Global Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Analytics leader will now be the exclusive source for an innovative counter-terrorism protocol designed specifically for lone actor terrorists.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toronto, ON: September 25, 2018-Multi-Health Systems (MHS) Public Safety Division announces that it will now be the sole source for a cutting-edge counterterrorism risk assessment instrument designed specifically for lone actor terrorists called the Terrorist Radicalization Assessment Protocol-18 (TRAP-18). Lone Actor Terrorism refers to targeted violent acts carried out in support of some group, movement, or ideology by a single individual in the absence of direction by an outside group. This protocol aims to aid in differentiating between those that need active risk management regarding a possible terrorist act, and those who may only need active monitoring.

The TRAP-18 was developed by forensic psychologist and researcher J. Reid Meloy, PhD. It is designed to code for proximal warning behaviors (such as pathway, identification, and last resort) and longer term distal characteristics (such as personal grievance and moral outrage, ideological framing, failure of sexual pair bonding, and mental disorder). The TRAP-18 provides a means by which mental health, intelligence, law enforcement, and security professionals can organize accumulating operational data on a person of concern, and therefore plan for his or her risk management to reduce the threat of targeted violence.

Dr. Meloy says, “MHS was an ideal choice for the management of the TRAP-18. They have years of experience in working with law enforcement and criminal justice agencies around the world. They specialize in innovative and scientifically rigorous tools and they understand that law enforcement and criminal justice agencies are facing complex challenges related to understanding and managing risk in order to keep the public safe.”

The Manager of the Public Safety division at MHS and the Global Institute of Forensic Research, Tammy Holwell shared, “Lone actor terrorism is considered a major national security threat in both North America and Europe. We are thrilled to offer a cutting-edge Counter-Terrorism Protocol. This technology fills a void that has existed in the counterterrorism space for some time now.” She went on to share, “TRAP-18 will be a key tool in helping counterterrorism units better identify and understand lone actor terrorist risk factors and intervene in their violence before tragic events happen.”

The TRAP-18 is currently used by counterterrorism analysts, investigators, and law enforcement professionals in the United States, Canada, and various countries in Europe, including the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain and Sweden, among others. The codesheets will be available in nine languages. It is the only counterterrorism instrument which prioritizes cases according to presence of proximal warning behaviors. It also has demonstrated reliability and validity.

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About J. Reid Meloy, PhD.

Dr. Meloy is a board-certified forensic psychologist and clinical professor of Psychiatry, Univ. of California, San Diego. Dr. Meloy is also a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and past president of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. He consults on cases in both North America and Europe, and is the author, co-author, or editor of numerous papers and 12 books. Dr. Meloy has been a consultant to the FBI for the past 17 years. He is an associate editor for the Journal of Threat Assessment and Management, and co-editor of the International Handbook of Threat Assessment (Oxford, 2014).

About the MHS Public Safety Division

MHS strives to leverage innovative tools to support public safety and law enforcement agencies around the world. MHS produces many of the best and most innovative offerings in the public safety market including data analytics, assessments, training, knowledge sharing of peer-reviewed research, and innovative assessment platforms. These tools are rigorous in their science, and highly functional. MHS aligns extensive scientific research and powerful data with innovative technologies to create solutions that help inform critical decisions in law enforcement and criminal justice. MHS has been trusted to help users accurately assess, evaluate, and improve performance in over 75 countries. For more information, visit www.mhs.com and www.gifrinc.com/trap-18.

Media Contact: Meghan Krohn, Marketing Specialist, [email protected]

Multi-Health Systems Inc. acquires the Global Institute of Forensic Research™ Inc.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Multi-Health Systems Inc. acquires the Global Institute of Forensic Research™ Inc., creating a leader in the public safety market to drive knowledge forward through assessments, training, knowledge sharing of peer-reviewed research, and innovative assessment platforms.

