Forensic, Legal and Court Ordered Evaluations in Tarrant County
Jeff Gallup, MA LPC-S NCC CFMHE, is one of Texas's few professionals with the Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator (CFMHE) credential. This certification is gained through additional training in forensic evaluation and having specific expertise in evaluating both adults and children involved with the legal system. Jeff has specialized knowledge in forensic mental health, which applies mental health principles and concepts to the legal system. Forensic services include mental health assessment, consultation, treatment, and expert testimony.
Services include comprehensive mental health evaluations for adolescents and adults involved in the criminal, civil, and family law legal systems.
People in both juvenile and adult justice systems often have undiagnosed mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions. Assessments help identify issues related to childhood trauma, mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD), developmental immaturity, intellectual disabilities or borderline intellectual functioning, learning disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Because of extensive expertise, training, and knowledge in assessment and treatment, Jeff can provide specialized testing requiring expert evaluation of disability, mental health diagnosis, loss of function, a risk to self or community, and other forensic issues.
Mental health forensic assessments are evaluations that are conducted to provide insight into legal cases. These assessments are typically conducted by professionals who have specialized training in forensic psychology.
There are many different types of forensic assessments, including competency evaluations, criminal responsibility evaluations, and risk assessments. Competency evaluations are conducted to determine if an individual has the mental capacity to stand trial or participate in legal proceedings. Criminal responsibility evaluations are conducted to determine if an individual had the mental capacity to understand the nature and consequences of their actions at the time of a crime. Risk assessments are conducted to evaluate the potential risk that an individual may pose to society or themselves.
Forensic assessments are conducted using a variety of tools and techniques, including mental health testing, clinical interviews, and behavioral observations. These evaluations are conducted with the utmost care and attention to detail, as they can have significant implications for legal proceedings and the lives of those involved.
In addition to providing insight into legal cases, forensic assessments can also be used to inform treatment and intervention strategies. For example, a risk assessment may help healthcare providers develop a treatment plan that addresses an individual's risk factors and helps to mitigate potential harm.
It is important to note that assessments must be conducted by qualified and experienced professionals who adhere to strict ethical guidelines. These guidelines help to ensure that the assessments are conducted in a fair and unbiased manner and that the results are reliable and valid.
When completing forensic evaluations, a collaborative approach is used to work with the client, their family, mental health treatment providers, and attorneys. These assessments can assist with the following:
Treatment Recommendations
Rehabilitation
Competency to Stand Trial
Mitigation
Capacity to Waive Miranda Rights
Regional Center Referrals
Suitable Placements
Child Abuse and Neglect
Civil Commitment
Criminal Responsibility
Personal Injury
Substance Abuse/Addiction
Suicidal Risk Assessment
Violent Risk Assessment
