Biography     

John Petrila is a professor in the Department of Mental Health Law & Policy and in the USF College of Public Health. He is also the Director of the FMHI Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Technical Assistance Center.

He served as Chair of MHLP from 1992-2004.  He received his law degree and an advanced degree in mental health law from the University of Virginia School of Law.  He was General Counsel to the New York State Office of Mental Health and the first Director of Forensic Services in the Missouri Department of Mental Hygiene.  He is co-author of Psychological Evaluations for the Courts: A Handbook for Mental Health Professionals and Lawyers (3rd edition, 2007, Guilford Press), which is considered the leading text on forensic evaluations in the United States and Canada).  He is also co-author of Law and Mental Health Professionals: Florida (American Psychological Association Press, 2d edition, 2005) and coeditor of Mental Health Services: A Public Health Perspective (Oxford University Press, 3rd edition in preparation). He has published frequently on mental health law and policy issues, and authored the chapter on confidentiality in the United States Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health. He is a member of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Mandated Community Care, Past-President of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services, and co-editor of Behavioral Sciences and the Law.

Recent Publications

Petrila, J., Christy, A. (2008). Law and psychiatry: Florida’s outpatient commitment statute: A lesson in failed statutory reform? Psychiatric Services, 59, 21-23.

Petrila, J., Redlich, A. (2008). Mental illness and the courts: Some reflections on judges as innovators. Court Review, 43, 154-164.

Melton, G., Petrila, J., Poythress, N., and Slobogin, C. (3d ed. 2007). Psychological Evaluations for the Courts: A Handbook For Mental Health Professionals and Lawyers,. Guilford Press.
 
Petrila, J. (2007). Recent civil decisions: Implications for forensic mental health experts. In Goldstein, A.M. (ed.). Forensic Psychology: Emerging Topics and Expanding Roles (Wiley) (p. 209-231).

Redlich, A., Steadman, H., Monahan, J., Robbins, P., and Petrila, J.(2006).  Patterns of practice in mental health courts: A national survey. Law and Human Behavior, 30, 347-362.

Swartz, M., Swanson, J., Kim, M., and Petrila, J. (2006).  Use of outpatient commitment and similar civil court treatment orders in five United States communities. Psychiatric Services, 57, 343-349.

Robbins, P., Petrila, J., LeMelle, S., and Monahan, J. (2006). The use of housing as leverage to increase adherence to psychiatric treatment in the community. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 33, 226-236. .

Edens, J, Petrila, J. (2006). Legal and ethical issues in the assessment and treatment of psychopathy. In C. Patrick (ed.). Handbook of Psychopathy (Guilford) (p. 573-588).

Otto, R.K., Petrila, J. (2006). Admissibility of expert testimony regarding recidivism risk in sexually violent predator proceedings. In Schlank, A. (ed.). The Sexual Predator: Law and Public Policy/Clinical Practice, Volume 3 (Civic Research Institute Press) (p. 2-1-2-8).