The psychologists at the Hope and Healing Institute are often called upon to conduct forensic evaluations and provide expert testimony in court. Frequently, attorneys retain the services of our clinicians as expert consultants to educate them and the court to the complexities and intricacies of human sexual behavior. The Institute offers forensic psychological evaluations of children who have or may have been abused. The task of the evaluation is to: find out what happened; evaluate the child for emotional disorders; and consider other possible explanations for these disorders. The clinicians at the Institute pursue these objectives in a sensitive manner and take care not to retraumatize the child. The clinicians are supportive to family members and keep an accurate record that will be useful in possible court proceedings.
Assessment of Child Victims of Abuse:
If you suspect a child may be the victim of sexual abuse, the best course of action is to learn if your local community has an organization equipped to respond to the needs of the child. In western Michigan, the Institute works collaboratively with the Children's Assessment Center (www.cac-kent.org) The Children's Assessment Center is comprised of a team of multidisciplinary professionals including assessment and crisis counselors, a forensic interviewer, a medical team, police detectives, and child protective services. If such an organization does not exist in your community, you should contact legal authorities such as the police and child protective services.
At the Hope and Healing Institute, our clinicians provide an array of psychological services intended to help the victim and his or her family cope with the impact of the discovery of abuse and to ameliorate or prevent the development of short and long-term psychological problems. The development of these services is guided by two prevailing assumptions: 1) that abuse almost always results in conditions that can and should be treated; and 2) that the amount and timing of treatment correlates with the likelihood of success. Treatment programs are designed to reduce acute responses to the abuse and to prevent the onset of negative short- and long-term effects that may disrupt the child’s social, emotional, and personality development.
The psychologists at the Hope and Healing Institute are often called upon to conduct assessments related to sex offending. The request for such evaluations come from a variety of sources such as: individuals who voluntarily seek assessment and treatment; attorneys who inquire about sex offender assessment for a client; and court referrals seeking professional guidance before sentencing or before release to address specific questions about recidivism and amenability to treatment.
For persons who have been accused of a sex offense, a psychological evaluation is particularly helpful. The task of the evaluation is to provide the court with insight in regard to the psychological factors which may have contributed to the situation. The assessment will assess the presence of psychopathology, intellectual capacity, personality disturbances, organicity, and substance abuse. The assessment involves an extensive clinical interview. Our psychologists also use psychological testing as an adjunctive way to understand the variety of dynamics involved.
A defendant to a charge of criminal sexual conduct is presumed competent to stand trial. A defendant can be determined incompetent if he/she is incapable (due to a mental condition) of understanding the nature and object of the proceedings against the defendant or of assisting his/her defense in a rational manner. The assessment assists the court in determining the capacity of a defendant to assist in his/her defense or ability to perform reasonable necessary tasks in preparation for, or during, the trial.
This evaluation frequently goes hand-in-hand with criminal competency. The primary question is whether individuals can conform their behavior to the guidelines of the law or are able to understand right from wrong. If, due to serious mental illness or intellectual impairment, individuals cannot be held responsible for their behavior, they may be considered legally insane. This assessment generally combines careful review of all pertinent police, medical, and evaluative reports. This assessment is often introduced as evidence in the courtroom.
For more information, please contact us, info@hopeandhealinginstitute.com