Legal/Forensic Assessment Services
Typically, forensic assessments address questions of risk to re-offend or threat to harm, as well as attempt to make connections between a persons psychological functioning and their problematic behaviour(s). Together this information if often used to inform and advise decision makers on how to understand the behaviour as well as how best manage a case. Typically, reports include recommendations about interventions aimed at decreasing the risk of problematic behaviour continuing in the future. These evaluations aim to provide an objective opinion on specific questions asked by the client’s lawyer, the court, workplace or a referring agency. We offer a range of different forensic assessments.
Risk for Re-Offending
These assessments are often requested as part of the information needed to make decisions in various kinds of legal proceeding.
- Sexual Offending (including contact and non-contact offences)
- Violent Offending (including risk for sexual violence)
- Intimate Partner Violence
- General Offending
High Risk Behaviours
Psychological Assessments for individuals who engage in high risk behaviours and are at risk of becoming involved in the legal system. Often the goals of these assessments are to understand behaviour and to make treatment or management recommendations to help address the behaviour/issue and avoid possible legal or discipline problems. Some examples of high risk behaviours include but are not limited to:
- Anger and Aggressive Behaviours
- Human trafficking
- Substance Abuse
- Problematic Internet use
- Inappropriate social-sexual boundaries/behaviours
- Professional misconduct
Psychological/Mental Status Assessments for Legal Purposes
These assessments may address a range of issues related to a specific referral question.
They can include questions around:
- Cognitive limitations and/or concerns
- Evaluation of mental health status
- Examination of personality disorders and/or psychopathy
Threat Assessments/Consultations
Threat assessments are typically conducted when there is behaviour that is raising concerns about possible harmful behaviour to another or a group but may or may not have crossed the threshold into criminality. This behaviour can include, but is not limited to, verbal or written threats, unusual or concerning behaviours, inappropriate social media posts, domestic violence leaking into the workplace, inappropriate sexual comments/behaviours, and/or aggressive behaviours. These assessments can occur in a variety of settings including:
- Schools
- Workplace
- Communities
- Hospitals
Please feel free to call and ask for information about our services. You do not have to provide your name or number; however, we treat all calls with a high level of regard for your privacy and confidentiality. If you have concerns about issues related to confidentiality and our legal reporting obligations, please go to (link to limits of confidentiality document).
If you are an individual seeking services, we recommend that prior to beginning an assessment, we first speak with your attorney and/or the referring agency to help determine the type and scope of evaluation needed and to ensure we are able to address the referral question and provide you with quality service. This also helps us to generate an estimate of the likely cost of the assessment, which we provide clients with prior to the assessment commencing.
Please contact the office at 416-487-0791 and ask for intake or send an e-mail to info@alliedpsych.ca