2024 Annual Conference of the American Psychology-Law Society

Los Angeles, California

March 21-23, 2024

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Info
Program
Hotel
Registration
Sponsors

General Information

If you have any questions or comments about the conference, please contact the conference co-chairs at conference@ap-ls.org

Looking forward to seeing everyone in March!

Hotel Information

Plan your trip

The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suite
404 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, California, USA, 90071

Hotel Map

Registration Information

We highly recommend pre-registered attendees pick their badges up Thursday 7:30 AM - 12 PM, Friday 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM, or Saturday 7 AM- 9AM.

Registration location and badge pick-up times.

San Diego Registration Booth in California Foyer
Hotel Second Level Meeting Space
Wednesday 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday 6:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday 6:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Online registration is closed.
On-site Registration will be available.

Welcome & Poster Receptions

All are welcome to attend!

Welcome Reception
Light Appetizers Cash Bar
Thursday 6:30 - 8 PM
San Diego Ballroom
Level 2

Poster Receptions
Light Appetizers Cash Bar
Friday & Saturday 6:30 - 8 PM
Pasadena Room
Lower Level

Thank you to our 2024 Conference Sponsors and Exhibitors!

Printed mini programs in lieu of full programs

As a step toward being greener and cutting down on costs as an organization, we decided to forego the printing of the full programs again this year. Instead, conference goers will receive printed mini programs.

Wireless Internet limitations in conference rooms

While those staying at the conference hotels will have complimentary internet access in their individual rooms, the actual conference rooms will not include wireless Internet access.

Thus, we recommend downloading the full program PDF and the conference mobile app prior to arriving in Los Angeles.

Policy for Social Media Use

The American Psychology-Law Society values open dialogue about the data and issues presented at the conference, however we also value the rights and privacy of the conference participants. APLS encourages the use of social media (X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, SnapChat, blogs, etc.) during paper, poster, and plenary and social events, including live tweeting, with some limitations. Before using social media at the conference, we ask that you review the following guidelines.

Please DO:

  • Follow APLS on social media (see below for accounts)

  • Use the hashtag #APLS2024 and other relevant hashtags

  • Engage with other conference attendees

  • Be respectful in the tone and content of your posts - Silence all phones and tablets - Consider sitting near the back if using a laptop or tablet

    Please DON’T:

  • Share photos or videos of attendees without their consent

  • Share data without the author’s consent

  • Post about talks or posters where presenter uses the social media drop out symbol.

Important

If you are experiencing any COVID symptoms, do not visit any conference spaces. We appreciate everyone working together so we all stay healthy!

Consider volunteering as a session time keeper, helping at the registration table, and more

Have questions or need more information about volunteering?
Please contact Emma Paskoff emma@ap-ls.org

Sign up

Disclaimer: Breakfast/Lunch Are Not Provided
Off-Site Dining Options

Recommended list of off-site dining options within a 5-10 minute walk.

Learn More

Hotel Dining Options

LA Prime
Steakhouse

Savor prime steak and fresh seafood as you take in spectacular 360-degree city views at LA Prime, our award-winning steakhouse on the 35th floor of The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Los Angeles.

Mon-Tue: Closed
Wed-Thu, Sun: 5:00 PM-10:00 PM
Fri-Sat: 5:00 PM-11:00 PM

BonaVista Lounge
Asian-Fusion

Sip classic cocktails with an innovative twist at BonaVista Lounge. Tempting libations, light restaurant entrees and small plates are on the menu, as are impressive views of Los Angeles from the 34th floor of this revolving venue.

Mon-Tue: Closed
Wed-Thu, Sun: 5:00 PM-12:00 AM
Fri-Sat: 5:00 PM-1:00 AM

Lakeview Bistro
American

Enjoy breakfast and lunch favorites at Lakeview Bistro. This onsite downtown LA restaurant offers healthy American classics and a premium list of fine wines. Our Westin’s Eat Well program will support your commitment to becoming a healthier you.

Everyday: 6:00 AM-2:00 PM

CafeNOW
American

Grab a Starbucks® coffee to start your day at CafeNOW, our newly expanded grab and go area. CafeNOW features a variety of hot and cold offerings available all day.

Open: 24/7

Lobby Court
American

This chic, open-format venue located in the atrium offers sit down dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and cocktail service throughout the day. Free High Speed Internet Access is available.

Everyday: 10:00 AM-1:00 AM

Tequilas
Mexican

Indulge in all your favorite Mexican entrees at Tequila’s, our onsite Mexican restaurant. Your stay with us is not complete without experiencing our authentic tacos, quesadillas, and a variety of agave-centric cocktails.

Everyday: 11:00 AM-2:00 PM 4:00 PM-10:00 PM

Explore Los Angeles with colleagues on a 5k Fun Run, sponsored by the AP-LS Student Committee!
Friday, March 22, 2024
MEET IN LOBBY OF THE CONFERENCE HOTEL AT 7:00 AM

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED AFTER THE RACE


COST: $25

Register

Funds raised are used to support student committee conference awards

Symposia, Paper, and Data Blitz Sessions

All conference sessions, with the exception of the plenaries, are located on the lobby level of the hotel.

