Joseph J. Lockhart, MA, PhD, ABPP - Pacific Forensic Group

Dr. Lockhart is a Bilingual (Spanish-English) Board Certified Forensic Psychologist. He specializes in Immigration Evaluations, Juvenile and Adult Competency, and SVP consultation. Dr. Lockhart is one of fewer than 45 Board Certified forensic psychologists in California. He has been certified at the superior level in spoken Spanish by a national agency (ACTFL), and is able to conduct forensic interviews and therapy in Spanish. In addition to his forensic practice, Dr. Lockhart is actively involved in forensic research, having published extensively in peer reviewed forensic journals.

Dr. Lockhart received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He worked for several years with a forensic alternative sentencing program, assessing and providing alternatives to incarceration for mentally ill offenders in the criminal justice system. Dr. Lockhart subsequently worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons as the Drug Abuse Treatment Program Coordinator at the Lompoc federal prison. For six years, Dr. Lockhart worked as a forensic psychologist within the Santa Barbara County court system, providing consultation and risk assessments for Judges, defense attorneys, and prosecution attorneys.

Most recently, Dr. Lockhart has worked as a Consulting Psychologist and SVP Evaluator with the Department of State hospitals. In this position, he conducted competency evaluations and risk assessments for post-prison civil commitments, including MDOs and SVPs. He frequently testified in these matters.

Services

The Pacific Forensic Group is a firm of eleven highly credentialed experts in the areas of forensic psychology, neuropsychology and neurology. Our collective services include: Child and Adult Personal Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, Toxic Exposure, Testamentary Capacity, Standard of Care, Housing Discrimination, Nursing Home Care, Employment Discrimination & Harassment, Mitigation & Resentencing, Violence Risk, Sexual Violence Risk Assessment, Trial Competency, Criminal Responsibility/NGRI, MSO and Intent, Diversion, Franklin Evaluations, Disputed Confession, Malingering, Trauma and Offending, Juvenile Competency, Filicide, Threat Assessment, Transfer Hearings, Disposition Evaluations, 730 Evaluations, Child Witness Credibility, Fitness for Duty, Disability, Discrimination/Harassment, Defense Base Act, Priest Violence Risk Assessment, IME's, ADHD.

Areas of Expertise

Additional Expertise:

Citizenship Waiver, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), U-Visa, T-Visa.

Profile

As a specialized team of experts in forensic psychology, neuropsychology, and neurology, the Pacific Forensic Group is uniquely positioned to address the majority of forensic issues involving the brain, psychological functioning and behavior.

Our group of colleagues include:
-Dr. Teo Ernst, Board Certified Forensic Psychologist, Specializing in PTSD, Testamentary Capacity, Employment Evaluations, Personal Injury, Military Veterans, and Mitigation/Resentencing
-Dr. Peter Brain Andersson, Board Certified Neurologist, Specializing in Traumatic Brain Injury, Neurocognitive Disorders, Multiple Sclerosis
-Dr. Charles Filanosky, Board Certified Rehabilitation Psychologist, Specializing in Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD
-Dr. David Contreras, Board Certified Forensic Psychologist, Specializing in Juvenile Competency to Stand Trial, Transfer/Waiver to Adult Court, Juvenile Sexual Offenses
-Dr. Lisa Kalich, Board Certified Forensic Psychologist, Specializing in Personal Injury, Parenting Capacity, Sexual Offender and Violence Risk Assessment for Adults and Juveniles, Disability, Child Witness Issues.
-Dr. Jerry Lockhart, Board Certified Forensic Psychologist, Bilingual (Spanish-English Specializing in Juvenile Competency and Immigration Evaluations
-Dr. Laurel Mattos, Forensic Psychologist, Specializing in Trial Competency, NGRI, Mental Health Diversion, Violence Risk Assessment
-Dr. Elise Yenne, Forensic Psychologist, Specializing in Juvenile and Adult Trial Competency, Violence Risk Assessment Transfer Hearings
-Dr. Trayci Dahl, Board Certified Forensic Psychologist, Specializing in Filicide, Capital Sentencing, and Threat Assessment
-Dr. Mario Souza, Bilingual (Spanish-English) Board Certified Forensic Psychologist, Specializing in Violence Risk, Sex Offender Risk, Insanity, Mitigation, and Mental Health Diversion

The Pacific Forensic Group is unique in having two experts who conduct evaluations in Spanish. We are available for in person and zoom forensic evaluations depending upon the case specifics. Please utilize our website to learn more about our forensic and medical-legal services the civil, criminal, probate, and employment arenas.

