Justin Ramsdell

Justin Ramsdell

Justin Ramsdell

Associate Professor

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

Dr. Ramsdell is an Associate 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, law enforcement Crisis Intervention Teams, the psychology of victim experiences, and psychological factors related to criminal behavior. 

He serves as Chair of the College's Term Faculty Affairs Committee and also serves/has served on other 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. (2021, April) Problem Solving Crisis Intervention Team Program Implementation. Pennsylvania Bar Association – Police Response Workgroup
  • Brielmaier, J. M., Lee, Y. C., Ramsdell, J. M., & Olesova, L. (September, 2020) Strategies for Incorporating Peer Interactions into Online Courses. Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference – George Mason University
  • Ramsdell, J. M. (September, 2020) This is Going to Hurt: Redesigning Courses with Previously Enrolled Students.Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference – George Mason University
  • Ramsdell, J. M. (September, 2020) A Requiem for Exams, Discussion Questions, and Textbooks. Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference – George Mason University
  • 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. (2018, September) What is Traumatic Victimization? National Center for the Victims of Crime’s National Training Institute, Orlando, FL.
  • 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, Through National Center for Victims of Crime, Washington D.C.
  • Ramsdell, J. M. (2017, June) A Long Shadow: Understanding Survivors with a Harmful History, 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.

In the Media

Television

  • Analysis of ‘Fight or Flight’ Response to Extreme Situations like Deadly DC Carjacking – Good Day DC – Fox 5 WTTP (March 30th, 2021)
  • Working Conditions for Capital Police Following the January 6th Insurrection and the Recent Death of an Officer – Good Day DC – Fox 5 WTTP (April 5th, 2021)

Podcasts

  • Feedback Friday: “Help! I Married a Conspiracy Theorist” – The Jordan Harbinger Show, Episode 457 (January 15th, 2021).
  • How to Detect and Disarm Pseudoscience – The Jordan Harbinger Show, Episode 359 (June 2nd, 2020).
  • Rotten Psychology – The Art of Charm, Episode 675 (March 15th, 2018).

Web Series

  • 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 (June-July, 2020).
  • Practitioner’s Perspective – The National Center for Victims of Crime, Stalking Resource Center (August, 2017).

Radio

  • Chad Irwin and Suicide by Cop – Air Talk with Larry Mantle – 3 KPCC (Los Angeles NPR Affiliate) (August, 2018).

Print Media

  • Reports of Stalking Spike So Far This Year – GW Hatchet, by Elizabeth Lancaster (September, 2018).
  • Police Shootings: Oklahoma Cop Kills Deaf Man in Latest Attack on Disabled – Newsweek, by Christal Hayes (September, 2017).
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