Vident Partners provides vetted forensic psychology expert witnesses for cases involving competency evaluations, criminal sentencing mitigation, violence risk assessment, and psychological injury evaluation in civil litigation. Request a referral today.
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Forensic psychologists apply psychological principles to legal questions. In criminal cases, they assess competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, violence risk, and mitigation factors for sentencing. In civil cases, they evaluate psychological injury, emotional distress, fitness for duty, and child custody. Unlike forensic psychiatrists, forensic psychologists rely primarily on standardized psychological testing and behavioral assessment rather than medical diagnosis and medication management.
Case Types
Competency to stand trial evaluations
Criminal sentencing mitigation and risk assessment
Psychological injury and emotional distress evaluation
Child custody and parenting capacity assessment
Violence risk and threat assessment
Qualifications
Related Specialties
FAQ
Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Forensic psychologists apply psychological knowledge to legal questions, conducting evaluations specifically designed to address legal standards such as competency, criminal responsibility, or psychological damages. Their work product is designed for courtroom use.
Forensic psychologists are retained in criminal cases for competency and sanity evaluations, in civil litigation for emotional distress and psychological injury claims, in family court for custody evaluations, and in employment cases for harassment and discrimination claims involving psychological harm.
In general, forensic expert fees are determined by the expert themselves, based on a variety of criteria. Among those criteria are professional experience, forensic casework, academic qualifications, certifications, and publications. Vident does have some influence over expert fees by comparing experts within a specialty, but ultimately it is a personal decision by the expert.
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