Biography     

Amanda Fanniff, Ph.D. is a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy. She completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a secondary emphasis in Psychology, Policy, and Law at the University of Arizona, under the mentorship of Dr. Judith Becker. Dr. Fanniff completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.

Dr. Fanniff has two primary lines of research, both related to the role normal development plays in assessment, treatment, and policy regarding juvenile offenders.  One line of research focuses on juvenile sex offenders, including the study of developmentally appropriate risk assessment and the identification of clinically relevant sub-types of offenders. Dr. Fanniff’s second main line of research involves investigating the potential impact of normal developmental immaturity on juveniles’ competence to stand trial. Specifically, her research focuses on identifying cognitive, emotive, and psychosocial skills that younger defendants may lack and the manner in which such deficits may interfere with juveniles’ capacity to understand and participate in the legal process.