Justin Ramsdell

Justin Ramsdell

Justin Ramsdell

Assistant Professor

Forensic Psychology, Law Enforcement Crisis De-Escalation, Victim Experiences, Psychology of Criminal Behavior

Dr. Ramsdell is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. In addition to teaching psychology at the undergraduate level he also works as a forensic psychologist; serving as an expert witness consultant, primarily in cases involving law enforcement officer use of force and crisis de-escalation with individuals experiencing mental health crises. He also serves as a trainer for federal and local government law enforcement agencies and local police Crisis Intervention Teams. Prior to his promotion to his academic position, he trained and worked as a psychologist at several maximum-security mental hospitals and a county jail. 

His current work, both academic and consulting, focuses on the law enforcement interactions with individuals with severe mental illnesses, crisis deescalation, and the psychology of victim experiences. 

He has served as as Chair of the Dean's Term Faculty Ad Hoc Committee and also serves/has served on both Departmental and College level committees.

He is a recipient of the University's Teaching Excellence Award as well as the Psychology Department's Outstanding Faculty Award. 

 

 

Courses Taught

PSYC 380 - Introduction to Forensic Psychology

PSYC 381 - Mental Illness and Criminal Justice

PSYC 382 - Psychology of Crime Victims

PSYC 440 - Forensic Psychology: Science and Pseudoscience

PSYC 441 - Criminal Behavior: Neurological and Psychological Aspects

Recent Presentations

  • Ramsdell, J. M. & J. Boardman (2019, March) Traumatic Victimization: Its Importance to Law Enforcement, and Interview and Investigation Techniques to Improve Case Outcomes. (United States Department of Justice – Project Safe Neighborhoods with National Center for Victims of Crime (Webinar).
  • Olesova, L; Renshaw, K; & Ramsdell J. M. (2019, September) Enhancing Case-Based Learning in Large Enrollment Online Courses. 11th Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference, George Mason University – Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning.
  • Ramsdell, J. M. (2019, July) The Relationship Between Anger and Forgiveness in Victims of Crime and The Hidden Toll of Child Abuse and Exploitation. Federal Bureau of Investigation – Victim Services Division, Eastern Group, Oklahoma City, OK.
  • Ramsdell, J. M. (2019, June) The Relationship Between Anger and Forgiveness in Victims of Crime and The Hidden Toll of Child Abuse and Exploitation. Federal Bureau of Investigation – Victim Services Division, Western Group, Oklahoma City, OK.
  • Ramsdell, J. M. & Cecchet, S. (2018, September) The Case Against Anger? National Center for the Victims of Crime’s National Training Institute, Orlando, FL.
  • Ramsdell, J. M. (2018, August) What is Traumatic Victimization? MacArthur Foundation – Safety and Justice Challenge, Washington D.C.
  • Ramsdell, J. M. (2017, June) A Long Shadow: Understanding Survivors with a History of Harm, New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Trenton, NJ.
  • Ramsdell, J. M. (2017, April) A Glimpse to the Other Side: Mental Disorders and Strategies for Working with the Mentally Ill, Office of the United States Attorney, Southern District of Georgia, Savannah, GA.
  • Ramsdell, J. M. (2016, September) Perpetrators and the History of Abuse: Prior Victimization and Incarceration, National Center for the Victims of Crime’s National Training Institute, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Ramsdell, J. M. (2016, May) The Role of Bias in Managing Aggressive Behavior in Patients, Elizabeths Hospital 3rd Annual Forensic Conference, Washington, DC.
  • Ramsdell, J. M. (2015, July) Attention, Bias, and the Effect on Examiner and Examinee in Polygraph Use. United States Secret Service Polygraph Examiner Training, Nashville, TN.

In the Media

  • Connecting Victimization and Incarceration, 4-part video series for the MacArthur Foundation’s “Safety and Justice Challenge” and the National Center for Victims of Crime (2020, June-July).
  • How to Detect and Disarm Pseudoscience, “The Jordan Harbinger Show” Podcast, Episode 359 (2020, April).
  • Chad Irwin and Suicide by Cop, “Air Talk with Larry Mantle” 89.3 KPCC (Los Angeles NPR Affiliate) (2018, August).
  • Rotten Psychology (Episode 675)– The Art of Charm Podcast (2018, March).
  • Practitioner’s Perspective – The National Center for Victims of Crime, Stalking Resource Center (August, 2017).
  • Newsweek - Police Shootings: Oklahoma Cop Kills Deaf Man in Latest Attack on Disabled - by Christal Hayes (2017, September).
  • GW Hatchet - Reports of Stalking Spike So Far This Year - by Elizabeth Lancaster (2018, September).