Psycho-Legal Evaluation
What is a psycho-legal evaluation?
Psycho-legal assessments are evaluations intended to answer a legal question for the judicial system. These can include competency to stand trial, risk of dangerousness to the community, mental health diversion, diminished responsibility (i.e., the insanity defense), and malingering assessments.
The goal of these evaluations is to address how mental and/or developmental illness(es) may impact a defendant’s legal proceedings. Specifically, the findings in a forensic report can determine if mitigating circumstances, such as mental illness, developmental factors, and psychosocial factors, might affect sentencing or trial readiness. Such findings may also be utilized in diagnosing mental illnesses and determining viable treatment options for those in the legal system.
Typically, an attorney or judge may request a psycho-legal evaluation if a doubt has been raised as to the defendant’s mental capacity. Such evaluations may also be conducted to determine risk factors for defendants seeking parole/probation, particularly as it relates to readiness to return to the community.
How is it done?
The particulars will depend on the individual case/goals. However, a psycho-legal evaluation will likely incorporate a clinical interview with the defendant/litigant, collateral information from the retaining party, collateral information from friends/family, and a variety of records, including medical, psychological, school, and legal, to name a few. I may also administer a variety of assessments (“tools”) aimed at answering the legal question more thoroughly.
Typically, a psycho-legal evaluation will be conducted both in-person and virtually, depending on what tools are used. All virtual sessions will be conducted using a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform to ensure personal information remains confidential. If in-person sessions are needed, I will coordinate with the retaining party to determine the best location.
Fees are determined based on the amount of time required to conduct a thorough evaluation. If expert witness testimony is required, additional fees will apply.
It will typically take 4-6 weeks for administration, records review, and report completion. At that point, I can schedule a follow-up session with the retaining party to discuss results and provide a report for the court, as needed.
Interested in working together?
Contact me for a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your particular needs, including how my expertise can assist you in answering your legal questions.