Biography     

Randy Otto is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy. He received masters and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from Florida State University, and completed an NIMH-funded fellowship in Law and Psychology at the University of Nebraska. Dr. Otto is a licensed psychologist and Diplomate in Forensic Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology. In addition to his position in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, he holds adjunct faculty appointments at Stetson University College of Law, the Department of Psychology, and the Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling at the University of South Florida.

Dr. Otto has served as President of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology, the American Psychology-Law Society, and the American Board of Forensic Psychology. He chairs the Committee to Revise the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology and is on the editorial boards of Behavioral Sciences and the Law, Assessment, and the Journal of Behavioral Health Services Administration. Dr. Otto has published numerous articles and book chapters in the areas of forensic assessment and clinical decision making. Most recently, he joined department colleagues John Petrila and Norman Poythress in authoring the third edition of Psychological Evaluations for the Courts: A Handbook for Mental Health Professionals and Lawyers.

Recent Publications

Otto, R. K. (2007). Considerations in the assessment of competence to proceed in juvenile court. Northern Kentucky Law Review, 34, 323-342. 

Melton, G.B., Petrila, J., Poythress, N., Slobogin, C., Lyons, P., & Otto, R. K. (2007). Psychological evaluations for the courts: A handbook for mental health professionals and lawyers (third edition). New York: Guilford.

Otto, R. K. (2006). Competency to stand trial. Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice, 2, 82-133.

Emery, R. E., Otto, R. K., & O’Donahue, W. (2005). A critical assessment of child custody evaluations: Limited science and a flawed system. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 6, 2-29.

McGaha, A., Douglas, K., Otto, R. K., & Petrila, J. (2004). Juveniles evaluated incompetent to proceed: Characteristics and quality of mental health professionals’ evaluations. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 35, 380-388.

Petrila, J., & Otto, R. K. (1996/2003). Law and mental health professionals: Florida (first and second editions). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Heilbrun, K. & Otto, R. K. (2003). Forensic psychology and board certification. American Psychologist, 58, 80.