Faculty: Robert Thomson Kinscherff, PhD, JD

Robert Kinscherff

Robert Thomson Kinscherff, PhD, JD

Professor, Clinical Psychology Department

Faculty, Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience Concentration

Faculty, Forensic Psychology Concentration

Email
robert_kinscherff@williamjames.edu
Phone
617-480-9214
Location
4th Floor
Degree Major/Emphasis Institution Year
Juris Doctor, JD   Harvard Law School, Magna cum Laude 1992
Doctorate, PhD Clinical Psychology City University of New York 1988
Master of Arts, MA Philosophy University of Chicago, Committee on Social Thought 1981
Bachelor or Arts, BA Political Science, and Multidisciplinary Social Science (Departmental Valedictorian) University of California, Berkeley 1977

Courses

  • Children, Families and the Law (Fall)
  • Law and Mental Health (Spring)

Research and Practice Interests

  •  Applications of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences to Law and Public Policy
  • Law and Ethics in Professional Practice
  • Extreme Sentencing  of Youth and Young Adults - "Translational Science, " Developmental Immaturity, and Diminished Culpability
  • Community and Mass Violence - Public Health Approaches to Gun Violence and violence Prevention
  • Forensic Evaluations in Juvenile, Child Maltreatment, Criminal, Civil Commitment,  Professional Practice cases, Parole Board,  Clemency cases
  • Adversity and Resilience in Social and Neurodevelopment from Childhood through Early Young Adulthood
  • Violence Risk Assessment and Management in Youthful  and Adult Offenders with Severe Mental Illness or Neurodiverse Needs
  • Sexual Recidivism Risk Assessment and Management with Youth and Adults with Problematic Sexual Behaviors/Sexual Offenses

Professional Licenses and Certifications

  • Psychology License (MA)
  • Psychology License (NH)
  • Psychology License (TX)
  • Attorney at Law (MA)
  • Designated Forensic Professional (MA)
  • Designated Forensic Mental Health Supervisor (MA)
  • Certified Juvenile Court Clinician (MA)
  • Certified Juvenile Court Clinician Mentor (MA)

Awards

  • 2005 -  Clinical Partners Award (with Chief Justice Martha P. Grace) - MA Juvenile Firesetting Coalition
  • 2011  - Stephen B. Hayes Award for Community Mental Health Service - Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
  • 2012 - Richard W Barnum MD Distinguished Service Award - MA Trial Court and MA Department of Mental Health
  • 2013 - Karl Heiser Presidential Award for Advocacy - American Psychological Association, Division 31 (State and Provincial Psychological Associations)
  • 2014 - Honorary Full Professor (Inducted) - Universidad Autonoma Del Estado de Hidalgo,  Mexico
  • 2014 - Fellow   Division 41 (Law - Psychology) - American Psychological Association
  • 2019 - Kenneth Herman PhD, JD Career Contribution Award - Massachusetts Psychological Association
  • 2019 - Fellow Division 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology) - American Psychological Association
  • 2022 - APA Outstanding Citizen Psychologist Award - American Psychological Association/Massachusetts Psychological Association
  • 2024 - Judge Goss Memorial Leadership Award - Justice Center, Council of State Govenments

Publications and Presentations

Concurrent Leadership, Service and Professional Activities

  • Executive Director, Center for Law, Brain & Behavior(CLBB) at Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Member, Massachusetts Bay Threat Assessment Team (Boston FBI Office covering New England Region)
  • Founding Board Member, International Association for Fire Intervention, Research and Evaluation (IFIRE)
  • Pro Bono expert in clemency cases
  • Co-Instructor with Judge Nancy Gertner (ret.) and Judith Edersheim, JD, MD for Law and Neuroscience course at Harvard Law School
  • Planning Committee and Faculty with Federal Judicial Center for training federal court personnel in annual Science in The Courtroom series
  • Planning Committee and Faculty for Law and Neuroscience series with MA Flashner Judicial Center

Prior Experience

  • Employment included Senior Forensic Psychologist - Boston Juvenile Court Clinic
  • Director of Forensic Training, Law and Psychiatry Service - Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Statewide Director of Juvenile Court Clinic Services (MA Trial Court) 
  • Assistant Commissioner for Forensic Mental Health (MA Department of Mental Health  
  • Director of Clinical Services - Easter Seals of New Hampshire  
  • Contracted Forensic Examiner (MA Parole Board)
  • Associate Vice President for Community Engagement - William James College
  • Senior Fellow in Law and Applied Neuroscience (Petrie Flom Center) - Harvard Law School and CLBB - Massachusetts General Hospital.
  • Teaching positions at Boston University School of Law (Law and Psychiatry).  
  • Consultant and program/project participant for organizations including:
    • MacArthur Foundation
    • RAND Corporation
    • Federal Bureau of Investigation (Behavioral Analysis, Counterterrorism)

Professional Affiliations

  •  Massachusetts Psychological Association
  • American Psychological Association:
    • Past Chair:  Ethics Committee - 2 terms
    • Past Chair: Committee on Legal Issues
    • Member:  Board of Professional Affairs
    • Member: Committee on Professional Practices and Standards (COPPS)
    • Chair, APA Working Group on Gun Violence Policy
    • APA - American Bar Association Liaison
  • International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS)
  • International Association of Chiefs of Police (Academic Affiliate)

Community Involvement

  • Current collaboration/consultation with organizations including:
    • Roca
    • More Than Words
    • Suffolk County District Attorney's Emerging Adult Program (alternative to prosecution)
    • International Trauma Center
    • Friend of the Board - MASOC
    • Board Member: Reclaiming Brilliance Foundation