Evaluations

EVALUATIONS

Evaluations are written so that the Client is portrayed through a compelling narrative, where a personal life history is created to contexualize your Client’s behavior in the instant offense. Assessments are conducted to determine whether other evaluations (i.e. Neuropsychological, Competency) are necessary. Taking into consideration the Client’s strengths and weaknesses in formulating recommendations to the Court, the evaluation will help the judge and/or jury to understand why your Client did what they did, and what will help to prevent them from doing it again, helping to propose a sentence that is sufficient, but not greater than necessary. Evaluations consider:

Childhood history
Family background and hardships
Trauma and/or abuse history
Educational and/or work history
Results of psychological testing
Mental health issues/diagnoses and undiagnosed mental illness
Brain damage and/or cognitive impairment
Drug/Alcohol use or addiction
Generational patterns
Gang affiliation
Community violence
Poverty
Systemic failure
Toxic environments
Situational stressors leading up to the crime
Positive roles in current relationships, the community, and employment
Positive adjustment to prison
Client’s remorse, growth and aspirations

Evaluations are individually tailored from your referral question and may include: introductory letter; reason for referral; thorough mental status exam; childhood and/or adult psychosocial history; pertinent psychiatric, medical and substance abuse history; collateral interviews; information surrounding the instant offense; assessment and testing interpretation; relevant psychological research; analysis and summary; sentencing considerations and recommendations