Symposium sessions are 80 minutes long. Allow approximately 10 minutes for questions and comments from the audience. Divide the remaining time evenly between the presenters and the discussant.

Paper sessions are 60 minutes long. Most sessions have four or five papers; therefore, each presenter should plan to have 10-12 minutes to present. This will allow time at the end for audience questions. A chair will be assigned to paper sessions and will make introductions, help keep time, as well as guide questions at the end of the session.

Data-Blitz sessions are 60 minutes long. Data-blitz presenters have a maximum of 5 minutes each (3-5 slides), followed by approximately 10 minutes of questions from the audience at the end of the session.

KEEP IN MIND
AV

Please see the list below for all the AV equipment provided in each session room. Presenters are required to bring their own laptop to project any slides, documents, etc. If you have a Mac laptop, we HIGHLY recommend bringing your own adapter to support HDMI hookups. If you need assistance with the AV equipment in your session room, please call or text our lead technician, Gabe Bagdasarov.

WIFI

There will be no access to Wi-Fi in the meeting rooms at this year’s conference. If you are staying at the hotel, you will have Wi-Fi access in your individual guest room. We recommend having all contents of your presentation pre-downloaded on your laptop as well as loaded on a flash drive.

Room Set Up

Each room will be set up in theater style with a podium at the front for presenters. Water bubblers will be accessible near all session rooms. If there is not a session before, we recommend getting to your room at least 5 minutes before your presentation to connect to the AV. The AV company will be setting up on Wednesday, and you are welcome to stop by your room then.

Poster Sessions

Poster sessions are scheduled from 6:30-8:00 pm on Friday and Saturday evenings. Presenters are scheduled for either Friday or Saturday night and will be given a number to correspond with the board where they should display their posters.

Poster Sizing: The boards for mounting a poster are 4 ft (height) x 8 ft (width). Presenters are free to create any size poster that will fit within that space. Presenters will need to bring push pins to hang their posters; we do not provide push pins.

Tip

We encourage poster presenters to use a Better Poster format.

Conference Contacts

Co-chairs
Caitlin Cavanagh, Ph.D. &
Samantha Zottola, Ph.D. 
conference@apl-ls.org

Event Director
Emma Paskoff
emma@ap-ls.org

Association Coordinator
Marcus Fierek
office@ap-ls.org

The 2024 APLS Annual Conference Program Grid is now available!

View Full Program

Program & Schedule

2024 APLS Program Grid is now available online!

Coming soon: Get the Guide on your mobile device.

tap “Download the app” to access the guide on your iOS or Android device. Prefer the web version? Some content and networking tools may be available to you online.

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View Online

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Opening Plenary

San Francisco, Sacramento & San Jose

A New Frontier: Using Psychology to Strengthen Forensic Science Policy and Practice

12:00PM - 2:00PM

First, help us honor our 2024 award winners. Then, stay for an opening plenary session on Forensic Science. From crime labs to autopsies, improper forensic science is a leading cause of known wrongful convictions—yet it has historically received less research attention than other such causes. That tide is now turning, as researchers are shedding light on the potential for unconscious bias and human error in forensic experts’ decisions and working with community partners to strengthen forensic science policy and practice. In this session, a panel of psychologists, practitioners, attorneys, and policy experts will discuss ongoing progress and future directions in terms of rectifying past injustices and optimizing the human element of forensic science.

Chair: Dr. Jeff Kukucka, Towson University

Dr. Jeff Kukucka graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Loyola College in Maryland. As an undergraduate, he became involved in research on conformity in eyewitness memory with Dr. Kerri Goodwin (Towson University) and research on child forensic interviewing and metacognition with Dr. Maggie Bruck (Johns Hopkins Medical Institute). He then graduated from the Ph.D. Program in Psychology & Law at the CUNY Graduate Center, where he worked primarily under Dr. Saul Kassin (John Jay College of Criminal Justice).

Day 1 (Thursday)

Schedule at a glance

Last Updated: March 1, 2024
Friday, March 22, 2024

Presidential Plenary

San Francisco & Sacramento

Beyond a competency crisis: California innovations addressing serious mental illness in the criminal legal system?

10:45AM - 12:15PM

For at least the past decade, the United States has experienced a grave “competency crisis,” That is, orders for competency evaluation and restoration have been increasing far more than states can provide those restoration services. One consequence of this public mental health crisis are lengthy waitlists of defendants with psychiatric illness, waiting for many months in jails for restoration treatment, as their symptoms grow worse. These conditions have prompted lawsuits and reform efforts in many states, though most states still struggle. Amid this crisis, California is worth watching. Their waitlist reached nearly 2,000 (second largest in the country), but through a variety of innovative practices has decreased by roughly 80%.

