Justin M. Ramsdell, Psy.D Psychologist

Professional Experience

Provide forensic investigation, analysis, report, and testimony as it relates to issues involving abduction/captivity scenarios, risk of violent recidivism, ethical practice in forensic psychology, mental health treatment in custodial/correctional environments, and law enforcement interactions with individuals diagnosed with severe mental illnesses.

Law Enforcement Interactions with Individuals with Severe Mental Illness – Verbal de-escalation of volatile scenarios while in the field, crisis intervention team training, law enforcement officer empathy, and law enforcement officer understanding of clinical states encountered in the field.

Mental Health Treatment in Custodial/Correctional Environments – Standards of practice and care for the treatment of individuals with severe mental illnesses in jails and prisons as well as the interaction of institutional policy and ethical practice.

Risk of Violent Recidivism – Actuarial assessment of risk of violent recidivism for individuals convicted of violent crimes, clinical factors that may reduce the likelihood of violent recidivism, and consultation with counsel with respect to the methods and accuracy involved in the assessment of risk for violent recidivism.

Ethical Practice in Forensic Psychology – Proper application of the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Guidelines and Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists, ethical decision making models, and the intersection of ethical principles and the law.

Currently developing the Forensic Psychology Minor program for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Responsible for program development, course creation, and also serve as the sole full-time faculty teaching the course material. Serve as Assistant Professor of Psychology teaching eight undergraduate classes a year including:

• Psychology or Crime Victims
• Research Methods in Psychology
• Introduction to Forensic Psychology
• Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System
• Science and Pseudoscience in Forensic Psychology

Committee Appointments: Interim Chair - Appeals Committee, Institutional Review Board, Curriculum Committee (National level).

Responsibilities:

• Chair a Forensic Psychology Program that offers Master’s degrees to a diverse population of students in the fields of law enforcement, homeland security, or psychological assessment and treatment.
• Responsible for program development, implementation, growth, and improvement of the program, including curriculum development and recruitment.
• Teach Master’s level forensic psychology.
• Mentor students, including supervising formulation of, research for, and the crafting and finalization of Master’s theses as well as supervising students in civil and criminal forensic field placements
• Develop and provide substantive trainings/workshops and prepare and guide graduating students through the comprehensive examination required for graduation.
• Recruit, manage and supervise faculty qualified to teach a broad forensic curriculum.
• Promote and identify opportunities for professional development for faculty.
• Actively develop and implement strategic initiatives for the Forensic Psychology Program, with an aim toward expansion, improvement, and broader recognition in the local forensic community.

Courses Taught in 2013/2014:

• Forensic Psychological Assessment
• Ethical Practice in Forensic Psychology
• Maladaptive Behavior
• Interviewing and Interrogation
• Psychology of the Victim
• Psychology of Criminal Behavior
• Consultation, Triage, and Testimony in Forensic Psychology

JMR Consulting LLC (as a contractor) 2016-present

Provide regular training of law enforcement officers from Arlington County, Fairfax County, and neighboring jurisdictions (i.e. Pentagon police, CIA police, other local jurisdictions, etc.). Created and fine-tuned a practical, creative, and tailored training for law enforcement officers covering clinical pathologies and mental health states they may encounter while on duty, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder and other disorders of interest to law enforcement. Training goals are to establish, and continually reaffirm, a standard of performance among officers that increases empathy, improves the prospect of jail diversion, and enables the law enforcement community to assist community members and family in resolving escalated situations while maintaining dignity and respect for individuals with mental illness, without the need for physical intervention or penal sanction whenever possible. This training has also been provided to Arlington County judges, magistrates, and individuals form the Public Defender’s Office.

Relevant Volunteer Work

Served as a volunteer submission reviewer for research presentation proposals for the 2016 American Psychology-Law Society national Conference.

Currently serving as a civilian member of a committee comprised of judicial, law enforcement, and mental health related branches of the county government and tasked with evaluating how all aspects of the county government may work together to better serve individuals with severe mental illnesses who are involved in the criminal justice system. This is accomplished through a sequential intercept model which identifies key points in any crisis situation in which individuals may be diverted from the criminal justice system to more treatment oriented services.

Served as a member of a County committee created to explore the possibility of creating a “mental health court” or specialized docket designed to encourage treatment over incarceration for individuals with severe mental illnesses arrested on non-violent misdemeanor charges.

