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Forensic Mental Health Evaluations
Changing Lanes offers specialized forensic mental health evaluations that comply with court orders; and also conducts privately-requested evaluations. The impartial assessments can be administered in person, or virtually for added convenience. They are affordable and valid to aid in legal matters.
Evaluations are conducted by a Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator and employ evidenced-based clinical assessments, credible reporting, interviews of collateral contacts, and other collaborative information.
Examples of evaluations that can be used inside and outside the legal arena, include:
Conservatorship
To gain clarity about the cognitive and emotional capacity of an adult or child to manage his or her affairs. There also are evaluations to help determine if a guardian is needed due to factors such as mental illness, cognitive decline and/or an intellectual disability.
Parental fitness for child custody
To help determine if a parent or potential guardian is able to care for a child. Aside from assessing an adult´s mental stability, the evaluation also looks into the individual´s capability to provide a safe environment for the child or children involved.
Parenting Coordination
Typically a court-ordered service in cases involving high-conflict parents. The mental health evaluator combines services including dispute resolution, education, and case management to implement parenting plans after divorce or separation.
Substance Abuse
Used to validate and confirm severity, risk factors, and recommendations for treatment. Uses off-site drug testing screenings with a laboratory.
Immigration
Can help assess psychological harm in cases of abuse or past trauma, including from crimes such as human trafficking, physical or sexual abuse. The evaluations can offer support and add credence to legal cases, including when deportation is being considered.
Competency Evaluation
An in-depth assessment to help determine if a person is mentally fit to stand trial. The process includes clinical interviews, reviews of medical and legal records, and psychological testing to determine if an individual will be able to comprehend legal proceedings, comply with his or her lawyer, or assist with his or her own defense.
Criminal Responsibility
To evaluate details of a crime in-depth to gauge the emotional state/stability of the person charged and help determine if criminal responsibility can be assigned. Assessments include interviews to understand one´s mental state at the time the crime took place, including whether substances were a factor. Incidents of past trauma and substance use history are also considered to determine if a person is competent to stand trial, waive certain rights, and understand charges presented.
Workplace Readiness/Fitness
for Duty
(Available upon request)
Can help assess the ability or fitness of an employee to start a new position, or return to a previous role. An example is a case where a first responder may have experienced a traumatic event and is preparing to come back from leave.
Personal Injury Forensic Comprehensive Assessment
Can be useful to determine how an injury occurred, the extent of the injury, and how it can impact an individual's functioning for legal decisions.
Service | Retainer Rate |
|---|---|
Incapacity Evaluation | *$3,500 Retainer ($250 per hour) |
Substance Abuse | *$5,000 Retainer ($250 per hour) |
Fitness for Duty Evaluation | $750 per evaluation |
Pre-employment mental health evaluation | $350 per evaluation |
Workman Compensation Counseling | $250 per hour |
Deposition | *$500 per hour (3-hour minimum retainer to be paid
no later than Two-Weeks prior to deposition) |
Travel | $200 per hour – portal to portal |
**Independent Expert Testimony** | **$500 per hour, plus all expenses accrued during travel |
*Expert Testimony for Social
Investigation/PC | *$500 per hour (3-hour minimum to be paid no later than Two-Weeks prior to initial interview) |
Telephone/Email Time | $200 per hour (based on 15-minute blocks) |
Review of Pertinent Data | $250 per hour |
Consultation Fee | $250 per hour |
Psychosexual Evaluation | $6,000 Retainer ($250 per hour) |
Conservatorship and/or Competency Evaluation | $5,000 Retainer ($250 per hour) |
Forensic Mental Health Evaluation | $5,000 Retainer ($250 per hour) |
Parenting Coordination (PC) | $5,000 Retainer ($250 per hour)
|
Immigration Evaluation | $1,500 Retainer ($250 per hour) |
Parent Custody/Social Investigation | $6,000 Retainer (based on $250 per hour) |
Please note:
Services are available to be contracted at a fixed fee or subject to cost above.
For the services that have a retainer fee, any outstanding balance on the fee will be charged at the onset of the first session. If depositions are held in the provider’s offices, there shall be a 3-hour minimum, included in the retainer fee. The retainer fee is non-refundable regardless of circumstances. The remainder of the balance of fees is due prior to the completion of the written report, deposition or trial.
The forensic evaluator does not guarantee any outcomes, and is performing a clinically-unbiased evaluation.
*Expert testimony related to Social Investigations and Parenting Coordination
**Independent Expert testimony related to services as an expert outside of Social Investigation and Parenting Coordination.