Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals for the

41st Annual Forensic Psychology Symposium

March 19-22, 2026 in San Diego, CA

 

Submissions due Monday, September 8, at 11:59 pm Pacific time

Jump to Proposal Form

We invite proposal submissions for the 2026 Annual Symposium in Forensic Psychology. We are seeking proposals that apply to the practice of forensic psychology, including the business of forensic psychology as well as criminal, civil, and family law matters. Proposals addressing current issues, ethics, diversity, research, treatment, and assessment in forensic psychology are encouraged. Proposed presentations should be empirically based.

Proposals are due on or before 11:59 PM PDT on Monday, September 8, 2025. Proposals will be evaluated through a peer review process that considers intellectual merit, innovation, and applications for practice. Decisions will be made and communicated to proposal submitters in October.

Workshop:

Proposals may be submitted for presentation of a workshop. Workshops present evidence-based information that can be applied to the practice of forensic psychology and/or the law. Workshops will typically be scheduled for 1 hour time slots, but proposers may request up to 3 hours. Proposals for workshops must include a summary (400 to 500 words), 3 learning objectives, at least 5 references of recently published research articles that will be used in the presentation, and a presenter biography (for each proposed presenter) explaining the relevant expertise of the presenter.

Panel:

Proposals may be submitted for a panel discussion on a topic useful for forensic psychologists and/or attorneys. Panel presentations may be scheduled for 1 to 3 hours. Proposals for panel presentations should include a summary (350 to 500 words), 3 learning objectives, at least 3 references of recently published research articles that are relevant to the panel discussion, and a presenter biography (for each proposed panelist) explaining the relevant expertise of the presenter.

Student Posters:

Undergraduate and graduate students may submit proposals to present 1 or 2 posters during the symposium. Posters will be presented verbally and visually during the poster session. Proposals for poster presentations should include a summary (400 to 500 words) that concludes with an explanation of how forensic psychologists and/or attorneys can apply the research. Poster presentations must have a student first author/presenter and a faculty advisor who serves as a co-author; other co-authors are optional.

Notes about all Presentations:

  • Workshop presenters must provide presentation slides to ACFP at least two weeks before the conference.
  • Workshop presenters are expected to provide a handout to attendees (in PDF).
  • Handouts will be posted on the website for attendees.
  • Presenters are provided a registration discount for the conference.
  • Travel and other expenses of presenters are not reimbursed.

Possible Presentation Topics (based on recent needs assessments)

  • Starting a forensic psychology practice
  • The business of running a forensic psychology practice
  • Closing a forensic psychology practice
  • HIPAA in forensic psychology practice
  • Supervising students in a forensic psychology practice
  • Emerging areas of practice
  • Forensic practice with transgender clients
  • Forensic practice with clients from various cultural, religious, racial, ethnic groups
  • Handling emergences of multiple roles in forensic practice
  • Review of newly published assessments that are forensically relevant
  • Assessing abuse allegations
  • Assessment of violence risk
  • Assessment of risk/recidivism in sex offenders
  • Tarasoff warnings
  • Forensic assessment of computer-facilitated sex crimes
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Review of neuroanatomy
  • Pediatric neuropsychology
  • PTSD as a mitigating factor in forensic psychological findings
  • Social media and its relevance to forensic practice
  • Considering substance use disorders in forensic assessment
  • Effective consultations with attorneys
  • Handling cross-examination as an expert witness
  • Ethics and the law as applied to the practice of psychology
  • Current laws relevant to forensic psychology
  • Eyewitness memory
  • Trial consulting
  • Personal injury assessments
  • Disability assessments/evaluations
  • Malingering and deception detection in personal injury or disability cases
  • Assessment instruments for malingering and response bias
  • Methodology in forensic assessments
  • Fitness for duty evaluations
  • The use of brain scans in forensic assessments
  • Forensic geropsychology
  • Demonstrating reliability of testing
  • Capacity and competence
  • Psychological autopsy
  • Differential diagnosis in forensic cases
  • Criminal responsibility cases
  • Cultural competency related to specific forensic issues/assessment
  • Forensic assessment in immigration cases
  • Child custody and parental fitness assessments
  • Juvenile transfer evaluations
  • Other relevant topics
Submit your Proposal
If you are proposing a workshop or panel, please indicate the ideal length for the presentation. NOTE: student poster presenters should choose N/A.
Write a description of your presentation, including the major points that your talk (workshop), panel, or poster will cover. The summary should be at least 350 words and no more than 500 words.
Clearly describe what the learner will know or be able to do as a result of having attended your presentation. Objectives must be observable and measurable. Verbs to consider using include: list, describe, discuss, summarize, explain, demonstrate, apply, analyze, plan, assess, compile. AVOID using: know, understand, learn, appreciate, become aware of. NOTE: Student poster proposals do not have to provide learning objectives (write "N/A" in the box).
Acceptable presentations must adhere to the definition of continuing education in that they improve service to the public and enhance contributions to the profession. The content of your presentation must meet one of the following:
1. Program content focuses on application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that have overall consistent and credible empirical support in the contemporary peer reviewed scientific literature beyond those publications and other types of communications devoted primarily to the promotion of the approach;
2. Program content focuses on ethical, legal, statutory or regulatory policies, guidelines, and standards that impact psychological practice, education, or research;
3. Program content focuses on topics related to psychological practice, education, research other than application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that are supported by contemporary scholarship grounded in established research procedures.
***Describe in detail how the content of your presentation meets one of the three statements above. Be sure to state which of the three content areas the proposed workshop or panel meets.***
NOTE: Student poster proposals do not have to provide curriculum content information (write "N/A" in the box).
Please provide at least 5 current (published in last 10 years), relevant, supporting, and complete psychology references as evidence that the content of your talk meets the Curriculum Content criterion you specified above. This supportive evidence should directly reflect the narrative and content being delivered, i.e., references that reflect the full breadth of the learning objectives and narrative. Student poster proposals should list the references cited in their proposal.
As we do every year, we will be submitting an application to the State Bar of California to offer continuing education credits for attorneys attending the Symposium. To be approved, the activity must relate to legal subjects directly relevant to members of the State Bar or have significant current professional and practical content. Please briefly describe how the content of your talk is relevant to attorneys.
NOTE: Student poster proposals do not have to provide MCLE information (write "N/A" in the box).
Please provide a brief biography (no more than 150 words) that describes your expertise as it relates to the proposed presentation. If the proposed presentation is accepted, this bio will be used to introduce you at the conference and in the program. Please emphasize your expertise in the area of your proposal. In addition, please send your CV to [email protected].
NOTE: Student poster proposers do not need to provide a bio or send a CV (write "N/A" in the box).
Please click here to indicate your agreement to submit your presentation and, if relevant, handouts, to [email protected] before February 24, 2026.
Please click here to agree with this statement: If my presentation is accepted and placed on the ACFP Symposium program, I promise to register for the Symposium and deliver the presentation. Note that presenters will pay a discounted registration fee.