Toronto, ON– October 5, 2017-Multi-Health Systems Inc. (MHS), a leading developer of innovative scientific technology solutions for measuring and predicting human performance, including the most widely used risk/needs assessments, announced the acquisition of the Global Institute of Forensic Research Inc. (GIFR™). The purchase represents MHS’s commitment to advance the knowledge of assessment, effective management, and treatment of offenders in the international criminal justice and public safety community.

Established in 2014, GIFR is a risk management and education software as a service company in behavioral healthcare. GIFR specializes in providing their clients with peer-reviewed research, high quality e-trainings, and fully digital and automated software solutions. The focus of GIFR’s solutions are on reducing violence and recidivism in criminal recidivism, sexual abuse, domestic violence, workplace violence, suicide, and terrorism.

Hazel Wheldon, President and COO of MHS, is excited to bring together MHS’s experience in the public safety market with GIFR’s cutting edge assessment platform, trainings, and research. “Together we will be positioned to service the global public safety and criminal justice industry, giving customers access to an organization that can support their key needs. The newly combined organization will provide a powerful offering of resources to the public safety industry.” Wheldon adds that this acquisition will further enhance MHS’s position as a leader in the industry by offering their customers a full suite of resources that will enhance their knowledge in assessment, management, and treatment of offenders.

Additional solutions MHS will be able to offer, include an executive bulletin communicating the latest research on forensic assessments. This is aimed to give public safety professionals the most current industry knowledge on emerging research and trends occurring in their field. MHS will also offer training and knowledge-sharing through in-person, live webinar, and on-demand training. This will enable front line agents to effectively use tools and to share progressive knowledge and insights about issues facing the criminal justice community. MHS will build upon GIFR’s existing informative training resources and will continue to work with a number of associations to offer continuing education (CE) credits.

As part of the transaction, MHS will offer commercial and public domain gold standard assessments, developed to support the effective management and rehabilitation of offenders, via a state of art online delivery system. This revolutionary risk assessment administration platform was developed with the input and guidance of over 2,000 risk assessors in over 40 countries. The platform was designed by an innovative software development team led by leading risk/needs assessment tool expert, Dr. Jay P. Singh.

“We are excited to add these innovative solutions to our suite of public safety products and look forward to providing our customers with insightful resources that will heighten their knowledge within the market” Wheldon says.

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About GIFR

The Global Institute of Forensic Research Inc. (GIFR) specializes in providing cutting-edge research, training, and software solutions to mental health, correctional, and legal professionals working in both general care and forensic settings around the world.

Dedicated to innovation, simplicity, and customer service, GIFR promotes evidence-based best practices and strives to improve both compliance and outcomes in assessment, treatment, and monitoring. GIFR is the largest provider of online training for risk/needs assessment tools.

About MHS

MHS publishes many of the best and most innovative assessments in the public safety market. These assessments are rigorous in their science, highly functional, and are also accessible regardless of a user’s level of education.

Included in MHS’s offering is the Level of Service tools, the most widely used risk/needs assessments in the world. These tools measure an offender’s likelihood to reoffend and guides users through the decision process that follows.

In addition, MHS publishes a number of tools for psychologists to support offenders on the behavioral health side. This includes the PCL-R™, a measure of psychopathy in adult forensic populations, the CEFI® Adult, a comprehensive measure of executive functioning skills in adults, and the Conners CPT3™, an assessment of attention-related problems.

MHS also publishes the Functional Assessment Systems™ (FAS™) tools which were acquired in 2012. This suite of four empirically-based assessments are designed to objectively determine a youth’s ability to function in a variety of settings. The FAS tools are industry-leading assessments that streamline the intake and goal making process to help practitioners maximize time with clients while engaging both youth and caregivers in a solution.

