Purpose:
- To provide an unbiased, professional opinion to the court about the mental health, behavior, and risk factors of both the victim and the alleged abuser.
- Helps the court make informed decisions regarding custody, visitation, protection orders, or sentencing.
Who Conducts It:
- A psychiatrist, psychologist, or forensic mental health expert who is independent of both parties.
- They do not advocate for either side—they evaluate facts, behavior, and risk objectively.
Process:
- Interview and observation of both the victim and the alleged abuser.
- Review of records: medical, psychiatric, legal, and sometimes social history.
- Behavioral assessment: examining patterns of aggression, control, trauma, or mental illness.
- Risk evaluation: potential for future harm to self, victim, or children.
- Written report and/or testimony: submitted to the court as an expert, clinical opinion.
Key Features:
- Unbiased: The clinician’s role is to provide factual, evidence-based findings, not to support either party’s narrative.
- Behavior-focused: Opinions are grounded in observed behavior, history, and clinical assessment tools.
- Influential in court decisions: Reports often guide judges on custody, protective measures, and treatment recommendations.
