Assistant Commissioner for Forensic Services

About the role

The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking an accomplished clinical and administrative leader to serve as Assistant Commissioner for Forensic Services. This position provides strategic and clinical leadership for court-ordered evaluations, competency restoration, services for individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity, diversion initiatives, reentry services, and related forensic programs serving adults and juveniles.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the statewide delivery of forensic mental health services to courts and correctional settings, ensuring compliance with clinical standards, legal requirements, and Department of Mental Health expectations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain policies, protocols, and standards governing court-ordered evaluations, competency restoration, forensic assessment, and related services.
• Lead the training, certification, appointment, and performance oversight of juvenile and adult forensic evaluators, supervisors, clinicians, and contracted provider organizations.
• Direct the development and expansion of diversion programs in collaboration with law enforcement, mobile crisis services, specialty courts, and other behavioral health and public safety partners.
• Partner with the Trial Court to oversee court clinic and specialty court clinical services and serve as the Department’s subject matter expert on forensic clinical practices and court-related processes.
• Coordinate with the Department of Correction and other state agencies to support continuity of care, reentry, and effective services for individuals involved with the criminal justice system.
• Provide clinical consultation, supervision, training, and guidance to Area Directors, Medical Directors, forensic leadership, and staff regarding complex cases, risk management, and individuals with significant behavioral health needs.
• Establish and oversee programs and services addressing mental illness and problematic sexual behaviors, including statewide assessment, treatment, risk management, and related clinical initiatives.
• Manage contracts, resources, staffing, performance expectations, and operational priorities for statewide forensic services while collaborating with DMH fiscal, human resources, legal, and administrative teams.
• Advise senior DMH leadership on forensic mental health policy, legislation, service capacity, resource needs, and emerging opportunities to strengthen prevention, early intervention, treatment, and justice-system diversion.

Requirements

• Applicants must possess an independent Psychologist license, Doctorate in Medicine (M.D. or D.O.), or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW).
• Minimum Entrance Requirements: At least seven (7) years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical), of which at least four (4) years must have been in a managerial capacity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of mental health service delivery system.
• Knowledge of legal system and statutes.
• Knowledge of standards for court ordered evaluation and multi-disciplinary training interfacing mental health and the law.
• Ability to negotiate with vendors and set performance standards.
• Ability to plan and implement service delivery system.
• At least 5 years of budgetary management experience.
• At least 5 years of experience working with a mental health system, including clinical responsibility and oversight.
• At least 5 years of experience with the criminal justice system.
• At least 5 years of experience performing forensic evaluations on an inpatient unit.
• Certified as a Designated Forensic Psychologist or is eligible for Designated Forensic Psychologist candidacy pursuant to the requirements of 104 CMR 33.04. OR Doctorate in Medicine (M.D. or D.O.) with a fellowship in forensic psychiatry from an ACGME accredited fellowship program.