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Assessment Services

Assessment of defendants’ mental state and cognitive abilities, usually to determine their competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility for their alleged offenses, and potential risk of future violence, by evaluating factors like their mental health history, current psychological functioning, and understanding of the legal process.

Forensic Psychology has been defined in several ways. The American Board of Forensic Psychology describes it as “the application of the science and profession of psychology to questions and issues relating to law and the legal system” (www.abfp.com).

A broader description is the practice of applying psychological principles to answering a referral question by a third party – someone or some entity other than the person(s) being evaluated. This inherently changes the relationship between the psychologist and the patient or client.

To that end, forensic psychologists primarily help explain legal questions. Such questions may be criminal or civil, wherein an individual is facing criminal charges or seeking compensation, respectively.

Forensic psychologists may conduct clinical interviews and psychological testing. They consult with relevant stakeholders, such as law enforcement personnel, lawyers, courts, and other parties and entities.

Competence to Stand Trial (CST) – A defendant’s present capacity to comprehend trial proceedings. It also considers if defendants can assist in their defense and collaborate with their defense attorney(s) in developing and putting forth a defense strategy.

Mental Status at the Time of the Offense – Also known as Criminal Responsibility and popularly known as “insanity,” this evaluation helps to explore whether the defendant suffered from a mental illness(es) at the time of an alleged offense(s). If so, additional factors are examined to determine if they played a role at the time of the alleged offense(s).

Specific Intent/Diminished Capacity – Introduces evidence of diminished mens rea (guilty mind), meaning, to demonstrate that their mental capacity was compromised at the time of the alleged offense, preventing the accused from having the intent needed to commit the crime. Such an outcome may result in a less severe charge.

Violence Risk Assessment – An individual’s level of risk for engaging in acts of violence against people or property in a given environment and for a particular length of time. It is based on group data used to make predictions of violence in a variety of contexts and can be civil as opposed to criminal.

Sex Offender Risk Assessment – An individual’s level of risk for engaging in acts of sexual offenses with/without violence. This assessment is in the context of pre-trial or pre-sentencing.

Mitigation – Assessing existing condition(s) and their effects on the defendant’s functioning, including basic daily activities, such as bathing and eating. This includes prognosis, potential complications, and future needs. This helps to aid the Judge in understanding the complexities of the psychological condition(s) and provides context to the defendant’s life while in prison.

Psychological Autopsy – In criminal cases, a psychological autopsy helps reconstruct the decedent’s psychological profile to assess intent, risk factors, or potential victimization. It informs investigations into suspicious deaths, suicides, or possible foul play through collateral interviews and behavioral analysis.

Miranda Rights Waiver Evaluation – This helps to determine whether an individual had the mental and cognitive capacity to knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive their Miranda rights during police interrogation. It is commonly used in criminal defense cases to assess legal competency at the time of custodial questioning.

Eyewitness Identification Reliability Evaluation – This forensic assessment evaluates the accuracy and reliability of an eyewitness identification in criminal investigations. It focuses on memory recall, suggestibility, perception under stress, and potential biases that can impact witness credibility and trial testimony.

Serves a variety of stakeholders, including attorneys, the intelligence community, military, law enforcement, and security professionals. Operational psychology is not healthcare related, although a foundational understanding of mental health related topics is paramount.

Operational psychology is relevant to clients across various settings, including the intelligence community, military, law enforcement, and security. Thus, a diverse professional background is warranted to competently conduct these specialized evaluations. Operational psychology is not health-care related, although a foundational understanding of mental health related topics is paramount. Tasks include personnel assessment and selection, performance enhancement, organizational consultation, intelligence and counterintelligence activities, operational consultation and interviewing, strategic communication, and threat assessment and management within the realms of national security, national defense, and public safety.

Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) – A real-time, dynamic, and ongoing indirect evaluation of a person(s) of concern (POC) who may be targeting a single or multiple known/unknown individuals, entities, etc. Consultation includes assessing the POC and implementing mitigation and management strategies at any point in a case. It is primarily guided by the available information at the time of consultation to implement interventions, within legal boundaries (HIPAA, FERPA, FCRA, etc.). A multidisciplinary approach is critical (legal, HR, security, mental health, etc.). The goal is preventing violence and assessing an ongoing process, not the creation of a product. BTAs address concerns in a variety of settings, including k-12, higher education, corporations, intimate partner violence, extremism, and more.

