Court Consultation
Through MGH, there has been increasing collaboration between the Law and Psychiatry and Children and the Law Services, directed by Ronald Schouten, M.D., J.D., and the Boston Juvenile Court Clinic, directed by Richard Barnum, M.D. Both services see a broad range of traumatized youth, conduct disorders, custody disputes and many other forms of severe psychopathology. This three-month rotation in Year 1 involves three hours each Wednesday morning at the Boston Juvenile Court Clinic.

Four residents at a time will attend this three-month rotation, one morning per week for three hours. Under supervision of Dr. Richard Barnum, a forensic child psychiatrist, residents will have formal exposure to the evaluation of delinquency, status offense, child abuse, custody in children with a high incidence of anxiety and mood disorders, disruptive behavior disorders, learning disorders, substance abuse problems and personality disorders. Residents will also be expected to visit the courtroom, consult to attorneys, probation officers, judges and social service agency workers and learn basic principles of forensic report writing and service as an expert witness. They will also have exposure to interviewing youths in lock-up. All of these activities are under close supervision. Dr. Barnum and his staff will teach by example and use videotapes, selected readings and discussions.