Court-Ordered Forensic Psychological Evaluations

Expert Psychological Assessment and consultation for Family, Criminal, and Civil Legal Proceedings

Dr. Long & Associates offers authoritative psychological evaluations and expert services to courts, attorneys, and litigants across the nation. With over 300 forensic evaluations conducted for federal agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Defense (DOD), and Child Welfare agencies (CPS) and (DSS), our team provides court-admissible psychological findings that adhere to the highest standards of forensic practice.

Through secure PSYPACT telehealth authorization, we conduct forensic psychological evaluations in 42 states and jurisdictions, ensuring expert services are available regardless of your location.

Whether you require a comprehensive child custody evaluation, competency assessment, psychological injury documentation, or strategic consultation under attorney-client privilege, our specialized approach combines clinical expertise with deep understanding of legal standards and requirements.

Ready to Proceed? Request Your Evaluation Now

If you already know which service you need—or if you're unsure and would like professional guidance—our streamlined intake process makes getting started simple.

Complete our Service Request Form with as much information as possible, and you'll receive a detailed response from Dr. Long's team within 24-48 hours, including service recommendations and next steps tailored to your specific case needs.

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Explore Our Forensic Psychological Services FAQ

Our accordion sections provide detailed information about our forensic psychological services across different legal domains. Select the section that addresses your specific needs to learn how Dr. Long & Associates can strengthen your case with evidence-based psychological expertise.

  • Dr. Long & Associates stands as a nationally recognized leader in forensic psychological evaluations, combining academic excellence with extensive practical experience in legal settings.

    Leadership & Expertise: Dr. Lisa Long, Psy.D., Owner and Psychological Director, brings unparalleled expertise to every evaluation. As both a practicing forensic psychologist and active researcher, she contributes to the academic foundation of forensic psychology. Dr. Long has conducted approximately 300 forensic psychological evaluations at the request of federal agencies including the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Social Services (DSS), and Child Protective Services (CPS). Her work at a maximum-security Forensic Psychiatric State Hospital involved evaluating complex psychiatric disorders and testifying on critical psycholegal questions including involuntary commitments, trial competency, criminal responsibility, and risk assessments. Dr. Long has particularly dedicated her expertise to family law, conducting approximately 140 parental fitness evaluations for courts nationwide. Her ongoing presentations at professional conferences like the American Academy of Forensic Sciences demonstrate her commitment to advancing evidence-based practices in forensic psychology.

    Proven Track Record:

    • 500+ forensic evaluations completed across criminal, family, and civil court proceedings

    • 12+ years of specialized experience in court-ordered psychological assessments

    • Expert witness testimony in federal, state, and military courts

    • Regular consultation with attorneys on complex legal cases

    • Featured forensic expert on national media, including Nancy Grace's Crime Stories podcast

    Quality Assurance & Training: Dr. Long personally trains all clinicians within the practice, ensuring consistent adherence to legal standards and forensic best practices. This rigorous internal training program guarantees that every evaluation meets the highest professional standards required by courts nationwide.

  • Dr. Long & Associates provides comprehensive psychological evaluations for family court proceedings, each tailored to address specific legal questions and statutory requirements:

    Child Custody & Parenting Time Evaluations: Objective assessments of parental fitness, parent-child relationships, and recommendations for custody and visitation arrangements that serve the best interests of the child. Our approach examines parental mental health, parenting skills, child development needs, and family dynamics.

    Parental Capacity/Fitness Evaluations: In-depth assessments of a parent's psychological functioning, parenting abilities, and capacity to provide appropriate care for their children. These evaluations are often requested in child welfare cases, custody disputes, or when questions about parental competence arise.

    Parental Alienation Assessments: Specialized evaluations to identify dynamics of parental alienation, where one parent undermines the child's relationship with the other parent. Our assessments provide evidence-based analysis of family interactions, manipulation tactics, and recommendations for intervention.

    Parent Coordinator Support Services: While not strictly an evaluation service, Dr. Long & Associates offers psychological expertise to support court-appointed parent coordinators in high-conflict custody cases.

    Comprehensive Clinical Assessments (CCA): Thorough evaluations of family systems, often ordered in cases involving allegations of abuse, neglect, or when complex family dynamics require professional assessment.

    Each family court evaluation incorporates standardized psychological testing, clinical interviews, behavioral observations, and review of relevant records to provide courts with objective, evidence-based findings that assist in making sound legal determinations regarding family matters.Description text goes here

  • Dr. Long & Associates provides specialized psychological evaluations for criminal proceedings, delivering court-admissible findings that address specific legal questions:

    Competency to Stand Trial Evaluations: Assess a defendant's current mental state and ability to understand court proceedings, work with attorneys, and participate in their own defense—a constitutional requirement before criminal prosecution can proceed.

    Criminal Responsibility/Insanity Evaluations: Determine whether, at the time of the alleged offense, a mental disease or defect prevented the defendant from understanding the nature or wrongfulness of their actions, potentially supporting an insanity defense.

    Mitigating Circumstances Evaluations: Identify psychological, developmental, and social factors that may constitute mitigating circumstances during sentencing, potentially resulting in reduced sentences or alternative sentencing options.

    Psychosexual Risk Assessments: Comprehensive evaluations of individuals charged with or convicted of sexual offenses to assess recidivism risk, treatment needs, and recommendations for supervision and management.

    Military Court-Martial Evaluations: Specialized assessments for military personnel facing court-martial proceedings, addressing unique aspects of military justice and service-related factors.