This field of study and work also involves a review of current practices and policies in place, rebuttal evaluations of prior BTAs conducted by other professionals, or the development of new threat assessment & management programs.

National Security Clearance – These evaluations consider a variety of traits considered pertinent and critical to individuals’ abilities to hold a security clearance and have access to sensitive information.

Fitness for Duty Evaluations  – The capability of performing the essential functions of a high-stakes or safety-sensitive role. They address concerns about judgment, behavior, or stability and provide clear recommendations regarding readiness to return to duty or need for intervention.

Investigative Assessment and National Security:
Bridging Needs with Expertise

In today’s security environment, organizations must address insider threats and behavioral threats of violence with methodical, evidence-informed analysis. My work focuses on aligning organizational needs with behavioral science practices, offering decision-makers actionable insights. Below, I outline the key areas where my expertise supports national security priorities, paired with examples of how this looks in practice.

Behavioral Evaluation Using Social Science Approaches: Comprehensive assessments of insider and behavioral risk.

I use established behavioral models and structured judgment methods to evaluate potential threats.

  • Using pathway-to-violence models and insider threat behavioral indicators to assess concerning changes in behavior.

  • Applying structured judgment tools to determine whether stressors and grievances may escalate into violence or insider risk.

Structured Responses to Leadership Inquiries (RFIs): Concise, evidence-based answers to critical security questions.

I prepare structured, research-informed responses that help leaders interpret behavior and risk.

  • Leadership may ask, “Is this employee’s behavior consistent with insider threat risk, or just workplace stress?” I provide a structured, evidence-backed analysis.

  • HR or security submits an RFI such as, “What are the behavioral implications of this incident?” I prepare a brief with risk levels and monitoring recommendations.

Analysis of Complex Data Sources: Meaningful insights drawn from diverse datasets.

I examine HR, IT, and security information to identify behavioral patterns that may indicate insider risk.

  • Reviewing IT logs, HR data, and security reports to detect patterns linked to insider threats.

  •  Pulling insights from a variety of data sources – attendance records, performance reviews, and complaints – to build a comprehensive behavioral profile.

Advancing New Programs and Training Initiatives: Evidence-based frameworks and practical tools for leaders and analysts.

I design training and advise programs on incorporating behavioral science into threat management systems.

  • Designing training about early behavioral red flags.

  • Advising insider threat programs to integrate behavioral science indicators into data-driven monitoring systems.

Integrating Intelligence with Behavioral Assessment: Well-rounded evaluations that combine multiple information streams.

I bring together behavioral indicators, organizational context, and intelligence reporting for more accurate assessments.

  • Integrating interview data, digital activity monitoring, and security reports into comprehensive assessments.

  • Cross-referencing traditional intelligence sources (e.g., clearance adjudication notes) with observed workplace behaviors to strengthen risk evaluation.

 
Through the integration of behavioral science, structured evaluation methods, and intelligence analysis, I provide organizations with the clarity they need to address insider threats and safeguard national security. This approach delivers not only precision and reliability but also actionable recommendations tailored to decision-makers.

 

Services in selection of jury members, witness preparation and interviewing, case preparation and presentation.

Direct contact with the person being evaluated is not always needed (i.e., assessing evidence to answer a certain psycho-legal question or seeking general impressions), or strategic planning (i.e., witness, plaintiff, defendant interviewing, or jury selection strategies).

Trial Consultation – Focuses on the full spectrum of litigation proceedings through the use of scientific expertise. For example, some tasks include aiding attorneys in the selection of jury members, witness preparation and interviewing, case preparation and presentation. The expert’s full attention is devoted to the trial with real-time, in-person, and immediate consultative services available.

Record Review/Indirect Assessment – Not all services warrant in-person evaluations for a variety of reasons (attorney discretion, available funds, etc.). Psychological expertise can contribute to these matters without direct involvement, to address ongoing criminal or civil proceedings (i.e., determining if there is enough evidence to answer a certain psycho-legal question or seeking general impressions), or strategic planning (i.e., witness, plaintiff, defendant interviewing, or jury selection strategies). The totality of the information available is reviewed through a scientific lens, to arrive at a professional opinion. This is in accordance with section 9.03 of the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology, Standard 9.01 of the APA Ethical Code, and Guidelines 5 & 8 of the APA Professional Practice Guidelines for Operational Psychology.