Court Ordered Psychological Evaluations – What You Need to Know
Do you need to get a mental health evaluation for court? Many people find themselves in this position and don’t know where to turn next. For immediate assistance, call the team at Icarus Recovery Center in New Mexico now to speak with a member of our friendly and experienced team.
On this page, we’ll talk about the importance of court ordered evaluations, why they are used, and what this psychological testing is like. Going through a psychiatric evaluation doesn’t have to be an intimidating or nerve-wracking experience, and it helps if you know what to expect right from the start.
At Icarus Recovery, we have a long history of helping individuals who are facing mental illness. No matter what your mental health history looks like, you are always welcome to connect with our facility and learn more about the services we provide.
What is a Court-Ordered Mental Health Evaluation?
As the name would suggest, these are psychological assessments that are ordered by the court in order to evaluate a person’s mental health status. An individual’s mental state may need to be evaluated for a number of different reasons, which we will get into a bit later on this page.
When looking into an individual’s mental health, it’s the overall mental competency of that person that will be determined. Behavioral assessments, when performed by experienced professionals, are an effective tool to make sure the person is treated fairly in a number of different contexts.
If you are facing an evaluation of your mental capacity, it’s important to understand that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Such an evaluation is meant to protect your rights. Going through the process to make sure the court has the information it needs to make just decisions is important.
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Why Would the Court Require a Mental Health Evaluation?
This section will provide insight into why you might be asked to go through a mental health evaluation. Legal decisions are often made based on the results that this type of evaluation produces.
Criminal Proceedings
One common reason for a psychological evaluation is to determine an individual’s ability to stand trial. These are competency hearings in court that will lean on the results of an evaluation to determine whether or not the person should face charges related to the crimes that they are accused of committing.
Child Custody Disputes
During court proceedings that have to do with child custody cases, a psychiatric evaluation may be ordered to confirm that a parent is fit to care for a child. If an individual is unable to pass a screening successfully, they may not be given access to their children for a period of time, or there might be restrictions placed on what that access looks like moving forward.
Probation or Parole Requirements
A mental health evaluation for court might be ordered as part of meeting probation or parole requirements in a criminal case. This evaluation could be used to determine the risk of recidivism for a given individual, or it could be used to determine what type of further treatment the individual needs to stay out of trouble and turn their life around.
Involuntary Commitment
In more serious cases, mental health evaluation will be used to determine if an involuntary commitment is appropriate. An involuntary commitment is when an individual is placed in an inpatient psychiatric treatment facility against their own free will.
These are not cases that the court takes lightly, so a detailed evaluation process will be required to make sure this action is the right decision for the parties involved.
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What Happens During Court Ordered Psychological Evaluations?
It might sound intimidating to go through court ordered psychological evaluations, but the experience is actually more approachable and comfortable than you would expect.
There can be plenty of variety in how these evaluations play out, but the list below should give you a good idea of the general process.
Initial Interview
A psychological evaluation is almost always going to start with an initial interview to set the foundation for anything else that is required later. This interview will take place with a professional evaluator who will ask questions about your past, the current symptoms you are experiencing, treatments you have already tried, and more.
There won’t be anything confrontational about this interview – it is simply meant to gather relevant information that will be helpful throughout the rest of the process.
Psychological Testing
Another step that is often taken during a psychiatric evaluation is the use of a formal standardized assessment. There are many different options at this stage, including the MMPI-2, or the Beck Depression Inventory.
These tools can be used to make objective assessments of things like personality traits, mood disorders, and overall cognitive function.
Behavioral Observation
Throughout the assessment process, a clinician will make observations about your overall demeanor and behavior. This part of the assessment isn’t a specific set of questions or a structured test, but rather just an overview of your mental condition that is based on the experience and training of the professional in charge of the process.
Collateral Information
In some cases, other pieces of information will be utilized from outside of the formal evaluation setting. These data points can include things like records from schools or employers, statements from family members, or the experiences of previous therapists.
How Long Does the Evaluation Take?
There is no one specific timeframe that will apply to every mental health evaluation. Sometimes, the process can be completed in a single day, specifically when it is a basic assessment that has been ordered. But that is not always the case. Often, it will take a few days – or even a few weeks – for the full evaluation to be completed. This timeframe allows for the many steps of the process to be completed, including interviews, testing, record collection, and report writing.
It’s important to respect the time that the process takes and to avoid getting frustrated with how it plays out. Remember, this is an important evaluation, and it is more important for it to be done correctly than quickly. As long as you make yourself available at the right times for the appointments that are required to go through the evaluation, the clinicians in charge of the process will see it through from start to finish in a timely manner.
Treatment Options Beyond the Evaluation Process
You might find yourself particularly focused on the evaluation process after it has been ordered by the court.
However, it’s also important to take a step back and see the bigger picture in this situation. The mental health evaluation has been ordered by the court as a result of some event or action that was cause for concern. Getting treatment for that issue – even if the treatment doesn’t wind up being demanded by the court – could be in your best interests moving forward.
There are many different types of mental health care available today. Depending on the results of your clinical interview, a few different kinds of therapies or medications might be recommended.
Rather than continuing to try to face your mental health issues alone, this could be the perfect opportunity to jump into an inpatient or outpatient treatment program so you can turn your life in a new direction.
It’s easy enough to fall into the trap of only doing what the legal system requires in a case like this. And, of course, it’s important to follow those instructions or requirements, but there is nothing stopping you from getting more help than whatever is mandated by the court. Take this time to regain control over your life and get the kind of help that your mental health condition requires.
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Work With Our Mental Health Professionals at Icarus Today
Whether you need a mental health evaluation for legal proceedings, or you would like to enter treatment to address the issues with your overall mental state, we are here for you.
Mental health is nothing to take lightly and the services we offer are designed to help you make progress and see a path toward a better future.
No matter what time or day it is when you are reading this page, you are always welcome to call our facility. Reach out now and your comprehensive assessment can be scheduled as soon as possible.
