Social Justice and Forensic Work (1 CE)

Description:

In this episode of the Multicultural Psychologist Podcast, host Linda Fleming McGee speaks with forensic psychologist Cassera Diet about the intersection of psychological assessment, the legal system, and social justice. Dr. Diet shares her professional journey into forensic psychology and discusses the complexities of conducting evaluations within systems that are both necessary and potentially harmful.

The conversation explores how psychologists can ethically integrate considerations of race, trauma, socioeconomic factors, and systemic inequities into forensic evaluations while maintaining professional neutrality. Dr. Diet also discusses the challenges of working with youth in the court system, the prevalence of neurodevelopmental and learning differences among justice-involved youth, and the importance of contextualizing trauma and environmental factors when making clinical formulations.

Listeners will gain insight into the tensions between advocacy and objectivity in forensic psychology, the role of culturally informed assessment, and the ethical responsibility psychologists hold when working within carceral systems. The episode also highlights strategies for creating meaningful and feasible recommendations that support families, improve outcomes for youth, and inform judicial decision-making.

Keywords: forensic psychology, juvenile justice system, psychological assessment, social justice in psychology, trauma-informed assessment, neurodevelopmental disorders, learning disabilities in youth, cultural competence in psychology, therapeutic assessment, carceral system, psychological ethics, court evaluations, systemic inequities, youth mental health, multicultural psychology 

Guest: Dr. Cassera Diet 

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the role of forensic psychologists in conducting psychological evaluations within legal and juvenile justice systems.

2. Explain how social justice considerations—including race, trauma, and socioeconomic factors—inform comprehensive forensic assessments.

3. Identify common diagnostic and developmental challenges among youth involved in court systems, including neurodevelopmental and learning differences.

4. Discuss ethical tensions between neutrality, advocacy, and systemic awareness in forensic psychological practice.

5. Apply strategies for developing high-utility and feasible recommendations that consider systemic barriers and resource limitations.