Forensic Assessment Services (click to view brochure-Adobe PDF required)

Forensic Services, which operates out of Netcare Forensic Psychiatry Center, is described separately from Court Assessment Services and Child & Family Assessment Services. The primary difference is that Forensic Services are funded through a contract with Common Pleas and Municipal Courts, and the program is formally certified by the Ohio Department of Mental Health. The contract restricts evaluations to very specific legal questions (e.g., Competency to Stand Trial), and the content of the reports is often dictated by statute. Psychological testing is done as needed. Additionally, the forensic evaluations are initiated only upon receipt of a court order.  Forensic examiners provide comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for the Court of Common Pleas, General (Criminal) Division in an eight county Central Ohio area.  In addition, the Forensic Psychiatry Center provides evaluations for other civil and criminal court systems (e.g., Municipal Courts), attorneys, and administrative agencies.  The Forensic Psychiatry Program provides comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for the civil and criminal court systems. The types of evaluations performed include: Competency to Stand Trial (ORC 2945.371.3); Sanity (ORC 2945.371.4); Domestic Violence (ORC 2919.271), Post-NGRI Commitment (ORC 2945.40), Mitigation of Penalty (capital and non-capital, ORC 2947.06 and 2947.03 respectively), Juvenile Bindover (Rule 30), Juvenile Competency (Rule 32 (A)(4)), Domestic Violence (ORC 2919.271), Sexual Predator (ORC 2950.09(2)), Informal (current mental status evaluation); Two Year Mandatory (ORC 2945.402), Pre-sentence Investigation (Section 32.2 of the Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedures, including Treatment Recommendations); Intervention in Lieu of Conviction (ORC 2951.041). The content and format of each type of evaluation is determined by the State of Ohio.

Netcare's Family and Psychological Services, which is located at the Forensic Psychiatry Center, is comprised of a team of psychologists who provide diagnostic psychological assessment at the request of either Franklin County Children Services (FCCS) or Franklin County Juvenile Court. Referrals from Juvenile Court come with a court order, but the evaluations are not as specific as are the juvenile evaluations done in Forensic Services, and the content is not stipulated by statute. Additionally, these referrals seek answers to clinical rather than legal questions. Referrals from FCCS do not typically come with a court order, but do pose broadly defined clinical questions. As such, these assessments are more traditional psychological assessments, and typically involve psychological testing as well as a thorough clinical interview.The assessments provide the referral source with answers to specific clinical questions about psychological functioning of the parents/guardians and/or the youth to assist with treatment planning, placement, and sentencing.