Forensic psychiatry deals with both psychiatry and the law. Doctors in this subspecialty of psychiatry study, interpret, and establish an individual’s state of mental health when legal matters are being addressed. Forensic psychiatrists must have a medical degree as well as legal training in order to give their expert opinion during court cases.
Forensic psychiatry in our Dallas office assesses an individual’s criminal and/or civil competence. For example, forensic psychiatrists help determine whether or not you can admit an individual to medical treatment (mental or physical) against their will. Lawyers may call upon forensic psychiatrists to objectively evaluate during a court case a defendant’s mental capabilities, or lack thereof, while the crime they were accused of took place. Defendants can undergo evaluation whether or not they have been diagnosed with a mental illness.
Some areas in which the mental health and legal system overlap where forensic psychiatrists are often called upon are:
Other areas in which forensic psychologists may be called upon include:
A forensic psychologist is called upon in almost every movie or TV show involving a dramatic court case. If you’re a fan of Law & Order: Special Victim’s Unit, you’ve seen B.D. Wong, the forensic psychiatrist who works to get into the minds of criminal suspects in order to help solve crimes. Although forensic psychiatry has gained ground in the popular consciousness (mostly because of its portrayal in the media), forensic psychiatry in reality is not quite as dramatic as it is portrayed in television programs. In reality, you won’t see a forensic psychiatrist working with the cops to catch the criminals. Normally, it’s a much more limited role. For instance, forensic psychiatrists do not go into court to make decisions in lieu of the legal system – instead, they are there to help advise juries and judges so they can make more accurate decisions.
