Psychological Assessment, Forensic and Advocacy Services

Assessments and Evaluations

Evaluations  are sometimes necessary for a variety of circumstances. They include the following:
Forensic evaluations, including sanity, competency, fitness for duty, parenting capacity, custody evaluations, civil and criminal matters and ADA assessment
Civil
  • Custody
  • Visitation
  • Competency
  • Guardianship
  • ADA assessment
  • Mental disability (inability to work due to a psychological disorder)
Criminal
  • Insanity (mental condition of the defendant at the time of the commission of the crime)
  • Competency (mental condition of the defendant at the time of the trial)
  • Sentencing recommendations
  • Violence risk assessment
  • Sex-offender risk assessment
  • Juvenile delinquency
Psychological Evaluations ​pertaining to mental and emotional health, developmental delays, learning disabilities and more
Psychological/emotional functioning
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Mental-health diagnosis
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • ADHD
  • Autistic spectrum disorders (autism, Asperger's Syndrome, HFA, pervasive developmental disorder, sensory integration disorder, non-verbal learning disability)
  • Developmental delays
  • Trauma symptoms related to brain injury, concussion, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), combat-related blast syndrome and more
  • Gifted abilities
  • Effects of lead poisoning and neurotoxins
Psychoeducational evaluation for school-related concerns
  • ADHD
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Autism Spectrum Including the
    • ADOS-2
    • Autism Assessment Scale for Children  
      • (Research Version)  Developed By Dr. Ellis
    • Autism assessment Scale for Adults                     
      • (Research Version)  Developed By Dr. Ellis
  • Developmental delays
  • Special-education consideration
  • ADA 504 accommodation
  • Traumatic brain injury

Advocacy- Guardianship- Supported Decision-Making

Supported Decision-Making is 
​“a recognized alternative to guardianship through which people with disabilities use friends, family members, and professionals to help them understand the situations and choices they face, so they may make their own decisions without the “need” for a guardian.”
(Blanck & Martinis, 2015). 
Dr Ellis  conducted a guardianship evaluation that resulted in a national movement protecting the rights of the disabled and promoted the use of Supported Decision Making as an alternative to guardianship. See the  jennyhatchjusticeproject.org/

​§Assessments can be used to determine whether guardianship is needed. Some cases require more complex assessments because of the abilities and skills being evaluated can be rather broad including functioning in all aspects of life. 


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Assistance for attorneys in expert testimony, consultation, evaluation and psychological testing

Attorneys: Are your cases as strong as you believe they can be? You're a criminal, civil, or family law attorney who wants to be sure your clients have all the best tools, support, and information available for their case, but you're not always sure if psychology can help?
You may be able to strengthen your cases using the strong experts within the Spectrum Psychological Forensic Evaluation Division and:
  • Get relevant and comprehensive psychological evaluations that can help build your case...
  • Receive the regular, timely communication you want from an expert...
  • Know that we only use up-to-date and well-researched test instruments that are directly applicable to legal standards...
  • Have jargon-free reports that make sense and are easy-to-understand for judges and juries...
  • Be assured you have experts that stand firm on their psychological opinions and are credible and convincing in the courtroom...
 
Delivering quality forensic / expert witness services
With years of experience in a variety of forensic cases, superior presentation skills, and commitment to ethical practices, the Spectrum Psychological Forensic Evaluation Division is well qualified to psychologically evaluate your clients and opposing experts, and, if necessary, deliver an expert opinion in a courtroom environment, comprehensively and concisely.

Spectrum Psychological Forensic Evaluation Division's experienced staff have been extensively trained to present to judges and juries, enabling them to translate complex psychological data and conclusions into clear and easy-to-understand concepts, no matter what your case involves.

We are often called upon by legal professionals and governmental agencies to provide services for cases involving criminal, personal injury, divorce/ custody and other civil matters.
 
If I can answer any questions for you, please feel free to contact me.

Forensic activities of Dr. C. Rick Ellis, Ed.D.

  • Conducts training programs and evaluations nationally addressing guardianship vs. Supported Decision-Making options.
  • Provided consultation, jury education and expert testimony to assist in securing the conviction of an individual charged with rape of a 10-year-old autistic girl.
  • More than 150 court evaluations of juveniles and adults including competency to stand trial, NGRI, emotional state at the time of the offense, pre-sentencing evaluations, assessment of family, intellectual and emotional factors that may affect guilt/sentencing.  These included individuals accused or found guilty of murder. 
  • Conducted more than 300 custody/visitation/parenting capacity evaluations.  Testified in approximately 75 cases.  Issues addressed include developmental needs of the child, special-education needs of the child, abuse, neglect, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger's Syndrome, Attachment Disorder, Parental Alienation Syndrome and more.
  • Assessed long effects of molestation on adults and children.  Evaluated effects of abuse and neglect for Department of Social Services throughout Virginia and North Carolina.
  • Conducted evaluations and prepared reports/ testimony evaluating condition such as lead poisoning or birth trauma  and possible long-term effects.
  • Conducted guardianship evaluation that resulted in a national movement protecting the rights of the disabled and promoted the use of Supported Decision Making as an alternative to guardianship. See the  jennyhatchjusticeproject.org/
  • Presented Quantitative Electroencephalogram (qEEG) results in court to assist in judicial proceedings. Also provided pre-and post-qEEG results to the court after providing intensive Neurofeedback/Neurotherapy at sentencing.
  • Special-education advocacy and testimony. 
    • Dr. Ellis has been involved in a number of expulsion appeals to School Boards and Due-Process Hearings including Brody vs. Dare County (see wrightslaw.com). In one such case involving a child on the autism spectrum,  the recommendation of Dr. Ellis was upheld by the United States District Court after multiple appeals by the school district.  see School Board of the City of Suffolk v. Rose.
    • Has conducted more than 2,000 special-education evaluations with none going to due process or mediation except the several noted above where due process was already initiated.
    • Conducted dozens of independent educational evaluations(IEE). An IEE is an evaluation that a parent requests when they disagree with the school system as to the program, services and/or special education category for their child. the school system is responsible for any fee involved in such an evaluation.
    • More than 100 special-education advocacy meetings with school systems while in private practice to address issues of eligibility, placement or IEP development.
    • Assisted in overturning the expulsion of an autistic child at the School Board level.