Additional Forensic / Clinical Experience

Conducted psychological assessments as a licensed psychologist and provided group therapy and clinical treatment to a diverse population of males incarcerated in Maryland State correctional facility (maximum security hospital setting). Referral questions addressed in psychological assessments included admission to the Eligible Persons program, risk of violent recidivism, and diagnostic clarification. Group therapy consisted of treatment in both manualized and open group therapy formats.

Provided individual psychotherapy to general population inmates as well as inmates housed in the dedicated Mental Health Unit. Conducted psychological assessments with all inmate populations. Referral questions addressed in assessments included diagnostic clarification, level of intellectual and personality functioning, and treatment recommendations. Worked with a multidimensional treatment team to coordinate care for mentally ill and disruptive inmates. Screened mental health referrals for treatment consideration, suicidality, and/or placement on the Mental Health Unit.

Conducted psychological assessments on individuals adjudicated Not Criminally Responsible (NCR) or Incompetent to Stand Trial. Referral questions addressed in assessments included risk of violent recidivism, diagnostic clarification, level of intellectual and personality functioning, and treatment recommendations. Provided individual psychotherapy to patients adjudicated NCR of violent felonies. Attended, and presented at, bi-monthly didactic training seminars for psychological staff on topics including malingering, psychopathy, and clinical cases.

Provided individual psychotherapy to inmates in a dedicated psychological treatment unit of a detention center. Assisted in conducting a weekly Dialectical Behavior Therapy-based group treatment program. Conducted a weekly psycho education group. Completed psychological assessments with individuals on the mental health unit as well as individuals in the general population.

Teaching Experience

Part-time faculty for the undergraduate Psychology program. Classes taught included:

• PSY302 - Research Methods – 2010 summer semester.
• PSY350 – Physiological Psychology – 2010 fall semester.

Teaching assistant for course PP7373 – Integrative Assessment. Duties included grading integrative psychological reports, providing useful and timely feedback, mentoring students, and responding to a wide range of student questions.

Clincial Research Project

What’s Old is New: Examining Psychopathy’s Past for Insight into Today’s Unanswered Questions –This research continues the work of Patrick (2006) while expanding its scope to explore relevant writings from the genesis of the construct of psychopathy until the publication of the Psychopathy Checklist in 1986 in hopes of identifying previously abandoned concepts and ideas that may guide future researchers attempting to generate further analyses of, or answers to, the questions posed by Patrick.

Professional Credentials

Licensed Psychologist: Maryland

Education

• Psy.D, Clinical Psychology, American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Arlington, Virginia (APA-accredited Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program), 2011
• M.A. Psychology, American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Arlington, Virginia; 2008
• B.A. Psychology, Argosy University, Arlington, Virginia; 2005

Additional Training

Continuing Education Credits - Maryland State licensure (20 Hours per year), 2012- present, topics included, but are not limited to:

• Ethical practice in the field of psychology
• Risk assessment
• Diversity
• Diagnosis

Professional Memberships

• American Psychological Association – Student Affiliate, 2006-present
• APA Division 41 – American Psychology – Law Society, 2010-present

