Justice on demand: ASU, Arizona Supreme Court launch online mental health evaluation certification
The Arizona Supreme Court, ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences and ASU Learning Enterprise are collaborating on an online and on-demand competency evaluator training program. Photo by Freepik
When Arizona courts need to determine whether someone can stand trial, they rely on a small group of certified mental health professionals to evaluate a person’s competency.
But until now, the required training for these evaluators was only offered in person, once every two years. That meant long waits, limited access and real consequences for the people caught in the system.
Now, thanks to a new collaboration between the Arizona Supreme Court, Arizona State University’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences and ASU Learning Enterprise, that same training is available online and on-demand, expanding access to justice while building capacity across the state.
A growing need, a limited system
“We do not have enough evaluators. That's the bottom line,” says Don Jacobson, senior special project consultant for the Arizona Supreme Court.
“More and more cases are being dismissed, particularly at the misdemeanor level, when the question of competency is raised. It connects directly to justice. A person who doesn’t understand the charges against them or the crime of which they’re accused cannot participate in their defense. Without that, we have no system we can depend on.”
Historically, this required training was offered only once every two years in a traditional, in-person workshop format, limiting availability and creating access barriers, especially for professionals in rural areas or those with demanding schedules.
The new digital course format eliminates those barriers, allowing participants to train at their own pace throughout the year. This is especially valuable for forensic mental health professionals, who often manage heavy caseloads and frequent court appearances.
The training is required under Arizona law, which mandates that only court-approved “mental health experts” conduct competency evaluations in criminal and juvenile cases. Designed for professionals seeking that approval, the program includes six modules covering ethical considerations, assessment practices, procedural guidance, communication strategies and legal responsibilities specific to Arizona.
A new approach, built for scale
“The collaboration between ASU and the court began with the creation of the Center for Forensics and Artificial Intelligence in fall 2022,” says Jennifer Albright, director of forensics and artificial intelligence at the Arizona Supreme Court.
“Faculty from ASU’s New College started working with court staff to explore how their expertise could support various judicial projects, like this new training course, and how, in turn, the courts could contribute to faculty research efforts.”
The program specifically ensures the course reflects current legal standards and advances in forensic psychology.
“New College is committed to building relationships that support continual learning and serve the wider community,” says Catalina Cayetano, assistant teaching professor at New College. “This wasn’t just about the product, it was about the people, the teams and their expert contributions, with the community always in mind.”
“This initiative aligns with the ASU Charter, which emphasizes inclusion and public service,” adds Steven Toth, associate dean of Academic Enterprise and professor of history at New College. “We’re bringing experts from our School of Interdisciplinary Forensics to help the Arizona Supreme Court develop a model that’s both effective and more accessible for practitioners across the state.”
This initiative contributes to broader judicial efficiency goals by standardizing competency evaluations and equipping mental health experts with the necessary legal and forensic knowledge to perform their roles effectively. By streamlining the training process and providing a comprehensive, readily available resource, the program supports the legal system in maintaining high standards of forensic evaluation and testimony.
Dynamic solutions for an evolving system
As the program rolls out, real-time participant feedback will be collected to assess effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. ASU and the Arizona Supreme Court are committed to keeping the training up to date with evolving state laws and advancements in forensic psychology, ensuring that mental health professionals are always equipped with the most current and relevant knowledge.
“This was about solving a real challenge with care and creativity,” said Meredyth Hendricks, associate vice president of career and professional learning at ASU Learning Enterprise.
“We wanted to create something that felt truly useful to evaluators, not just a box to check. By making the training flexible and accessible year-round, we’re helping the courts reach more people faster and with better support.”
The program is now open to professionals seeking court approval as forensic mental health evaluators. For more information, contact Donald Jacobson at [email protected].
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