For More information:
Tammy Holwell
Manager of Public Safety
[email protected]
U.S.A.: 1 (800) 456-3003 Ext. 269
Canada: 1 (800) 268-6011 Ext. 269

GIFR Offers Online Training and Certification For The STABLE-2007 & ACUTE-2007 Dynamic Sexual Recidivism Risk Assessment Tools

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The Global Institute of Forensic Research now offers online training and certification for the STABLE-2007 & ACUTE-2007 with live webinar trainings which are offered several times per year.

Dynamic sexual recidivism risk assessments are increasingly required in behavioral health, correctional, and court settings. Recent surveys suggest that among the most widely-researched and commonly-used dynamic risk assessment tools for sex offenders are the STABLE-2007 and the ACUTE-2007.

gifr-instrument-webinar-stableGIFR’s webinar is presented by Robin Wilson, PhD, ABPP, one of only 45 certified STABLE-2007 and ACUTE-2007 trainers in the world approved by the developers of the instrument. Dr. Wilson is a researcher, educator, and board certified clinical psychologist who has worked with sexual offenders in hospital, correctional, and private practice settings for more than 30 years. He maintains an international practice based in Florida and regularly consults on STABLE-2007 and ACUTE-2007 scoring questions.

In the webinar, the development of the STABLE-2007 and ACUTE-2007 is discussed, item-by-item instructions are given on how to reliably score the measures and interpret their findings, and guidance is provided on how to apply STABLE-2007 and ACUTE-2007 reporting conventions. Case studies are employed to allow participants to practice using the tools and to learn to avoid common administration errors.

According to Dr. Jay P. Singh, Founder and CEO of GIFR, “This is the most cost-effective and time-efficient way to get trained and certified on these ground-breaking instruments.” Dr. Singh adds that the live component still allows for plenty of interaction with the trainer. “To ensure a positive learning experience, we limit the number of webinar participants to ensure personal attention is paid to your valued questions and comments.”

To find a training date for an upcoming STABLE-2007 and ACUTE-2007 Live Webinar, click here.

If you have questions about any of GIFR’s trainings, click here to send us an email.

GIFR’s PCL-R & PCL:SV Training Is The Exclusive Web-Based Training Program Approved by Professor Robert D. Hare’s Darkstone Research Group, Ltd.

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The Global Institute of Forensic Research is now offering online training for the PCL-R & PCL:SV with live webinar trainings offered on select dates throughout the year. The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is the international “gold standard” for the diagnosis of psychopathy in adults. Measuring interpersonal and affective features as well as impulsive and antisocial behaviors, the PCL-R has been found to be a reliable and valid diagnostic instrument in hundreds of peer-reviewed studies conducted in community, mental health, and correctional settings around the world.

gifr-instrument-webinar-pclrComprised of an On Demand presentation by the instrument’s renowned author, Professor Robert D. Hare, as well as a 2-day live and interactive webinar by leading figure in the field of psychopathy, Dr. J. Reid Meloy, this innovative program offers instruction in the use of both the PCL-R and the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV).

During these trainings, the development of the PCL-R and PCL:SV is discussed, item-by-item instructions are given on how to reliably score the measures and interpret their findings, a review of the peer-reviewed research on the PCL-R and PCL:SV is provided, and guidance is put forth on how to apply reporting conventions. Case studies are also employed to enable participants to practice using the instruments and to learn to avoid common administration errors.

Dr. Jay P. Singh, Founder and CEO of GIFR says, “These live webinars represent a rare opportunity to obtain Darkstone-approved training on these seminal and widely-used assessment instruments.” Singh adds, “This CE-eligible 2-day program is fully interactive and provides a unique and insightful learning experience for all attendees.”

To find a training date for an upcoming PCL-R Live Webinar, click here.

If you have questions about any of GIFR’s trainings, click here to send us an email.

GIFR Now Offers Online Training and Certification For The Static-99R (formerly Static-99)

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The Global Institute of Forensic Research now offers online training and certification for the Static-99R (formerly Static-99) with live webinar trainings, which are offered several times per year. The Static-99R is the most used sex offender risk assessment instrument in the world and is widely utilized by professionals in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, and many European countries.