Presentations

• Ramsdell, J. M. (2022, May) Trauma-Informed Interviewing and Interrogation. Los Angeles “Conviction Integrity Unit”
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2021, September) Moving Past Written Assignments: Visual Representations of Course Material. Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference – George Mason University
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2021, April) Problem Solving Crisis Intervention Team Program Implementation. Pennsylvania Bar Association – Police Response Workgroup
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2020, September) This is Going to Hurt: Redesigning Courses with Previously Enrolled Students. Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference – George Mason University
• Ramsdell, J. M. (September, 2020) A Requiem for Exams, Discussion Questions, and Textbooks. Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference – George Mason University
• Ramsdell, J. M. & J. Boardman (2019, March) Traumatic Victimization: Its Importance to Law Enforcement, and Interview and Investigation Techniques to Improve Case Outcomes. United States Department of Justice – Project Safe Neighborhoods with National Center for Victims of Crime (Webinar).
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2019, July) The Relationship Between Anger and Forgiveness in Victims of Crime and The Hidden Toll of Child Abuse and Exploitation. Federal Bureau of Investigation – Victim Services Division, Eastern Group, Oklahoma City, OK.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2019, June) The Relationship Between Anger and Forgiveness in Victims of Crime and The Hidden Toll of Child Abuse and Exploitation. Federal Bureau of Investigation – Victim Services Division, Western Group, Oklahoma City, OK.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2018, September) What is Traumatic Victimization? National Center for the Victims of Crime’s National Training Institute, Orlando, FL.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2018, September) The Case Against Anger? National Center for the Victims of Crime’s National Training Institute, Orlando, FL.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2018, August) What is Traumatic Victimization? MacArthur Foundation – Safety and Justice Challenge, Through National Center for Victims of Crime.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2017, June) A Long Shadow: Understanding Survivors with a Harmful History, New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Trenton, NJ.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2017, April) A Glimpse to the Other Side: Mental Disorders and Strategies for Working with the Mentally Ill, Office of the United States Attorney, Southern District of Georgia, Savannah, GA.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2016, September) Perpetrators and the History of Abuse: Prior Victimization and Incarceration, National Center for the Victims of Crime’s National Training Institute, Philadelphia, PA.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2016, May) The Role of Bias in Managing Aggressive Behavior in Patients, St. Elizabeths Hospital 3rd Annual Forensic Conference, Washington, DC.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2015, September) Demystifying Schizophrenia in Order to Foster Empathy and More Effective Advocacy, National Center for the Victims of Crime’s National Institute, Anaheim, CA.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2015, September) Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder in Order to Foster Empathy and More Effective Advocacy, National Center for the Victims of Crime’s National Institute, Anaheim, CA.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2015, July) Attention, Bias, and the Effect on Examiner and Examinee in Polygraph Use. United States Secret Service Polygraph Examiner Training, Nashville, TN.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2014, September) Demystifying Schizophrenia in Order to Foster Empathy and More Effective Advocacy, National Center for the Victims of Crime’s National Training Institute, Miami, FL.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2013, May) What is Forensic Psychology? Washington Adventist University Psychology Department Student Meeting, Takoma Park, MD.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2013, February) Identifying and Combating Bias in Criminal Investigations, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Luncheon, Washington DC.
• Ramsdell, J. M. (2009, April) Covert Narcissism. Poster presented at the 9th annual Cognition and Affect Campus Poster Session (A. August-Fedio), American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Washington D.C., Arlington, VA.

Supervision of Undergraduate and Graduate Research Projects

• 4/22 – Understanding Resident Empathy: How Empathy is Defined and Affected by Restricted Housing – DelGaudio, S. (Student), Rudes, D. (Advisor), Ramsdell, J. M. (Member), Brielmaier, J. (Director).
• 4/21 – Environment and Relationships in Restricted Housing Units – Nguyen, T. (Student), Rudes, D. (Advisor), Ramsdell, J. M. (Member), Chrosniak, L. D. (Director).
• 4/20 – Racially Stereotypical Defendant Names: An Experimental Study of Racial Biases in Criminal Sentencing – Anjaria, N. (Student), Winsler, A. (Advisor), Ramsdell, J. M. (Member), Chrosniak, L. D. (Director).
• 11/19 – Delayed Disengagement in Specialized Population from Eye Tracking – Breem, G. (Student), Peterson, M. (Advisor), Ramsdell, J. M. (Member), & Chrosniak, L. D. (Director).
• 5/19 – Mood and Thinking: Looming Provocation – Sharma, D. A. (Student), Riskind, J. H. (Advisor), Ramsdell, J. M. (Member), & Chrosniak, L. D. (Director).
• 5/19 – Defining “Knowing”: Direct Observation Versus Defendant Report of Plea Hearings – Haines, K. (Student), Redlich, A. (Advisor), Ramsdell, J. M. (Member), & Chrosniak, L. D. (Director).
• 5/18 – The Role of Peer-Relationship Trauma in the Association Between Exposure to Domestic Violence and Suicide – Clark, J. S. (Student), Esposito-Smythers, C. (Advisor), Ramsdell, J. M. (Member), & Chrosniak, L. D. (Director).
• 5/17 – Mental Health and Competency: An Analysis of the Disparity in Sentence Severity in Baltimore’s Criminal Justice System – Williams, M. S. (Student), McKnight, P. (Advisor), Ramsdell, J. M. (Member), Chrosniak, L. D. (Director).
• 4/17 – The Impact of Gender of Sentencing: When Does Gender Matter? – Marquina Panduro C. A. (Student), Redlich, A. (Advisor), Ramsdell, J. M. (Member), & Chrosniak, L. D. (Director).

v. 09/2/22