Forensic Services
Dr. Russell has completed more than 900 forensic evaluations in a variety of settings, including private practice, as well as maximum-security inpatient forensic hospitals. Licensed in both Louisiana and Texas, she has testified as an expert witness in courts in Louisiana and Texas, as well as in federal court. She completed specialized training in forensic psychology at both the graduate and post-graduate level, and continues her education in this specialty by attending webinars, conferences, and workshops by leading experts in forensic psychology. Dr. Russell has taught forensic psychology courses at the undergraduate level, and has also provided training to other professionals regarding various topics within forensic psychology, including: competency to proceed evaluations, sanity evaluations, and evaluation of malingering.
Dr. Russell’s forensic evaluations may include clinical interviews, interviews with collateral sources, document review, and objective psychological testing. Her goal is to provide thorough and objective evaluations, to aid the trier(s) of fact in understanding relevant psychological concepts. She provides an array of forensic psychological services, including:
- Competency to proceed evaluations
- Sanity (mental state at the time of alleged offense) evaluations
- Juvenile fitness to proceed evaluations
- Threat assessment
- Risk assessments to determine risk of future sexual and/or violent offending
- Sentencing evaluations
- Mitigation evaluations
- Diminished capacity evaluations
- Interdictions
- Independent medical examinations (IMEs)
- Assessment of response style/possible malingering
- Trial consultation
- Expert testimony
Forensic data collection/reporting process may include:
- Interview for clinical evaluation
- Reviewing documents and records
- Psychological testing
- Interpretation of test results
- Collateral interviews
- Writing report
- Court testimony and/or
- Deposition