    All criminal court evaluations include comprehensive psychological testing, clinical interviews, extensive review of legal and medical records, and evidence-based assessment of relevant legal standards. Our reports translate complex psychological findings into clear, court-admissible language that directly addresses the legal questions at hand.

  • Dr. Long & Associates provides specialized psychological evaluations for civil litigation matters, delivering expert assessment and testimony to support various legal proceedings:

    Psychological Injury Evaluations: Comprehensive assessment of emotional and psychological damages resulting from accidents, workplace incidents, medical malpractice, or other negligent acts. These evaluations document the nature, extent, and causation of psychological injuries for personal injury claims and civil lawsuits.

    Testamentary Capacity Evaluations: Assessment of an individual's psychological capacity to make a valid will or trust, understanding the nature and extent of their property, the natural objects of their bounty, and the disposition they are making of their property.

    Fitness for Duty Evaluations: Determination of whether an employee is psychologically capable of performing essential job functions, particularly in high-risk occupations or following workplace incidents that raise concerns about psychological functioning.

    Employment Litigation Support: Psychological assessment related to workplace discrimination, harassment, or hostile work environment claims, documenting psychological impact and establishing causation between workplace conditions and psychological harm.

  • Dr. Long & Associates offers three distinct forms of expert services to legal professionals, each designed to meet specific case needs and strategic objectives:

    1. Court-Appointed Evaluator

    In this role, Dr. Long serves as an independent, objective evaluator appointed by the court or jointly by parties to conduct comprehensive psychological evaluations. This traditional forensic role involves:

    • Multi-method assessment approach including clinical interviews, psychological testing, and records review

    • Comprehensive written reports submitted directly to the court

    • Neutral, objective findings serving the trier of fact rather than any particular party

    • Expert testimony based on first-hand evaluation data

    • Adherence to strict forensic protocols and ethical guidelines

    This service is appropriate when courts require an impartial psychological evaluation from a qualified expert with no allegiance to either party.

    2. Expert Witness Services

    When attorneys require expert testimony but not a full court-ordered evaluation, Dr. Long provides specialized expert witness services including:

    • Document Review & Case Analysis: Comprehensive psychological review of case materials, including medical records, prior evaluations, and treatment notes

    • Rebuttal Testimony: Critical analysis of opposing expert reports and testimony, identifying methodological flaws, bias, or alternative interpretations

    • Professional Opinions: Evidence-based conclusions on specific psycholegal questions based on record review

    • Expert Courtroom Testimony: Clear, authoritative explanation of psychological concepts to judges and juries that withstands rigorous cross-examination

    While retained by one party, Dr. Long maintains professional objectivity, basing opinions solely on scientific evidence and professional standards.

    3. Non-Testifying Consultant (Attorney-Client Privileged)

    Perhaps the most valuable yet underutilized service, Dr. Long's role as a non-testifying consultant provides attorneys with privileged psychological expertise throughout the litigation process:

    • Strategic Case Analysis: Expert psychological perspective on case strengths, weaknesses, and strategy development

    • Expert Witness Preparation: Development of effective direct and cross-examination questions for psychological witnesses

    • Psychological Education: Clear explanation of relevant psychological concepts, research, and implications for your specific case

    • Opposing Expert Analysis: Identification of vulnerabilities in opposing expert methodology, interpretations, and conclusions

    • Trial Preparation Support: Assistance with psychological aspects of jury selection, witness preparation, and development of demonstrative exhibits

    As a non-testifying consultant, Dr. Long works directly with the attorney under attorney-client privilege, allowing for candid discussions and strategic guidance without the constraints of potential testimony. This role is invaluable across family law, civil litigation, and criminal defense cases where psychological factors play a significant role.

    Learn more about how Dr. Long can support your legal strategy:

  • Dr. Long & Associates provides court-ordered psychological evaluations under two specific circumstances:

    1. Existing Court Order: If a judge has already ordered a psychological evaluation, we require a copy of this order to proceed. Our Nationwide Evaluation Request Form includes an option to upload this document directly.

    2. Attorney Representation Without Existing Order: If you are represented by an attorney but do not yet have a court order, we can:

    • Conduct an evaluation in anticipation of an eventual court order

    • Work with attorneys from both sides to develop consent order language

    • Provide guidance on appropriate evaluation parameters for your specific case

    Important: Court-ordered evaluations require either an existing court order or attorney representation. We cannot conduct forensic evaluations for self-represented individuals without court documentation.

    Our Streamlined Process:

    1. Complete our 👉Nationwide Evaluation Request Form (upload court order if available)

  • Dr. Long & Associates provides nationwide forensic psychological evaluations through PSYPACT authorization (APIT License Number 8593), serving clients seeking expert court-aligned assessments in 42 participating states via secure telehealth.

    Major Jurisdictions Served: Whether you're a defense attorney, court liaison, or individual searching for a forensic psychologist near you in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Phoenix, Seattle, or Charlotte, our licensed experts conduct court-ordered and legally-defensible evaluations remotely.

    Comprehensive State Coverage for Forensic Evaluations:

    Southeast Region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia — providing services for competency evaluations, criminal mitigation, and parental fitness matters

    Midwest & Mountain Region: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada — supporting public defenders, agencies, and court systems in need of expert psycholegal input

    Northeast & Western Region: Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming — conducting evaluations including psychological injury, risk assessments, and family law matters

    Additional Jurisdictions: District of Columbia, Oklahoma, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands