Ethics in Forensic Evaluations

PSY 8350

Techniques of Forensic Practice

Prof: Dr. Rebecca Loehrer

Email: jameeliab@icloud.com

Informed Consent
 1812 NorthBend Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45218
Phone: (513) 821-3286
Fax: (513) 821-7896
Name: Faith Evans
Date: June 13,2019

You have been referred to Dr. , PhD in relation to your legal situation.
You have been referred for a psychological evaluation to be conducted alongside your court
proceedings. After the evaluation has been completed, a report will be written and provided to
the attorney that has recommended you for these services. Any private correspondence will still
remain under attorney-client confidentiality unless your attorney deems that it should be
provided to the court. The information that will be provided in the report will be made available
to your attorney along with the prosecutor in accordance with court law, the information will be
objective and will utilize professional judgment, please keep in mind that anything disclosed
during the evaluation is subject to be entered into the report. Additionally, there is a possibility
that the information in the report be asked to be relayed through testimony, in this instance the
above still applies and anything that was said during the evaluation is subject to be included in
said testimony.
The goal of the assessment is to answer questions about you and any difficulties that you may be
having. The assessment will contain several parts, an interview, psychological testing and review
of records and interviews of collateral contacts such as friends and family. The first part will deal
with the actual psychological testing. These will be standardized psychological tests which will
be discussed and explained in detail at the time of the evaluation so that you understand them
fully before taking the test. A benefit of this is that if you were to have any questions regarding
the test at any point or you are unclear of what the instructions are you will be able to ask prior to
the test. In the interview portion of the evaluation, this will include the interview of the collateral
contacts as well, you will be asked about yourself, your life and also about the situation that has
prompted the referral for a psychological evaluation. The collateral interviews will be a list of
people that you have given consent to be talked with and will help in understanding the
information that you have provided.
Please remember that in order to give a complete and accurate psychological evaluation it is
important that you be as honest as possible in all areas of the evaluation. Misinformation may
negatively impact the results and can in some instances be more damaging if found out after the
report has been provided to the courts. If at any time there is information that you wish to present
that was not mentioned during any part of the evaluation please do not hesitate to discuss them.
Please read each item below and sign the document indicating that you have fully understood the
following statements:
• I understand that this release is for the purpose of forensic consultation

and not for therapy as such there is no therapist-patient privilege or confidentiality.

• I understand that there will be a formal report written and or given orally based on the results of
this assessment.

• I understand that as part of conducting this forensic evaluation, consultation and exchange of
information will be done with anyone that may be relevant to this legal matter.

• I understand that state laws may require the disclosure of otherwise privileged information in
situations of suspected child or elder abuse, suspected potential harm to oneself or to another, in
which case the courts may subpoena for these records.

• I agree that this is a legally binding document and that I fully understand the rights,
confidentiality, and privileges that I waive by signing this document .

• By signing below, I indicate that I understand and agree to the nature and purpose of this
assessment, to the ways in which it may be reported, and to each of the points listed above.

_________________________
Name (Print)
__________________________ ______________________
Signature Date

Authorization for Release of Information

 Brown Psychological Associates
1532 AxelBend Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45215
Name of Client: Faith Evans
Date of Birth: September 24, 1989
I ______________________authorize clinicians from Brown Psychological to:
_____ Release to:
_____ Obtain from:
_____ Exchange with:
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
The following information on my behalf:
____ Entire Contents of File
____ Psychological Evaluations
____ Medical Records
____ School testing results
____ Social, Emotional, Behavioral Functioning
____ Psychosocial/ Family History
For the purposes of:
____ Legal Purpose ____ Psychological Assessment ____ Other(Specify)
Please Note: By signing this form you are waiving the right to confidentiality under Ohio Law
and authorize the release of records of information both in written and or oral form. The release
of information will not exceed the extent that has been indicated above and is completely
voluntary. The consent of this form will remain in effect for 6 months or until revoked in writing.
Please indicate your understanding by signing below.

_____________________________________ ________________
Signature of Client (or Authorized Guardian) Date
Forensic vs. Clinical Documentation

The documentation within each area of psychology differs whether it is forensic, clinical

or counseling psychology. However informed consent is needed in each, informed consent is

when a practitioner informs the client of their rights as well as their responsibilities during the

process or evaluation that they will be taking part in. The informed consent form, though it is

required in each area of psychology still differs based on what is going to take place. For

instance in a clinical setting where the clients is receiving or taking part in a treatment based

program, the informed consents details multiple aspects of the therapy process such as the

services, the meetings, fees, billing and payments, confidentiality and how to contact the

therapist. In a forensic setting the informed consent is straightforward and to the point it goes

over the purpose of the evaluation, what, how and to whom information will be released, which

information will be included in the written report, rights of the person being evaluated and

limitations to confidentiality. One main detail that is drastically different from a forensic

psychology standpoint is the confidentiality aspect. In a clinical setting, if the client were to have

any legal issue he or she has the right to stop the therapist from providing information to the

court, of course unless it has been ordered from the court. Clients in a clinical setting are

informed beforehand that the information that they provide typically will not be disclosed

outside of that particular setting unless legal issues arise and the therapist is subpoenaed. In a

forensic setting the client is also aware that the information they provide is subject to be heard by

the courts, they do not get a say in what can and cannot be told to the parties wanting the

psychological assessment to be done, anything that the client says in this forensic setting can be

relayed both written and or orally.

When it comes to consent to release information, it is important to remember that in a forensic

setting the evaluee is not a client and therefore the confidentiality rules do not apply to a certain

extent. The forensic psychologist Is required to release information to the courts in court ordered

psychological assessment. However, the actual release of information is completed so that the

forensic psychologist may not only send records but request and receive them as well. During an

evaluation the forensic psychologist will need to collect information that is pertinent to the

evaluation which may include medical history among the many other requirements. This consent

form gives the psychologist access to said records. Overall the main difference in relation to

consent is that the release of information is a decision that the client must agree on the exception

is when the release of information is mandated by the courts.