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How Behavioral History and Mental Health Are Documented for Civil and Criminal Cases

The documentation of behavioral history and mental health history in civil and criminal cases often involves forensic evaluations, psychiatric records, medical documentation, social history reports, educational records, and interviews that help courts understand a person’s psychological functioning over time. Courts, attorneys, and agencies frequently rely [Read more]

The Clinical Assessment Process in IMEs and CMEs

The assessment process in independent medical evaluations (IMEs) and compulsory medical evaluations (CMEs) involves reviewing medical and psychological records, conducting interviews and testing, and evaluating symptoms to form an objective opinion about an individual’s condition and level of impairment. These forensic psychological assessments are used [Read more]

What Attorneys Should Know About Forensic Psychological Reports

Forensic psychological reports are objective, evidence-based documents prepared to address specific legal questions. Attorneys should understand that these reports are based on sufficient factual basis developed through the application of reliable principles and methods. At Florida Forensic Psychology, we are qualified to prepare independent forensic [Read more]

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]

How Forensic Psychologists Maintain Ethical Standards in Court Cases

The ethical standards of forensic psychology are rooted in the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology, developed by the American Psychological Association (APA). These guidelines serve as a framework for professional conduct when psychological knowledge is applied to legal questions. Forensic psychologists are expected to maintain [Read more]