Forensic Training Sites
The Rochester Regional Forensic Unit (RRFU)
The Rochester Regional Forensic Unit (RRFU) at the Rochester Psychiatric Center (RPC) is a 55-bed, maximum-security forensic hospital unit. During the RRFU rotation, Forensic Fellows provide assessment and treatment of three categories of patients:
- Individuals who have been found Not Responsible by Reason of Mental Disease for a crime. If found Dangerously Mentally Ill, they are committed to the RRFU for treatment and remain hospitalized involuntarily until the Court determines that they are no longer dangerously mentally ill.
- Individuals who have been arrested and charged with a crime and found not competent to stand trial. They may be hospitalized for treatment until the court determines their competence has been restored.
- Incarcerated individuals (charged with crimes) who are determined to require psychiatric hospitalization to further evaluate and treat their mental illness. These individuals are acutely ill and usually require short-term hospitalization (2-4 weeks) for assessment and treatment.
The fellows conduct admission assessments, develop treatment plans, and provide ongoing treatment and forensic psychiatric assessments. The forensic psychiatric assessments include competence to stand trial, the presence of a dangerous mental illness, involuntary commitment to the RFU and treatment over objection. The fellow prepares forensic psychiatric reports and provides forensic psychiatric expert witness testimony. Supervision is provided primarily by Dr. R. P. Singh.
The Monroe County Socio-Legal Center
The Monroe County Socio-Legal Center was established in 1964 and is operated jointly by the University of Rochester Medical Center and Monroe County. The Center provides consultation and education involving forensic psychiatric issues to the city, town, and county courts; parole and probation departments; and pre-trial release program. Training for fellows in psychiatry and the law has been associated with the clinic since the founding of the Psychiatry and Law Program at the University of Rochester in 1986. Located near the courts, Monroe County Jail, the Office of the District Attorney, the Office of the Public Defender, and the Probation Department, the Socio-Legal Center provides unique training in forensic evaluation and consultation.
Throughout the year, the fellows spend two afternoons weekly at the Socio-Legal Center examining incarcerated and non-incarcerated individuals referred for evaluation of their competence to stand trial and other issues of concern to the court (e.g., diagnosis, need for treatment, dangerousness). Supervision is primarily provided by Robert L. Weisman, D.O. & J. Richard Ciccone, M.D.
The Rochester Regional Forensic Unit (RRFU)
Wayne County Behavioral Health Center
The Wayne County Behavioral Health Center has existed for over 50 years and is operated by Wayne County Department of Mental Health. The center provides a safe, confidential setting where people can seek assistance with social, emotional, behavioral and family issues. WBHN offers hope and supports recovery for persons with serious mental illness, for individuals battling depression and anxiety disorders, and for kids with behavioral health challenges. Training for fellows in the Psychiatry and Law program has been associated with the center since 2013. WBHN is located on Nye Road in Lyons, New York.
Throughout the year, the fellows spend one half day per week in the evaluation and management of adolescents and adults with serious mental disorders involved in the criminal justice system. Fellows receive on-site supervision at the location is primarily provided by Iustinian Rusu, M.D., a Psychiatrist with board certification in Adult, Child, and Forensic Psychiatry.