Forensic Examinations & Forensic Psychological Services
Both Dr. Roy Etheridge and Dr. Mary Anne Etheridge have rich forensic backgrounds and offer specific evaluations, forensic consulting, and expert testimony. Both doctors have testified as expert witnesses in state and federal cases across North Carolina. Forensic services are not health care services and are not covered by health insurance.
Criminal Cases: Court-Ordered Evaluations, Consultation, and Expert Testimony
Our forensic psychologists are experienced in examinations of individuals accused of criminal offenses, particularly sexual offenses, violent offenses, and homicide.
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psychosexual or sex offender specific evaluations (SOSE)
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sex offender risk assessment
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violence risk assessment
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competency to stand trial
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criminal responsibility
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capacity to proceed
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evaluation of potentially mitigating factors
We travel to jails, prisons, attorneys' offices, and other locations throughout North Carolina for our forensic services. We offer consultation services to attorneys as well as expert witness testimony.
We are approved to provide forensic psychological services for indigent defendants with North Carolina Indigent Defense Services (NCIDS).
Other Forensic Services
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civil litigants seeking compensation for psychological damages
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attorney consultation
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veterans seeking benefits for PTSD or another mental health condition related to their military service
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fitness-for-duty evaluations, such as psychological evaluations required by employers after an incident at work or school
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worker's compensation and mental health disability cases
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immigration
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guardianship and conservatorship evaluations
We do not offer forensic services relating to: divorce, parental capacity, child custody, or child protective services. We do evaluate individuals charged with a criminal child abuse or child sex offense.
Descriptions of Our Forensic Services
General Forensic Psychological Examination
A mental health evaluation/assessment aimed at determining whether the assessed individual suffers from any mental disorder, psychological symptoms, or personality characteristics that may impact the legal issue at hand.
Psychosexual Examination with Risk Assessment
For individuals who have been charged with a sexual offense. A psychological examination that assesses the individual’s overall mental health as well as a detailed assessment of the individual’s sexual history, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Additionally, the psychologist assesses the risk of committing future sex offenses.
Violence Risk Assessment
This is a forensic psychological examination that is aimed at assessing an individual’s overall mental health as well as determining the risk that the individual will engage in violent behavior in the future. May be requested by an attorney, court, school, or employer.
Guardianship Evaluation
A guardianship evaluation is done when it is suspected that an adult lacks the mental/psychological ability to care for themselves, handle their own finances, or make other important decisions. This evaluation is typically ordered by a court or recommended by an attorney.
Immigration Evaluation
When an individual is seeking to be allowed to remain in the U.S. legally and there are psychological or psychosocial factors that may impact the government’s decision, an immigration evaluation can be helpful.
Fitness for Duty Examination
This type of examination is usually requested by the individual’s school, college, workplace, or church. It can be requested as a pre-employment condition in high-risk jobs such as police officer, security guard, or church official. A fitness for duty examination may also be requested if the individual was involved in an incident at work or school or if the individual has displayed behaviors that raise concerns.
Worker's Comp/Disability Evaluation
This type of evaluation typically involves a psychological evaluation and testing of the individual to assist in a Worker's Compensation or disability claim. We do not determine whether you qualify for benefits. VA examinations vary - please call our office for more information.
Consultation Services
Forensic psychologists may be hired by attorneys to consult on a case. Examples include educating the attorney about a client’s mental illness, assisting in jury selection or trial, or critiquing another psychologist’s work.
Court Testimony
We may be asked to testify in court as an expert regarding an examination we have conducted. The examination report may be read out loud in open court, and we must answer questions about the report and what transpired during conversations with the subject and any other individual. We may be asked to discuss our knowledge regarding the research in a specific area of psychology as it relates to the subject. We may also be asked to educate the court on a specific mental health-related topic.
Frequently Asked Questions about Forensic Examinations
What is a forensic examination?
In short, a forensic examination or forensic evaluation is any psychological evaluation that is related to a legal proceeding. This includes court-ordered psychological assessments, violence risk assessments, parenting capacity evaluations, competency to stand trial examinations, guardianship evaluations, or any other examination related to a civil or criminal legal proceeding. Psychologists also provide services other than forensic examinations, such as attorney consultation, expert witness testimony for the purpose of educating the court about a specific psychological matter, and fact witness services.
Certain services are considered to be forensic psychological services that do not involve the court system at all. These include Worker's Compensation examinations, disability evaluations, fitness evaluations for police applicants and other public service applicants, and Veteran's Administration evaluations. These are legal-related evaluations that do not typically involve civil or criminal court.
How is a forensic examination different from a regular psychological evaluation?
Forensic evaluations or examinations are not healthcare services. You are not considered to be our patient or client; the "client" is typically the person or agency that requests the examination or service. This allows us to be as neutral as possible, as we do not develop a doctor/patient relationship with you.
Forensic examinations are conducted for the purpose of answering legal questions, while clinical psychological evaluations are for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment recommendations. A forensic psychological report is also much longer and more detailed than one completed for healthcare purposes.
Some of the types of questions a forensic psychologist is asked to answer include:
"Was this person sane at the time of their offense?"
"Does this individual have the capacity to assist counsel in their own defense?"
"Does this individual require a legal guardian to handle their affairs?"
"Is this individual at risk of committing a sexually violent offense if released to the community?"
These questions require the psychologist to have specific education, training, and expertise in forensic psychology.
Will my health insurance cover my forensic examination?
Health insurance does not cover forensic services, and we cannot file a claim or provide you with a superbill. Health insurance companies pay for medical services, and a forensic examination (or any other forensic psychological service) is not a medical or healthcare service and does not involve rendering healthcare services to you. Forensic services are more expensive than regular healthcare services because forensic psychologists are required to have extensive training in forensic psychology beyond their clinical training.
Our forensic psychologists conduct evaluations within the strict ethical guidelines of the American Psychological Association and the laws and rules of the North Carolina Psychology Board. As such, we cannot guarantee a specific outcome, diagnosis, or recommendation upon conducting an evaluation. There is a chance that you will be unhappy with the results or that the evaluation will not benefit your case, and we do not issue refunds. Most forensic services must be coordinated through your attorney. Finally, forensic evaluations are legal, not medical services and must be paid out-of-pocket. Forensic services cannot and will not be billed to your health insurance company.