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The Difference Between Clinical Therapy and Forensic Immigration Evaluations

Clinical therapy and forensic immigration evaluations both involve psychological expertise, but they serve fundamentally different purposes. Clinical therapy focuses on treatment and recovery within a confidential patient–clinician relationship, while a forensic immigration evaluation is an objective psychological assessment prepared for use in legal proceedings. Although [Read more]

How Psychologists Assess Criminal Responsibility (Insanity Evaluations)

Forensic psychologists assess criminal responsibility through insanity evaluations. The sanity evaluations are done by examining whether a severe mental illness affected a defendant’s capacity to understand or control their actions at the time of an alleged offense (standards of sanity vary across jurisdictions). This forensic [Read more]

What Is a Forensic Psychologist and What Do They Do?

A forensic psychologist is a licensed psychologist who applies principles of clinical assessment and psychological science within legal cases. Their role involves conducting impartial evaluations and offering objective opinions in cases involving civil, criminal, and immigration matters. At Florida Forensic Psychology, we are a team [Read more]

Independent Medical Evaluations (IMEs): What to Expect from a Psychological Assessment

Independent medical evaluations typically include an in-depth clinical interview, psychological testing, and a review of relevant records. What individuals can expect is a structured, impartial process aimed at understanding their psychological functioning. Whether requested for a personal injury claim, immigration petition, criminal case, or civil [Read more]

How Is Competency to Stand Trial Assessed?

A defendant’s competency to stand trial is assessed through a semi-structured forensic psychological evaluation that examines their present mental condition to determine whether they have the capacity to participate in criminal proceedings. Generally, this process evaluates whether the individual can understand the charges against them [Read more]

The Role of Forensic Psychological Evaluations in Criminal Cases

Forensic psychological evaluations in criminal cases generally help courts understand a defendant’s mental state as it relates to legal questions. These evaluations provide psychological insight that can inform decisions about competency, criminal responsibility, and sentencing, among others. While the reasons for requesting these evaluations vary, [Read more]