GIFR’s Static-99R live, interactive workshop provides training on use of the Static-99R and earns participants 8 hours of Continuing Education Credit.

The training is presented by Erik Fox, JD, PhD, one of only 42 certified Static-99R trainers. Dr. Fox has been a licensed psychologist and attorney for over 18 years, and has scored approximately two thousand Static-99 and Static-99R exams. He also regularly consults on Static-99R scoring questions.

Static-99R - formerly Static 99 - live webinar trainingIn the live webinar, the development of the Static-99R is discussed, item-by-item instructions are given on how to reliably score the measure and interpret its findings and guidance is provided on how to apply Static-99R reporting conventions. Case studies are utilized so that participants can practice using the Static-99R’s 2016 coding manual and to learn to avoid common administration errors.

To date, hundreds of behavioral health, correctional, and legal professionals have received Static-99R training and certification with GIFR’s Static-99R live webinar training. Dr. Jay P. Singh, Founder and CEO of GIFR says, “We have been humbled by the overwhelmingly positive response from our hundreds of attendees to the Static-99R live webinar training from dozens of countries.” Dr. Singh adds, “The cost-effectiveness of being able to obtain the highest-quality training but without associated travel costs, lodging fees, and other expenses makes this webinar experience the best way to obtain certified training on this important instrument.”

To find a training date for an upcoming Static-99R Live Webinar, click here.

The Static 99-R webinar is just one of several dozen sex offender risk assessment trainings that GIFR offers. GIFR also offers an On Demand video training for the 2016 Static-99R Booster, which is recommended for all current Static-99R users, and a live Webinar presenting challenging case studies for the new 2016 coding rules (2016 Static-99R Case Study Webinar).

If you have questions about any of GIFR’s trainings, click here to send us an email.

Global Institute of Forensic Research Contracts With the California Department of State Hospitals to Provide Executive Bulletin Service to Staff Members

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The Global Institute of Forensic Research (GIFR) has signed a contract with the Council of State Governments (CSG) to provide CSG’s skilled staff access to GIFR’s Executive Bulletin service. The Council of State Governments is the only organization in the United States that serves all three branches of state government, and it provides a region-based forum that fosters the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy.

“We could not be happier to have the Council of State Governments as our customer and to supply them with the latest groundbreaking forensic risk assessment research each month in the form of our Executive Bulletin service. The Executive Bulletin strives to promote increased reliability and accuracy of risk assessments and encourages compliance with professional guidelines,” said GIFR Founder and CEO, Dr. Jay P. Singh.

The Global Institute of Forensic Research’s Executive Bulletin is a monthly, subscription-based service designed for mental health and criminal justice professionals who wish to stay up-to-date on groundbreaking research on adult and juvenile violence, sex offender, and general recidivism risk assessment. Subscribers receive access to one-page summaries of all risk assessment-related articles published in over 80 leading scientific journals as well as exclusive interviews with industry experts and training workshops eligible for Continuing Education Credit through both the American Psychological Association and the Canadian Psychological Association.

Global Institute of Forensic Research Contracts With the Council of State Governments to Provide Executive Bulletin Service

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The Global Institute of Forensic Research (GIFR) has signed a contract with the Council of State Governments (CSG) to provide CSG’s skilled staff access to GIFR’s Executive Bulletin service. The Council of State Governments is the only organization in the United States that serves all three branches of state government, and it provides a region-based forum that fosters the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy.

“We could not be happier to have the Council of State Governments as our customer and to supply them with the latest groundbreaking forensic risk assessment research each month in the form of our Executive Bulletin service. The Executive Bulletin strives to promote increased reliability and accuracy of risk assessments and encourages compliance with professional guidelines,” said GIFR Founder and CEO, Dr. Jay P. Singh.

