Forensic Psychology is the application of psychological knowledge and techniques to narrowly defined legal questions. Unlike clinical psychology which is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of adjustment and mental disorders, forensic psychology provides information which will assist the court in answering specific legal questions. As a forensic psychologist, I have been appointed by the court, or retained by the prosecution or defense to provide expert opinions in the following courts:
Delinquency Court which is concerned with the rehabilitation of juveniles arrested for a misdemeanor or felony, as well as community safety.
Dependency Court which is concerned with the care and protection of children who have been abused or neglected.
Criminal Court which is concerned with the rehabilitation of adults arrested for misdemeanor or felony charges, as well as with community safety.
Family Court which is concerned with the “Best Interests” of children in child custody matters.
Orphans Court which is concerned with one’s capacity to do such things as manage one’s finances, to care for one’s self, to make medical or treatment decisions, to make a will, to enter into a contract, etc.
As an expert, I may be asked to offer opinions on such issues as:
Risk Assessment: Does the individual present a risk of harm to others? How can that risk be contained or reduced? What factors are likely to increase or decrease the individual’s risk level?
Competency to Stand Trial: Does the individual understand the nature of the charges? Does the individual understand the adversarial nature of the process and the possible penalties? Is the individual able to assist the attorney in preparing a defense? Additional criminal competencies include such things as the capacity to waive one’s Miranda Warnings, the capacity to enter a plea, and the capacity to waive counsel.
Criminal Responsibility: At the time the individual committed a crime, did he or she suffer from a mental disorder which prevented him or her from knowing the behavior was wrong, or which prevented him or her from controlling the behavior?
Parenting Capacity: Does a parent have the capacity to parent a child? What can be done to habilitate or rehabilitate the parent’s capacity to parent? What is the prognosis?
Witness Credibility: Do the statements of a witness appear to be credible and to reflect what the witness may have actually perceived or experienced? To what degree may the memories be influenced by post-event information or other factors?
Child Custody: What is the custody / visitation arrangement which is in the best interests of the child with respect to promoting the child’s positive development, and to maintain / enhance the child’s relationship with both parents?
Juvenile Transfer: Can a juvenile arrested for a major crime be treated in the juvenile justice system? What type of treatment does the juvenile need? What is the prognosis for the juvenile to be rehabilitated within the time available in the juvenile justice system?
Megan’s Law Assessments: Appointed to the PA Sexual Offender’s Board by the Governor, I evaluate sex offenders who have committed certain sexual offenses in order to offer an opinion concerning whether they meet the criteria for classification as Sexually Violent Predators.
Non-criminal Competencies: Is the individual competent to manage his or her affairs, to manage his or her finances, to make a will, to enter into a contract, to make decisions about treatment, to protect himself or herself from those with designing intentions? Does the individual need a legal Guardian?
Within Pennsylvania, I have been qualified to offer expert opinions in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Bucks, Berks, Lancaster, York, and other counties. I have been qualified to provide expert opinions in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and other states. I have also been qualified to offer expert opinions in Federal Court.
