Forensic Assessment
Evaluations are conducted in person at our Assessment Center in Palo Alto, CA or Pleasanton, CA, or via telehealth.
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Our Providers
What Is a Forensic Assessment?
There are many different reasons to have a forensic evaluation. Forensic assessment is the application of specialized knowledge and cannot be completed by a therapist who you are seeing for treatment.
Most forensic evaluations include an overlap between the medical and legal fields. An attorney or a judge may ask you to get an evaluation. You will need to clarify with your attorney or legal representative if these services are right for you.
Contact us for more information!
Types of Forensic Assessments We Offer
- Immigration Evaluations-Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
- Competency to Stand Trial PC 1368
- Diagnostic Clarification/Pretrial Determination for EC1017
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Evaluations (Ages 14+)
- Cognitive strengths and weaknesses for IEP and 504
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Evaluations
What is the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)?
- Unfortunately, women are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence.
- In addition, domestic violence, human trafficking, and exploitation in the workforce present unique challenges to noncitizen women due to the vulnerability created by their immigration status in the United States.
- VAWA provides numerous forms of protection for noncitizen women and men who are the victims of domestic violence and/or other qualifying crimes.
What Are the Steps of a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Evaluation?
Step #1: Initial Discussion with Attorney
- Usually an attorney will be representing you in this process. First, we will have a discussion with your attorney around their concerns as it relates to your case.
Step #2: Gathering Records
- Any records that can be made available will be asked for.
Step #3: Interview
- The interview can take anywhere from 2-4 hours. It can be done by telehealth or in person.
- It is possible that an interpreter will need to be present during this evaluation.
Step #4: Final Report
- Your attorney will receive a final draft of the report and they will use this to support your case.
Competency to Stand Trial (PC 1368) Evaluation
What is Competency to Stand Trial (PC 1368)?
- Competency to Stand Trial refers to a defendant's ability to understand the nature and consequences of the legal proceedings against them, and to assist in their own defense.
- If a defendant is deemed incompetent to stand trial, they may be placed in a treatment facility in an effort to restore their competency.
- Once a question around mental competence is raised, all legal proceedings stop until an evaluation is completed.
What Are the Steps of a Competency to Stand Trial (PC 1368) Evaluation?
Step #1: Evaluation Request
- Usually an attorney will be representing you in this process.
- Usually these evaluations are done within the court system, but sometimes they can be requested by independent attorneys or legal representation.
Step #2: Gathering Records
- Any records that can be made available will be asked for.
Step #3: Interview With the Client
- The interview with the identified client can take anywhere from 1-4 hours depending on the concerns related to competency.
- The evaluation can be done by telehealth or in person.
- If there is a concern about cognitive functioning, then the assessment will need to be done in person.
- It is possible that an interpreter will need to be present during this evaluation.
Step #4: Final Report Submission
- The attorney of record and the court will receive a final draft of the report and they will use this to support the defendant's case.
Diagnostic Clarification/ Pretrial Determination for (EC1017)
What is a Diagnostic Clarification/ Pretrial Determination for (EC1017)?
- A psychologist may be appointed by order of the court upon the request of the lawyer for the defendant in a criminal proceeding in order to provide the lawyer with the information needed so that he or she may advise the defendant whether to enter or withdraw a plea based on insanity or to present a defense based on his or her mental or emotional condition.
What Are the Steps of a Diagnostic Clarification/ Pretrial Determination for (EC1017)?
Step #1: Evaluation Request
- Usually an attorney will be representing you in this process.
- Usually these evaluations are done within the court system, but sometimes they can be requested by independent attorneys or legal representation.
Step #2: Gathering Records
- Any records that can be made available will be asked for.
Step #3: Interview With the Client
- The interview with the identified client can take anywhere from 1-4 hours depending on the concerns related to competency.
- The evaluation can be done by telehealth or in person.
- If there is a concern about cognitive functioning, then the assessment will need to be done in person.
- It is possible that an interpreter will need to be present during this evaluation.
Step #4: Final Report Submission
- The attorney of record and the court will receive a final draft of the report and they will use this to support the defendant's case.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Evaluations (Ages 14+)
What is a PTSD Evaluation?
- To develop PTSD, you must have gone through a traumatic experience or trauma in your life.
- This information sometimes is identified during the process of talk therapy but it can also be diagnosed during a screening or evaluation of trauma history.
What Are the Steps of a PTSD Evaluation?
- A thorough evaluation of an adult takes about 1 to 2 hours.
- For children, teens, and young adults the assessment can take between 2-6 hours and multiple visits.
- Some PTSD assessments can take longer if information is needed for legal reasons or disability claims.
Step #1: Assessment Questions
- You can expect to be asked questions about events that may have been traumatic for you.
- You will be asked about difficulties you may have had since these events.
- Assessments usually involve sets of questions asked from a list.
- You may be asked to complete surveys with questions about your thoughts and feelings.
Step #2: Input from Others
- Sometimes a provider may ask if it is okay to talk with a spouse, partner, or family member about what they have observed.
- Any treatment providers or therapists may also be contacted for information.
Step #3: Receiving Your Evaluation
- If this evaluation is for treatment purposes and not legal purposes, you will receive a copy of your evaluation and have a feedback session.
- If it is for legal purposes, you will not receive a copy of the assessment. But, your attorney will be provided a copy and results may have an impact on how they decide to represent you.