This panel features California leaders who pioneered strategic practices to address the competence crisis. Psychiatrist Kate Warburton, director of the Department of State Hospitals, has overseen broad system reform efforts that extend far beyond the state hospitals. Psychiatrist Kristen Ochoa has overseen a one-of-a-kind outpatient restoration program for Los Angeles County. Finally, Judge James Bianco has been an innovator in his own docket, and a national voice in addressing the competency systems.

Chair: Dr. Daniel Murrie, Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy

Daniel Murrie is director of psychology at the Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy and an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Murrie’s duties at the ILPPP involve training Virginia clinicians to perform forensic evaluations and supervising the ILPPP’s psychiatric, post-doctoral and practicum trainees. Within the ILPPP’s forensic clinic, Murrie performs criminal and civil forensic psychological evaluations of juveniles and adults. As a researcher, Murrie has published on a number of topics related to forensic assessment, psychopathy, diagnostic labeling and juvenile justice. His current work addresses bias and quality control in forensic evaluations.

Day 2 (Friday)

Schedule at a glance

Last Updated: March 1, 2024
Saturday, March 23, 2024

Closing Plenary

San Francisco, Sacramento & San Jose

The Creation of a Young Adult Court: A New Approach to Justice

10:45AM - 12:15PM

To achieve social justice, courts must find new ways to respond to those who engage in criminal behavior. It is well known that the “felon” label produces a wide variety of collateral consequences (e.g., employment, education, housing, voting) and the effects are even worse for young men of color. In an attempt to change how the justice system responds to felony offenses, Orange County, CA created a Young Adult Court (YAC) for young men between the ages of 18 and 25.

The goal of this program is to reduce recidivism and promote positive life outcomes by (1) providing developmentally appropriate support to participants of the program and (2) permit them the opportunity to have their felony charge reduced to a misdemeanor or dismissed. To highlight how this court was created, the Presiding Judge of Orange County will describe what it takes to implement a Young Adult Court. The District Attorney and Public Defender will highlight the challenges each of their offices face. Finally, Dr. Cauffman will present preliminary data from the randomized control trial to provide insight into the effectiveness as well as the challenges between those processed in Young Adult Court and those processed through the traditional court system.

Chair: Dr. Caitlin Cavanagh, Michigan State University

Caitlin Cavanagh is an Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. Broadly, her research focuses on the intersections of psychology and the law, and how social contexts shape adolescent behavior. A developmental psychologist by training, she is particularly interested in the dynamic parent-child relationship. Her program of research seeks to produce developmentally sound research that can improve how the juvenile justice system interfaces with youth and their families.

Day 3 (Saturday)

Schedule at a glance

Last Updated: March 1, 2024

Hotel Information

Exterior view of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites

Hotel Map Get Directions
The 2024 AP-LS Conference will be held at the The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites

Parking Information
Discounted Hotel Valet Parking ($38/ night)

Recommended Transportation
For attendees flying in to Los Angeles, the LAX FlyAway runs from LAX to the Union Station train station in downtown LA and is $10. The LAX FlyAway runs from LAX every 30 minutes and from Union Station every hour. Union Station is a short Uber or cab ride to the hotel but is a great option for individuals arriving alone as Ubers and cabs directly from the airport can be costly.

AP-LS has rooms set aside for all attendees, which can be booked at a special group rate that is available for attendees:

Group Rate $249
Available March 19 - March 24
Discounted Valet Parking ($38/ night)

Attendees must book their room by February 25th, 2024 to take advantage of the special rate!


Registration

Registration & Badge Pick-Up

We highly recommend pre-registered attendees pick their badges up Thursday 7:30 AM - 12 PM, Friday 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM, or Saturday 7 AM- 9AM.

Registration location and badge pick-up times.

San Diego Registration Booth in California Foyer
Hotel Second Level Meeting Space
Wednesday 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday 6:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday 6:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Online registration is closed. On-site Registration will be available.

REGISTRATION RATES & INCLUSIONS

*Rates may be subject to change

Status Early Bird
(before Jan 31)
Regular
(on Feb 1)
Full Member $285 $315
Early Career Professional Member $205 $235
Student Member $80 $110
Student Member First-Author Presenter $40 $40
Student Non-member $140 $170
Non-member $400 $470

Preconference Workshops

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

At this year’s conference we are excited to offer two full day workshops and four half day workshops on that will take place on Wednesday March 20.

Attendees will have the ability to register for the pre conference workshops with their conference registration.

Learn More

REGISTRATION RATES & INCLUSIONS

*Pricing is subject to change

Full-Day Workshop Rates

Status Early Bird
(before Jan 31)
Regular
(on Feb 1)
Member $200 $230
Non-Member $250 $280
Student Member $80 $100
Student Non-member $100 $120

Half-Day Workshop Rates

Status Early Bird
(before Jan 31)
Regular
(on Feb 1)
Member $100 $115
Non-Member $125 $140
Student Member $40 $50
Student Non-member $50 $60

Exhibitors & Sponsors

Become a Sponsor

Signing up as a Business Partner of AP-LS has never been easier. Select your sponsorship, upload your logo, register your staff and make a payment all in one place.

Learn More

Thank you to our 2024 Conference Sponsors and Exhibitors!