Forensic Psychological Assessments & Court Reports
I provide psychological services for legal and forensic matters, including forensic psychological assessments, court reports, violence risk assessments, sexual offence risk assessments, and psychological treatment for individuals who have engaged in, or are concerned about, harmful or offending behaviour.
Based in Melbourne, I accept referrals from solicitors, legal representatives, individuals and other organisations seeking psychological assessment or treatment within a forensic or legal context.
Services are tailored to the purpose of the referral and are provided within my professional scope of practice. The nature of an assessment, the information required and the type of report provided will depend on the referral question and circumstances of the matter.
A forensic psychological assessment is undertaken to address specific questions relevant to legal proceedings. Depending on the referral, this may involve consideration of an individual's mental health, psychological functioning, offending behaviour, treatment needs, rehabilitation, risk factors and protective factors.
Reports may address areas including:
Mental health and psychological functioning relevant to the proceedings
Psychological diagnosis and clinical formulation
Psychosocial and developmental history
The relationship between psychological factors and offending behaviour
Treatment and rehabilitation needs
Factors associated with offending and recidivism
Violence risk
Sexual offending risk
Risk-management considerations
Strengths and protective factors relevant to rehabilitation
The precise scope of the assessment is established before the assessment proceeds. Where a particular question cannot be appropriately or reliably addressed from a psychological perspective, or where the available information is insufficient to support an opinion, this will be identified.
Psychological court reports are prepared in response to the specific questions raised by the instructing solicitor or referring party.
Depending on the matter, a report may assist the court by providing psychological information relevant to an individual's mental health, behaviour, circumstances, treatment needs or risk-related factors. The role of the psychologist is to provide a professional psychological opinion rather than to determine the legal outcome of the matter.
Where possible, solicitors are encouraged to provide a letter of instruction outlining the questions to be addressed, together with relevant documentation. This may include court documents, antecedents or criminal history, previous psychological or psychiatric reports, medical records and other information relevant to the assessment.
The Forensic Assessment Process
The assessment process varies according to the referral question. A forensic psychological assessment may include:
Review of the letter of instruction and relevant legal, clinical and background material
Clinical and forensic psychological interview
Assessment of mental health and psychological functioning
Psychometric or psychological assessment where appropriate
Review of relevant collateral information
Consideration of developmental, psychosocial and offending history
Structured assessment of risk-related factors where indicated
Psychological formulation
Consideration of treatment, rehabilitation and risk-management needs
Where structured assessment instruments or structured professional judgement approaches are appropriate, their selection is guided by the nature of the referral, the available information and the purpose of the assessment.
No psychological or risk assessment can predict future behaviour with certainty. Risk-related opinions are considered in the context of the available information, relevant risk and protective factors, and the limitations of the assessment.
Violence Risk Assessment
A violence risk assessment may be requested where there are concerns regarding previous, current or potential violent or aggressive behaviour.
Assessment may consider factors associated with an individual's history of violence, current psychological functioning, patterns of behaviour, situational factors, treatment needs, protective factors and circumstances that may increase or decrease the likelihood of future violence.
Where appropriate, structured approaches may be incorporated alongside clinical assessment, review of relevant documentation and professional judgement.
General Offending & Recidivism Assessment
Forensic assessment may also consider factors associated with general offending and recidivism.
Depending on the referral question, assessment may examine patterns of offending, criminogenic and psychosocial factors, substance use, interpersonal functioning, behavioural regulation, attitudes, treatment engagement and factors that may support rehabilitation.
The assessment may also identify areas that could be considered when developing treatment or risk-management plans.
Sexual Offence Risk Assessment
I also undertake sexual offence risk assessments where consideration of sexual offending behaviour and associated risk factors forms part of the referral question.
Assessment may consider the nature and pattern of previous behaviour, sexual and relationship history, psychological functioning, relevant sexual interests or behaviours, attitudes and beliefs, self-regulation, treatment history, environmental circumstances and identified protective factors.
Where appropriate, recognised structured approaches to sexual offending risk may be incorporated as part of a broader psychological assessment.
The assessment approach is determined on a case-by-case basis and depends on factors including the referral question, offence history, available documentation and the individual's circumstances.