Areas Served

California

Professional Experience

3/2017-2022
Sexually Violent Predator Evaluator, Department of State Hospitals, State of California.
Conduct Sexually Violent Predators (SVP) evaluations to determine if offenders may qualify for post-prison civil commitments pursuant to WIC 6600. Use of static and dynamic risk assessment tools, provide reports and expert testimony to Court.

12/2014-3/2017
Consulting Psychologist, Department of State Hospitals, State of California.
Conduct violence risk assessments to determine if offenders may qualify for post-prison civil commitments. These include Mentally Disordered Offenders (MDO) and Sexually Violent Predators (SVP) evaluations. Use of static and dynamic risk assessment tools, provide reports and expert testimony to Court.

2011-2014
Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME), Department of Industrial Relations, State of California.

7/2008-12/2014
Mental Health Court Liaison, Santa Barbara County Department of Alcohol, Drug & Mental Health Services (ADMHS), Santa Maria Superior Court.
Consultation-liaison to Criminal and Civil Court Judges in Santa Barbara county. Assist Court through evaluation of defendant's mental health, substance abuse, adjudicative competency and risk assessment. Evaluate defendants for suitability for alternative sentencing while maintaining community safety, including potential for recidivism, violence, and amenability to treatment. Provide consultation and testimony to Courts to assist in making judicial determinations. Evaluation of incompetent defendants committed to ADMHS for competency restoration.
Provide linkage to treatment for newly-identified mentally ill offenders to the mental health system, as well as communication opportunities between the Court and Mental Health systems.
Supervisor: Michelle Bowman, MSN

5/2006-7/2008
Team Supervisor and Interim Program Manager, Santa Barbara County ADMHS, Lompoc MISC.
As Interim Program Manager, this position was responsible for overall child and adolescent mental health services to the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley region of Santa Barbara County. The position oversaw approximately 15 multidisciplinary staff, coordinated with Community-based organizations (CBOs), Probation and Child Welfare Services (CWS). Provided a lead role in the development of a new Special Education (AB3632) procedural manual and treatment plan, to conform with new IDEA regulations. Represented ADMHS at placement IEPs.
As Team Supervisor, provided consultation for schools, juvenile justice, and co-located agencies. Provided clinical oversight of treatment team members; ensured that staff members were informed of and in compliance with the department's policies and procedures for delivering clinical services.
Supervisor: Suzanne Grimmesey, MFT

8/2001-5/2006
Clinical Psychologist, Santa Barbara County ADMHS, Lompoc MISC.
Provided individual and family therapy, psychological and forensic assessment of children and adolescents in Spanish and English. Consultation for schools, juvenile justice, and co-located agencies. Clinical supervision of interns and trainees. Coordinated AB2726 referrals and services for the clinic. Represented ADMHS at placement IEPs, participation in Administrative law (OAH) Mediation and Due Process Hearings, and direction of staff in managing AB2726 cases and other cases to ensure compliance with policies and decrease potential liability.
Supervisor: Maureen Leonard, MFT

2/2000-8/2001
Coordinator, Drug Abuse Treatment Program, Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc.
Coordinated and oversaw alcohol and drug abuse treatment services to inmates at a secure federal correctional institution. Held responsibility for all drug education/treatment for approximately 1,500 inmates at two different institutions with varying levels of security. Administered, monitored, and evaluated an intensive substance abuse treatment program, including supervising a staff of five Treatment Specialists. Oversaw program budget, supplies, and coordination with other institutional departments for both programmatic and legal planning. Reviewed treatment planning and treatment provision for both fidelity and adherence to the treatment model. Coordinated and reviewed petitions for sentence reduction following successful participation in the residential treatment program.
Other administrative duties included rotations as the Institutional Duty Officer (IDO), holding administrative responsibility for the Institution in the Warden's absence, working armed posts during Correctional Officer “stand downs” for training.
Supervisor: Charles Smith, Ph.D.

