M5A1 Due Feb 4

Phyllis Lovering

Argosy Online

Jan.10,2018

Forensic assessments

The case scenario selected

In Case 1, police arrested Ms. G and charged her with burglary after finding her with a property belonging to a neighbor. The arresting officers revealed that she was in possession of drug and intoxicated, as well as turned combative in defense that she had committed a crime. They also reported that Ms. G portrayed hostile, belligerent, hyperactive, irritable assaultive and irrational behavior when they approached to arrest her. While incarcerated, she made several claims included that the police planted the drug on her and they wanted to kill her and her brother, and she also initiated a hunger strike among the inmates. Furthermore, she refused any conversation as well as defense counsel and a plea bargain when they were offered to her.

Reasons for a referral

The most appropriate forensic assessment for this case is the competency to stand trial. This evaluation allows a forensic mental health professional to determine if a client understands the charges against him or her, the available options and potential sentences (Reed, & Zapf, 2017). In particular, a referral is important to ascertain whether Ms. G really understands the consequences of waiving the right to a defense counsel and refusing plea negotiations.

The purpose of the forensic assessment and report

If the forensic mental health professional reports that Ms. G is competent, the court will continue with the trial. Otherwise, he or she should make recommendations regarding the measure that need to be taken so that the defendant can regain competency (Stafford & Sellbom, 2013). For instance, Ms. G may be admitted to a psychiatric hospital until she regains competency.

Forensic assessments

My impressions of the client

My impressions of Ms. G are that she is irrational and have no factual understanding of the legal process or the charges against her. It is not logic for her to deny having committed a crime with police finding stolen property in her possession. Accepting a plea bargain may have also helped her reduce the risk of a harsher punishment and avoid costs of defending herself at trial (Reed, & Zapf, 2017).

My professional role and relationship with the court and the third party

The prosecution or the defense may call upon a forensic psychologist to do psychological assessment and evaluation to determine the mental state of a defendant before conviction or sentencing (Reed, & Zapf, 2017). Depending on the result of the evaluation, the psychologist may be needed to testify in court on whether impaired mental abilities have any impact on the case.

Explanation of the hypotheses formulated

The hypotheses for the assessment include that Ms. G unknowingly refused the right to a counsel. A forensic psychiatrist needs to evaluate her competency to self-representation as she may be having some mental illnesses that bar her from rational thinking (Stafford & Sellbom, 2013). Another hypothesis is that Ms. G does not understand the merits and demerits of each of her options, which made her refuse plea bargaining. An expert needs examine whether she knows her options as it is a necessary component for legally declaring client’s competency to plea.

References

Reed, A. L., & Zapf, P. A. (2017). Criminal forensic assessment. Handbook of Forensic Mental Health Services, 79.

Stafford, K. P., & Sellbom, M. O. (2013). Assessment of competence to stand trial. Forensic psychology, 11, 412-439.