The Global Institute of Forensic Research’s Executive Bulletin is a monthly, subscription-based service designed for mental health and criminal justice professionals who wish to stay up-to-date on groundbreaking research on adult and juvenile violence, sex offender, and general recidivism risk assessment. Subscribers receive access to one-page summaries of all risk assessment-related articles published in over 80 leading scientific journals as well as exclusive interviews with industry experts and training workshops eligible for Continuing Education Credit through both the American Psychological Association and the Canadian Psychological Association.

Dr. Jay P. Singh Named Norway’s Youngest Full Professor

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Internationally award-winning researcher, author, and lecturer, Jay P. Singh, PhD, was named “Norway’s Youngest Professor” in a formal assembly at Molde University College on April 30, 2014. Dr. Singh is based in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States, where he is an expert on the issue of mental illness and violence as well as founder of the Global Institute of Forensic Research. His recent appointment as Full Professor of Epidemiology & Violence Risk Assessment at Molde followed a global search for qualified candidates.

“I saw early on that [Singh] is a star. He is very enthusiastic and shines in the subject… Singh has quickly established himself as a key researcher in mental illness and violence,” said Dr. Stål Bjørkly, Professor of Clinical Psychology at Molde University College.

“The epidemiological research currently being conducted by scholars at Molde University College is revolutionizing the field of forensic risk assessment not only in Europe but around the world. It is a pleasure to be affiliated with this outstanding institution and to be able to contribute to its tradition of academic excellence,” said Dr. Singh.

Dr. Singh received his PhD in Psychiatry from the University of Oxford and has served as Senior Clinical Researcher for the Swiss Department of Justice in Zurich, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Mental Health Law and Policy at the University of South Florida, and as a Clinical Associate at Yale School of Medicine. His research projects have involved work in over 50 countries, resulting in over 45 peer-reviewed articles in some of the highest impact medical, psychiatric, and psychological journals. Dr. Singh has given invited lectures at Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Brown University, Dartmouth College, and the University of Pennsylvania. He has also received awards from professional organizations, including the American Psychology-Law Society, the European Congress on Violence in Clinical Psychiatry, and the Society for Research in Child Development.

Global Institute of Forensic Research Receives Accreditation by American & Canadian Psychological Associations

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The Global Institute of Forensic Research (GIFR) is pleased to announce that it has been accredited as a sponsoring organization of the American Psychological Association and the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education programs for psychologists.

The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States with almost 130,000 members. The Canadian Psychological Association is the largest national association for the science, practice, and education of psychology in Canada with almost 7,000 members. GIFR maintains responsibility for all their accredited programs.

“Effective and engaging training programs accredited for Continuing Education Credit are the key to professional development and improving compliance with established, evidence-based best practices in mental health and criminal justice systems,” said GIFR Founder and CEO, Jay P. Singh, PhD. “We are honored to be working with the American Psychological Association and the Canadian Psychological Association to promote the integration of forensic research into evidence-based practice to improve outcomes.”

As part of its extensive offerings to mental health and criminal justice professionals, GIFR develops and markets high-quality continuing education programs led by renowned clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. GIFR offers video, audio, and publication-based continuing education programs as well as in-person workshops. GIFR also provides customized online and on-site training programs for companies, government agencies, and associations.

Singh Institute of Forensic Research Rebranded to Reflect Global Mission

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In order to better reflect its commitment to international research and global policy engagement, the Singh Institute of Forensic Research has changed its name to the Global Institute of Forensic Research.

“We could not be more pleased with the international interest our services have received over the past few months. In light of this enthusiastic response and our desire to focus on promoting the rapid integration of research into practice worldwide, we are thrilled to move forward under our new name. Dedicated to innovation, simplicity, and customer service, our team of experts continue to develop products and services promoting evidence-based best practice and compliance in mental health and criminal justice settings,” said Founder and CEO, Dr. Jay P. Singh.