1/95-2/2000
Senior Psychologist, Forensic Alternative Community Treatment Program, Ventura County Mental Health.
Psychological and forensic assessment (in Spanish and English), as well as psychotherapy and substance abuse treatment with a court-referred outpatient adult population. This program provided Jail diversion and alternative sentencing for mentally ill offenders in the criminal justice system. Duties included evaluations for program suitability, trial competency, and conservatorship. Population included misdemeanants and felons, with psychiatric and substance abuse disorders. Developed program to divert misdemeanant PC 1368 population from high-cost State Hospital commitments. Clinical and administrative supervision of treatment staff.
Supervisor: Robert Benedetto, DPA, LCSW

1/93-1/95
Senior Psychologist, Senior Outreach Services, Ventura County Mental Health.
Twenty hours/week. Psychological and neuropsychological assessment, LPS/Probate Conservatorship and Disability evaluations, psychotherapy with a geriatric population. Services provided in English and Spanish, as well as both inpatient and outpatient settings. Supervision of Ph.D. psychology interns in geropsychological assessment.

3/92-1/95
Independent Practice, Oxnard, CA.
Hours varying. Individual and family psychotherapy (in Spanish and English) with children and adolescents, psychological and neuropsychological assessment of children and adults. Parenting capacity and child abuse evaluations for Courts. Consultation with local school districts and attorneys.

11/90 - 1/93
Senior Psychologist, Oxnard Childrens' Clinic, Ventura County Mental Health.
Individual and family therapy, psychological and forensic assessment of children and adolescents in Spanish and English. Consultation for schools, juvenile justice, hospital, and clinicians. Supervision of Ph.D. psychology interns.
Supervisors: Don Kingdon, Ph.D., and John Brown, L.C.S.W.

9/89 - 9/90
Internship, Camarillo State Hospital, Camarillo, CA.
APA-approved Clinical Psychology Internship. Individual and group psychotherapy (in Spanish and English) with child and adult patients. Intellectual, personality, neuropsychological, and forensic assessments with child, adult, and developmentally disabled patients. Made presentations at Grand Rounds, trained nursing staff on development of multicultural competence.
Supervisor: Irving Hart, Ph.D.

Licenses

Licensed Psychologist, CA Board of Psychology

Affiliations

Fellow, American Academy of Forensic Psychology
Member, American Psychological Association,
Division 12 (Clinical), and
Division 41 (American Psychology-Law Society)
Member, Forensic Mental Health Association of California
Member, International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology
Member, Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse
Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology, Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (#4571)

Qualifications

Board Certified in Forensic Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology

Awards & Honors

Commendation, Forensic Services Division, Department of State Hospitals, 5/2020
Commendation, Forensic Services Division, Department of State Hospitals, 4/2019
Commendation, Forensic Services Division, Department of State Hospitals, 5/2017
Commendation, Community Service, Mental Health Systems, Inc., 6/2005
Quality Step Increase for Outstanding Performance, Bureau of Prisons, 5/2001
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Honor Graduate, 5/2000

Publications

Publications and Presentations:

Lockhart, J. J., & Satya-Murti, S. (2022). Striving for accuracy in a “noisy” world: Managing bias and error in forensic and clinical decision-making. Training presented at the 2022 Forensic mental health association of California Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.

Lockhart, J., DiCiro, M., Rokop, J., and Brennan, A. (2021). California Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Evaluations: Static-99R scoring and Diagnostic field reliability. Sexual Abuse.

Lockhart, J., and DiCiro, M. (2021). Field reliability of Static-99R and diagnoses in WIC6600 evaluations. Training presented at the 2021 Forensic mental health association of California Annual Conference.

Lockhart, J. J., & Satya-Murti, S. (2020). Pandemics and Riots: What do they tell us about crime, recidivism, and health? Forensic Science International: Mind and Law, 100030. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsiml.2020.100030

Satya-Murti, S., & Lockhart, J. J. (2019). Have we lost our focus on fundamental causes? Distal determinants of sexual violence and disease. Forensic Science International:Reports, 1, 100028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2019.100028

Satya-Murti, S., & Lockhart, J. J. (2018). Needed: Consensus and classification for terms used in cognitive, forensic and clinical bias discussions. Forensic Science International, 293, e10–e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.09.028

Lockhart, J. J., & Satya-Murti, S. (2018). Blinding or information control in diagnosis: could it reduce errors in clinical decision-making? Diagnosis, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1515/dx-2018-0030

Lockhart, J. (2017). Individual Risk Prediction: Or, Confidence Intervals For Dummies. Open Access journal of forensic psychology.

