Criminal Court Program Coordinator (Psychologist)

Location: Augusta,Maine,United States

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Public Service Coordinator III

Opening Date:  May 8, 2024 

Closing Date: May 22, 2024

Job Class Code: CA36 
Grade:  36 (Confidential)
Salary: $90,147.20 - $122,782.40/year

Position Number: 09590-0102

Location: Augusta

The State Forensic Service is seeking a psychologist to fill the role of Criminal Court Program Coordinator. This position includes clinical duties, such as conducting forensic evaluations, as well as administrative duties, including coordinating programmatic-level operations. This is a new position that will play a significant role in shaping the future of forensic evaluation services for the State.

The State Forensic Service is a small but rapidly expanding office. We currently have four support staff and four in-house psychologists, including this position. Each year our office has two Postdoctoral Fellow positions. We also rely on a large body of experienced examiners in the community who are contracted to conduct evaluations. Our office offers a collegial and supportive environment that is focused on providing the highest quality evaluations, consultation, education, and training. This position is based in Augusta and is eligible for a partially remote work schedule.

Job Duties: 

As the State Forensic Service Criminal Court Program Coordinator, you will: 

• Conduct court ordered evaluations in adult and juvenile court cases, write forensic reports consistent with best practices in forensic psychology, and provide expert testimony in criminal (and quasi-criminal) matters.
• Consult with forensic mental health practitioners, judges, attorneys, courts, hospital staff, community mental health providers, and other stakeholders on clinical and forensic issues, both on an ad hoc basis and through regularly scheduled criminal court mental health dispositional dockets.

·       Serve as a subject matter expert on areas of forensic mental health practice.

·       Participate in and support quality improvement practices for forensic mental health assessment.

·       Work in consultation with the Director to coordinate office procedures and evaluator practices for criminal court assessments.

·       Work collaboratively in a small team environment and be able and willing to provide coverage for other staff and complete other duties as assigned.

·       Opportunities are available to provide clinical supervision and didactic training for the University of Maine Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology.

Minimum Qualifications:

In order to qualify, you must have a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology and must be licensed or license-eligible in the State of Maine at the doctoral level by the Maine Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Qualified candidates must have at least three (3) years of relevant doctoral or postgraduate level training and/or experience in conducting forensic mental health evaluations. Candidates who have successfully completed a postdoctoral fellowship in forensic mental health assessment may seek a waiver of the 3 years of experience requirement.

Preferred candidates are able to demonstrate the following:

• Concise, clear written communication
• Substantial experience working with individuals with severe mental illness
• Skill in effective clinical interviewing, rapport building, and overall interpersonal skills
• Experience managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Interest in applying diversity, equity, and inclusion principles to the work of the office

Thinking about applying?

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Agency information: 

The State Forensic Service oversees and conducts court-ordered mental health evaluations of adults and youth, and is guided by the overarching principles of truth-telling and respect for person in fulfilling its mission. The Service functions at the behest of Maine’s court system by providing forensic evaluations that are objective, impartial, scientifically supportable, and responsive to the legal issues raised. Evaluations include inpati