Criminal Evaluation
Criminal Evaluation
We offer comprehensive forensic and criminal psychological evaluations for both juveniles and adults. These types of evaluations may be provided to attorneys, prosecutors, judges, and families of the accused. Services include criminal responsibility/insanity evaluations, competency to stand trial evaluations, evaluations to be utilized in sentencing decisions, child abuse/neglect evaluations, and risk assessments for violence or sex offending.
Clinicians Offering Criminal Evaluations
Competency Evaluation
HRA offers services to lawyers, the courts, and investigative authorities who want to determine an assessment of an individual's ability to understand, appreciate and participate in a court process or other legal proceedings. In a court setting, competence can be assessed to determine if a defendant is competent to stand trial, plead guilty, etc.
There are also instances where there is a question of whether or not someone is competent in their ability to live independently, manage their personal finances, enter into contracts (i.e. make a will), or make decisions in regards to their medical care.
Clinicians Offering Competency Evaluations
Sex Offender Evaluation
At times, attorneys and their clients may find it useful to have a Sex Offender Evaluation to assess an individual’s risk of recidivism. Courts commonly use these evaluations to help make determinations about sentencing. Such evaluations should be conducted by professionals who are knowledgeable and specifically trained on the use of clinical and actuarial assessment tools that are available for this referral question. This evaluation consists of several hours of interview and evaluation, which results in a written report offered in confidence to the client’s attorney.
Clinicians Offering Sex Offender Evaluations
Pre-Sentence Evaluation
There are occasions in which a defendant is found competent to stand trial, and is considered criminally responsible, yet there are remaining intellectual and/or psychological factors that may have contributed to an individual’s criminal behavior.
Following a conviction, and prior to sentencing, an evaluation focused on assisting the courts in developing a comprehensive and complex understanding of a defendant’s psychological make-up may be helpful. This evaluation can consist of several hours of interview and evaluation, resulting in a written report to be offered in confidence to the defendant’s attorney. At the end of the evaluation, a diagnostic understanding of the defendant, along with treatment recommendations, will be provided.