In this episode of Never the Same, Dr. Tony Pisani sits down with Daniel Murrie, a professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia and director of the Institute for Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy.

Daniel is one of the most cited researchers in forensic psychology, best known for a landmark study that challenged a foundational assumption in his field: that experts retained by opposing legal sides can remain objective. However, the answer is more complicated.

They explore what forensic psychology actually is, what it’s like to sit across from someone facing the death penalty, why the US is in the middle of a “competency crisis,” and how a field changes its mind.

Guest Bio:

Daniel Murrie is a professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia, where he directs the Institute for Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy. He is a leading researcher in forensic psychology, with extensive work on evaluator bias, competency assessment, capital cases, and the intersection of mental illness and the justice system. He has served as a court-appointed special master in Colorado, helping the state address its competency crisis.

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