These evaluations are almost exclusively at the request of the court, a government agency, or a defendant’s attorney. The overall purpose is to determine specifically how psychological factors impacted the commission of the crime and issues related to recidivism. Some examples of these types of evaluations include:
- Competency to stand trial (referred to as 730s in N.Y.)
- Use of the insanity defense
- Risk of future related issues
- Probation/parole hearings
The evaluation process typically includes the following:
- Review of records
- Extensive clinical interview
- Psychological testing
- Collateral interviews (if applicable)
- Detailed report including any applicable diagnoses, treatment recommendations and expert psychological opinion