Forensics scientist examines criminal mind
By Pam Kinney

Jonathan Dudek has always been intrigued by the criminal mind. Given the media interest in popular programs such as "CSI," "Cold Case," and "Law & Order," he is certainly not alone. However, what sets this local resident apart from most of us is his extensive background in forensics. A native New Englander, Jonathan A. Dudek, Ph.D. is a consulting forensic psychologist for the State Forensic Service. Below, Mr. Dudek. The Monument: Pam Kinney photo

As he is assigned cases, Dr. Dudek evaluates defendants to see if they are competent to stand trial. Oftentimes, this process takes him to the county jail where the individual is in shackles and a guard stands outside the door. "I make notes about their deficiencies/abilities," he explains. "The whole premise is that we have a right to a fair trial in this country. My job is to provide the court with that information." Jonathan is quick to point out that a judge makes the final decision if a person can stand trial. "The judge has a heavy burden with societal considerations, moral considerations," he said. "We [forensic psychologists] are a small piece of that pie by providing the knowledge they request."

Jonathan's experience in forensics is impressive. For instance, he has worked as an Intelligence Analyst for the US Drug Enforcement Administration in Boston. He was selected as an FBI Honors Intern working in the Child Abduction and Serial Killer Unit while doing his graduate work. More recently, he has conducted research as well as served as a consultant for investigating prostitute homicide.

Despite the seriousness of his work, Jonathan has also learned through his training not to allow society's problems to interfere with his personal life. "I know the population I'm dealing with," he said. "It can be very intimidating. I take a step back and realize that mental illness is out there." His clinical training in dealing with emotionally disturbed people helps him understand behaviors that would be considered bizarre to most of us. "I always remember the other side of it-the mental illness-and I piece together how difficult that could be for someone," he said.

So where did this fascination for forensics come from? "I always liked to watch detective programs," Jonathan explains. He grew up with "Hawaii Five-0" and "Streets of San Francisco" in his living room each week. Later came "Magnum PI" and "Hunter." Currently he claims that "Law & Order" best fits his line of work. "The characters 'Skoda' and 'Huong' are tasked to do what I do here," he said, attributing the show's success to the interesting storylines that are well put together.

Jonathan weighs the pros and cons of the media hype on forensics. "It's a real buzzword right now," he said. "They [the media] do a service of stimulating interest in the sciences, which is a positive thing," he explains. "Ultimately benefitting society. "Where they fall short, however comes with the flashy Hollywood territory. "They are not giving a realistic portrayal of how quick cases are solved," he said. A case evaluation can take hours of interviewing and assessing, whereas the process on television may last five minutes.

When Jonathan conducts court-ordered evaluations, he initially explains to the defendant the purpose of the meeting. He also warns them of their limitations of confidentiality and where his reports will be sent. Throughout the assessment, he also watches for malingering - a forensic term used when a person will fake symptoms for his own personal gain. Although this entire assessment is court-ordered, Dudek points out the individual's rights.

"They don't have to participate and can terminate the evaluation anytime," he explains. Oftentimes he will also interact with the defendant's attorney, carefully gathering as much information as he can about the individual.
Depending on how the assessment goes, Jonathan may be called to testify his findings in court. This task, he points out, is often glorified on television. "They always testify on these shows," he chuckles, adding it is a lot less frequent in real life.

Despite his busy schedule, Jonathan welcomes new challenges as he continues conducting forensics research. Recently, he has been working closely with Portland law firm "McCloskey, Mina, and Cunniff" in planning seminars for local businesses on workplace security. Topics would include workplace violence, mental illness, and internal policy development for threats in security. "What keeps me going is to provide a much needed service to the community and the justice system," he adds.

Through hard work and determination, Jonathan Dudek, Ph.D. has put to significant use his interest in the criminal mind. His credentials speak volumes for his abilities as he is highly regarded in the forensics field.

However, Jonathan remembers a time as an intern when he was in a session with a patient who insisted he knew what "Ph.D." stood for. Curious, Jonathan asked him what it meant. "The patient told me it stood for "Piled High and Deep!" he laughs. "I was still pretty naive back then," he said. "But I often think back to that moment, because it reinforces the importance of being humble."