S. DAVID BERNSTEIN, Psy.D.

S. David Bernstein, Psy.D. is a Clinical Forensic Psychologist who specializes in Adult, Corporate, and Pediatric Forensic Psychology. He is a graduate of the Harvard Medical School Postdoctoral Fellowship/Psychological Residency at the Children and the Law Program in the Law and Psychiatry Service of Massachusetts General Hospital. Prior to his fellowship, Dr. Bernstein served as a pre-doctoral intern at Yale University School of Medicine in the Substance Abuse and Treatment Unit, where he co-facilitated the court mandated adolescent substance abuse group and the adult male sexual trauma group.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Bernstein served as a co-contributor in a pilot study investigating the connection between juvenile aggression and cannabis use. Dr. Bernstein has written two successful treatment programs for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, and has served as a member of the Miami-Dade County Juvenile Justice Task Force and the Broward County Juvenile Advisory Board. Most recently, through the University Of Massachusetts School Of Medicine, Dr. Bernstein lead training lectures for the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) and the School Threat Assessment and Response System project (STARS).

Dr. Bernstein is a noted legal/trial consultant and has consulted in all phases of a trial, including pre-trial research (Trial simulations/Mock jury trials, focus groups, Case theory and presentation, Jury questionnaires and analysis), Trial (Voir dire Questions and strategies, Witness Preparation, Courtroom observation, Shadow Juries, Demonstrative evidence development) and Post-trial (Mitigation for departure from sentencing guidelines, Post-trial juror interviews/Debriefing).   <<

As an Expert Witness/Legal Consultant, Dr. Bernstein was cited in two published judicial opinions in 2006 from the Connecticut Superior Court. Additionally, for the last three years (2005, 2006, and 2007) in an online reader's poll conducted by The Connecticut Law Tribune, Dr. Bernstein has been voted "The Best Legal Consultant/Expert Witness" in the state of Connecticut by attorneys and other legal professionals. Dr. Bernstein has been qualified by various courts as an Expert Witness in the following areas (Partial List):

· Forensic Psychology

· Pediatric Forensic Psychology

· Pediatric and Adult Substance Abuse

· Child Abuse (Physical, Psychological, Sexual) and Neglect (Including false allegations)

· Domestic Violence/Partner Abuse

· Juvenile Delinquency

· High Conflict Divorce (with issues of Parental Alienation, False Allegations of Abuse, Domestic Violence, Substance Abuse, etc.)

· Risk of Dangerousness/ Potential to Reoffend (Pre-sentence risk assessments, pre-release risk assessments)

· Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy

· Sexual Offender Risk to Reoffend/ Dangerousness

· Diminished Capacity

A partial list of recent cases conducted by Dr. Bernstein includes:

· Sexual Harassment in the workplace  (with psychological/emotional injury)

· Fitness for duty (with dangerousness assessment)

· Termination of Parental Rights

· Custody/Guardianship involving rights of grandparents

· Custody involving rights of pre-adoptive parent

· Mock jury trial to assess trial strategy for complex trial docket case

· Mock jury trial to assess trial strategy for civil trial (Issues of alleged negligence)

· Sexual perpetrator evaluation to rule out dangerousness (Adult)

· Sexual perpetrator evaluation to rule out dangerousness (Adolescent)

· Criminal responsibility (NGRI Defense)

· Assessment of psychological/emotional damages in civil litigations

· Undue influence and competency to make financial decisions (involving the governing of an estate)

· School negligence ( Peer victimization/Bullying)

· Assessment of dangerousness (School setting)

Dr. Bernstein is a full member of the American Psychological Association, American Psychology-Law Society (APA Div 41), Harvard Medical School Postgraduate Association, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, American Society of Trial Consultants, Massachusetts Association of Guardian Ad Litems. Additionally Dr. Bernstein has held faculty appointments at Harvard University Medical School, Yale University School of Medicine, Albizu University, Florida International University, and University of Massachusetts School of Medicine.  <<