Forensic Evaluations in New York
Forensic psychological evaluations are specialized assessments conducted by licensed psychologists or qualified mental health professionals to answer specific legal questions. These evaluations are not therapy, they are impartial, evidence-based tools designed to assist the legal system by providing expert psychological insight.
The specific focus of the evaluation depends entirely on the legal question at hand. Below are some examples of the types of evaluations we conduct.
Whether requested by the prosecution or the defense, our role is to remain objective and provide findings grounded in clinical data and professional standards. Each evaluation is tailored to the legal context and may involve:
Clinical Interviews: We conduct in-depth interviews with the individual being evaluated, gathering information about their history, current functioning, and relevant psychological factors.
Psychological Testing: We may administer standardized and validated psychological tests to assess various aspects of their cognitive abilities, personality, mental health symptoms, and risk factors. These might include intelligence tests, personality inventories, symptom checklists, and specialized risk assessment tools.
Review of Records: We carefully examine relevant documents such as police reports, medical records, school records, witness statements, and depositions to gain a comprehensive understanding of the case and the individual's history.
Collateral Interviews: When appropriate and permitted, we may interview family members, friends, or other individuals who can provide relevant information about the person being evaluated.
Meet the Experts
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Eugenia Dubus Ph.D.
FOUNDER
Dr. Dubus is a Forensic Psychologist specializing in mental health and criminal justice. She conducts forensic evaluations in criminal, civil, and immigration cases. Bilingual in Spanish and English, she specializes in risk assessments, mental state evaluations, and malingering assessments.
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Kate Romero, Ph.D.
POST DOCTORAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Dr. Romero is a Forensic Psychologist specializing in suicide and violence risk assessments, competency evaluations, and forensic treatment planning. Her experience includes conducting psychological evaluations and providing treatment in maximum-security prisons and specialized sex offender facilities.
While a lot of case-specific variables affect the timing and nature of how a forensic assessment proceeds, this is generally what it looks like to work with our team:
Forensic Evaluation Process
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Look over our retainer agreement and sign when you’re ready. At this point, your case will be assigned to one of our team members based on the specifics.
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Share all relevant records with us. These may include mental health and medical records, rap sheets, charging documents, witness testimony, grand jury transcripts, other expert reports, or anything else. It is highly preferable to have enough time to review the records prior to our meeting with the evaluate to ensure we get the most out of the time we have with them.
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The assigned clinician will meet with the evaluee for an interview. Depending on the logistics, anywhere from 1 to 3 meetings may be necessary. In certain cases, some evaluee’s are slow to engage with the evaluation process and more time is necessary.
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If it is determined that psychological testing is necessary, we will conduct the testing at this point in the process.
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We will reach out to collateral sources (e.g. family members, friends) to gather more information about the evaluee.
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We will collect all the information we gathered, discuss preliminary impressions with you, and proceed with producing a report.
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The assigned clinician will schedule a conference with the attorney to discuss the findings.
*If you are a licensed professional or practitioner, or would like to refer a client, please schedule a time to speak with us here.