Lockhart, J., and Satya-Murti, S. (2017). Reducing bias in forensic & clinical decision-making. Training presented at the 2017 DSH Mentally Disordered Offender (MDO) training, San Diego, CA.

Lockhart, J., & Satya-Murti, S. (2017). Diagnosing Crime and Diagnosing Disease: Bias Reduction Strategies in Forensic and Clinical Sciences. Journal of Forensic Sciences.

Lockhart, J., & Satya-Murti, S. (2016). Review of: Robertson, C. T., & Kesselheim, A. S. (2016). Blinding as a solution to bias: Strengthening biomedical science, forensic science, and law. Open Access journal of forensic psychology, 8, 17-21.

Lockhart, J., and Satya-Murti, S. (2016). Improving Decision-Making and Reducing Bias in Forensic Evaluations. Training presented at the 2016 Forensic mental health association of California Annual Conference, Monterey, CA.

Lockhart, J. (2015). How Should Validity Testing Impact the Expert's Opinion? Archives of Forensic Psychology, 1(2), 78–96.

Satya-Murti, S., & Lockhart, J. J. (2018). Diagnosing Crime and Diagnosing Disease-II: Visual Pattern Perception and Diagnostic Accuracy. Journal of Forensic Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13735

Satya-Murti, S., & Lockhart, J. (2015). Recognizing and reducing cognitive bias in clinical and forensic neurology. Neurology: Clinical Practice, 5(5), 389–396.

Satya-Murti, S., & Lockhart, J. J. (2015). Neurology and the correctional environment. Neurology: Clinical Practice, 5(3),188–189.

Lockhart, J., and Satya-Murti, S. (2015). Symptom Exaggeration and Symptom Validity Testing in Persons with Medically Unexplained Neurological Presentations. Neurology: Clinical Practice, vol. 5, 1, 17-24.

Lockhart, J. and Ernst, T. (2013). Feigning and Malingering. Santa Barbara Lawyer, no. 492, 6-11.

Lockhart, J. (2012). Review of Pinals, D., and Mossman, D. (2011). Evaluation for Civil Commitment. Open Access Journal of Forensic Psychology
http://www.forensicpsychologyunbound.ws/ -- 2012.4: R1-R5

9/2010 Special Education Mental Health Assessments Pursuant to Chapter 26.5. Presentation to Staff, ADMHS.

8/2010, Alcohol Abuse and Depression Screening in Primary Care. Grand Rounds, Lompoc Valley Medical Center.

3/2010. A Brief Introduction to competency to stand trial. Presentation to staff, Santa Barbara County ADMHS, Juvenile Justice Services.

1/20/2010, Substance Abuse Overview for Legal Professionals. Presentation for continuing legal education, Santa Barbara County District Attorney.

Annual Refresher Training 2000, Federal Correctional Complex, Lompoc, CA.
Presentation to FCC employees on Suicide evaluation and prevention,
Employee Assistance Programs.

Lockhart, J. (1994). Conducting the Assessment Interview: Strategies and Pitfalls. Presentation to Nursing Staff at Ventura County Mental Health for Continuing Education.

Rosen, A., Lockhart, J., Gants, E., and Westergaard, C. (1991). Maintenance of
grip-induced muscle tension: A behavioral marker of schizophrenia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, vol. 100, 4, 583-593.

Lockhart, J., and Goodlow, N. (1990). Developing Cultural Competency. Presentation to Nursing Staff at Camarillo State Hospital for Continuing Education Program.

Lockhart, J., Rosen, A., and Powers, E. (1988). Maintenance of grip-induced muscle tension: Validation of a residual marker of schizophrenia. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.

Lockhart, J. (1989). Doctoral Dissertation, University of Illinois at Chicago. Maintenance of grip-induced muscle tension: Validation of a vulnerability marker of schizophrenia.

Education

12/89 Doctor of Philosophy in psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago.
10/87 Master of Arts in psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago.
6/84 Bachelor of Arts in psychology, Northwestern University.