The Barton Center, Lorio Forensics, Dr. Vinson file amicus brief in support of insanity plea in juvenile courts

The Barton Child Law and Policy Center at Emory University recently teamed up with with Lorio Forensics and Dr. Vinson to file an amicus brief in support of pertinence of the affirmative defense of insanity in Georgia’s juvenile courts.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT — AN EXCERPT FROM THE BREIF

Mental illness is not a disease reserved for the mature and developed mind. It does not lie in wait for one’s 18th birthday. It does not ask for an I.D. before entering the mind. It does not discriminate based on age. Mental illness is an equal-opportunity disease that preys on youthful minds in the same way it preys on adults.

If adults can raise an affirmative defense of insanity, it is capricious to disallow juveniles that same opportunity. Doing so robs those most vulnerable, psychologically impaired children from the most logical defense for their circumstances. It exposes them to punishment that is neither tailored to their person nor just in its administration. It is imperative for the Court to rectify this oversight and extend this dispositive safeguard to juveniles.

For more information or to receive a full copy of this document, please contact us at Admin@LorioForensics.com.

About The Barton Child Law and Policy Center

The Barton Center promotes and protects the legal rights and interests of children involved with the juvenile court, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems; inspires excellence among professionals; and prepares emerging practitioners for successful and rewarding child advocacy careers. The center accomplishes its goals through the provision of holistic legal representation to youth, public policy and legislative advocacy, community outreach, and professional education.

Source: law.emory.edu

How Exposure to Cultural and Structural Issues Impacts Forensic Mental Health Consultation

The heightened national discourse regarding race and racism in the legal system underscores a founding principle of Lorio Forensics: cultural and structural issues matter in a forensic mental health consultation. Every one of our clinician consultants has professional expertise in this area, and this is no coincidence. It is an absolute requirement. 

On a routine basis, our consultants provide services in settings that serve high proportions of racial minorities. This experience provides them with a wealth of knowledge that informs their forensic mental health consultations. Additionally, their expertise has led to them presenting and commenting on the interplay between race and mental health in national forums. Just last week, our Principal Consultant Dr. Sarah Y. Vinson was featured in a Wall Street Journal article about racism and mental health and was the speaker for an Additude Magazine webinar regarding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in black children. 

As you vet potential experts for your next case, it is important to consider whether they have expertise in the pertinent cultural and structural aspects of it. The unfortunate reality is that the vast majority of professional mental health education and training programs are woefully inadequate in addressing the impact of racism and societal issues on mental health symptoms, assessment, and diagnosis. Thus, it is entirely possible that a highly credentialed mental health professional can have a critical knowledge gap as it pertains to these factors. To help mitigate such instances, there are a few initial questions that legal teams can ask.

  • Does the expert have relevant, current patient care experience with socioeconomically and racially diverse patient populations? 

  • Are forensic contexts the only settings where they evaluate people who have encountered structural issues such as poverty or failing school systems? 

  • What proportion of their patients is Black or Latinx? How do they approach these topics with their patients?

  • Do they have a history of scholarly activity that demonstrates interest or expertise in these areas? Examples may include (but are not limited to) directing courses, teaching, invited lectures, publications, and service on relevant advisory boards or committees.

According to a 2020 study conducted by The National Judicial College, the majority of judges in the United States believe racism is systemic in our judicial system. The problem is clear and multi-faceted, and now it's time to take concrete steps to remedy it. Making sure that your forensic mental health experts have expertise in cultural and structural aspects of cases is one part of addressing rather than perpetuating the system's inequities.

Black Children and the Pressing Need for Antiracism in Child Psychiatry

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Dr. Sarah Y. Vinson, MSM CAP PD is a co-author on a newly released article in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry entitled "Black Children and the Pressing Need for Anti-Racism in Child Psychiatry". The article touches upon the inequitable impact of societal stressors including the COVID epidemic and racism on the mental health of black children. It also includes a call to action for children's mental health providers, with anti-racist action steps for child psychiatrists to take as clinicians, educators, administrators and advocates.

About the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

The mission of AACAP is the promotion of the healthy development of children, adolescents, and families through advocacy, education, and research, and to meet the professional needs of child and adolescent psychiatrists throughout their careers. (aacap.org)

Dr. Sarah Vinson joins Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2020 Class of 40 Under Forty

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On November 5, 2020, Dr. Sarah Vinson, Founder of Lorio Psych Group and Principal Consultant of Lorio Forensics, was officially inducted into Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2020 class of 40 Under Forty —an esteemed group of individuals classified as some of Atlanta’s best and brightest young business leaders. Typically celebrated at a large in-person event, the honorees were celebrated via a virtual recognition ceremony.

To be considered, the nominee must: “hold a position of leadership, have made significant career achievements during 2019-2020 and have had a substantial involvement in community service outside of day-to-day job performance.”

Congratulations, Dr. Vinson! This accolade was well deserved.

The complete list of the 2020 honorees: