influential researchers in the study of memory and eyewitness testimony.

Her work demonstrated how suggestion, stress, and time can alter what a person remembers — findings that have had major implications for criminal investigations and wrongful convictions.

In forensic psychology, understanding the limits of memory is essential when evaluating statements, testimony, and confessions.

Science does not exist to undermine the legal system.
It exists to make it more accurate.

03/04/2026

How we perceive threat, guilt, and danger is not always based only on evidence.

Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt studies how racial stereotypes can influence perception, attention, and decision-making.

Her research has examined how bias can affect policing, sentencing, and even what people notice in a crime-related situation.

This work is highly relevant to forensic psychology, where evaluations, testimony, and legal decisions rely on human judgment.

Understanding these influences does not weaken the justice system.
It helps us examine how to make it more accurate.

03/03/2026

Let's talk about the biggest mistake people make when judging criminal behavior.

03/03/2026

Fairness in the justice system depends on the assumption that people make objective decisions.

Research suggests it is not that simple.

Dr. Patricia Devine is known for her work on implicit bias — the automatic associations that can influence judgment even when a person intends to be fair.

This research has important implications for jury decision-making, policing, sentencing, and eyewitness identification.

Understanding bias does not mean assuming bad intent.
It means recognizing that human cognition is not perfectly neutral.

Forensic psychology often sits at the intersection of behavior, perception, and the legal system — where these questions matter most.

03/02/2026

For much of history, victims of violence were not always believed, supported, or understood.

Dr. Ann Burgess helped change that.

Her research on trauma in sexual assault victims helped shape modern victim advocacy, forensic nursing, and investigative practices.

She also contributed to early behavioral research that informed FBI profiling studies.

Her work pushed the field to recognize that understanding victims is essential to understanding crime.

Today, trauma-informed approaches in investigations, courts, and treatment settings exist in part because of this research.

Forensic psychology is not only about offenders.

It is also about how systems respond to those who have been harmed.

03/01/2026

During Women’s History Month, I’m highlighting women whose work shaped forensic psychology, the legal system, and how we understand human behavior.

Dr. Mamie Phipps Clark was the first Black woman to earn a PhD in psychology from Columbia University, and her research helped change U.S. law.

Her famous “doll studies,” conducted with Kenneth Clark, demonstrated the psychological harm of segregation on children.

This research was cited in Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court decision that declared school segregation unconstitutional.

Her work is an early example of psychology influencing the legal system — something that remains central to forensic psychology today.

Psychology does not exist outside of social context.

And neither does justice.

02/28/2026

, This press release reports that the Georgia Attorney General and a coalition of 23 states are supporting a proposal from the Federal Communications Commission that would allow prisons and jails to use technology to block contraband cell phones. The current rule largely prohibits jamming equipment, even in high-security settings, and officials say the change would help stop violent crime and scams coordinated from inside facilities.

Incidents involving contraband phones reflect broader systemic challenges in correctional environments: how technology is regulated, how security gaps are addressed, and how policies impact both those incarcerated and the communities connected to them. During Black History Month, it’s worth reflecting on how institutional policies and resource limitations shape safety and outcomes, especially in systems where racial disparities in arrest, incarceration, and supervision are well documented.

From a forensic psychology perspective, effective and equitable policy must balance public safety with transparent oversight, fairness, and an awareness of how systemic conditions influence behavior and risk — not just focus on individual incidents.

ATLANTA, GA – Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin are leading a 23-state coalition in sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of a proposal that would allow States to use jamming technology to combat contraband cell phone...

02/27/2026

This thoughtful piece from the American Bar Association highlights ongoing legal debate at the Supreme Court about how intellectual disability should be assessed in capital punishment cases — including how IQ scores and other evidence are weighed when deciding whether someone is eligible for ex*****on.

Decisions about intellectual disability in death penalty law are not simply technical — they raise deep questions about fairness, equity, and how systems treat people with cognitive impairments. These questions matter because policies about disability eligibility can literally be life or death, and courts have struggled with how to balance scientific evidence, human variability, and constitutional protections.

During Black History Month, it’s worth reflecting on how systems of justice have historically applied harsh penalties unequally, especially for people with disabilities and people of color. Ethical forensic psychology emphasizes careful, evidence-based evaluation and the need to ensure that due process and constitutional safeguards work equally for everyone, regardless of intellect or background.

In Hamm v. Smith, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering how courts should evaluate intellectual functioning when determining whether a person is constitutionally ineligible for ex*****on.

02/26/2026

, A Georgia court has paused the scheduled ex*****on of Stacey Humphrey to examine whether a clemency board member’s conflict of interest should affect the decision-making process. (deathpenaltyinfo.org
)

This development highlights a fundamental principle of justice: fairness in process matters as much as outcome. Questions about bias, conflict, and who gets a voice in life-and-death decisions are not abstract — they have very real consequences for individuals and families.

During Black History Month, it’s important to reflect on how institutions have historically operated with uneven standards of oversight and fairness — especially when the ultimate punishment is at stake. Racial disparities in capital sentencing, access to quality representation, and the structure of review boards are part of why careful procedural safeguards are essential.

Forensic psychology emphasizes the importance of impartial assessment, accountability, and structural integrity in all justice system processes. What happens before an ex*****on is carried out — including how decisions are made and by whom — matters deeply for equity and trust.

On December 29, 2025, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney issued an order block­ing the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole (GBPP) from...

02/25/2026

This article reports that Christopher Taylor’s conviction was overturned after years behind bars, raising important questions about how evidence was handled and how legal outcomes can be shaped by the systems designed to deliver justice.

During Black History Month, it’s vital to reflect on how racial disparities and systemic bias have historically influenced investigations, testimony, and sentencing — often to the detriment of people of color. Wrongful convictions are not isolated errors; they are frequently the result of intersecting factors including biased interpretations, unequal access to quality defense, and flawed institutional processes.

In forensic psychology, we study how context, perception, and systemic conditions affect both individual outcomes and larger patterns within the justice system. This case is a reminder that care, oversight, and evidence-based evaluation are essential to fairness — and that delayed justice, while better than none, still represents a profound loss for those wrongly convicted and their families.

The KVUE Defenders examined how an appeals court 500 miles from Austin decided a former Austin Police Department officer's fate.