jcps services

Fitness to Proceed: This evaluation is warranted when either the judge, prosecution, or defense raises concerns whether a defendant currently has a mental disorder (e.g., irrational behavior, delusional beliefs, or prior medical/psychological findings that would affect issues of fitness) that substantially interferes with their ability to rationally understand and appreciate the legal proceedings against them and to sufficiently assist their lawyer in defending themselves. For juvenile defendant

Criminal Responsibility: This evaluation examines a defendant’s mental state (mens rea) and functional capacities at the time of the offense(s) and is warranted when 1) a defendant has been found fit to proceed and/or 2) if no valid concern for fitness exists at the time of arraignment, but a substantial likelihood of a mental disorder (e.g., psychosis, neurocognitive problems, or diminished functional abilities) existed for the defendant at the time of the offense(s). For juvenile defendants, c

Violence Risk: This evaluation is warranted to determine if a defendant after initially being found not fit to proceed and subsequently receiving forensic restoration (i.e., treatments and interventions to ameliorate the mental disorder and provide additional education on their legal proceedings) is again determined to be not fit to proceed (not restored) due to a qualified mental disorder, if they present a danger to themselves, to others, and/or to property of another. 

Parental Fitness: This evaluation may be warranted in the context of child protection matters to aid the legal fact-finder in understanding the referred parent’s functional capabilities and deficits and parenting beliefs on the parent-child relationship associated with their pending legal case. 

Child Well-Being: Evaluating the well-being of children affected by parental stress (e.g., child protection or divorce) may be warranted to assist the legal decision maker to have a better, real-time understanding of the child’s emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and academic functioning in effort to determine what is in the child’s best interest.

Guardianship: This evaluation may be warranted if a child, adolescent, adult, or older adult lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make or sufficiently communicate responsible decisions about themselves or their property due to intellectual disabilities, neurocognitive impairment, medical illness, physical disability, or advanced age. For any person found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, this evaluation may be warranted.

Civil Commitment: This evaluation may be warranted if a child, adolescent, adult, or older adult is affected by significant psychological and/or behavioral dysfunction that places them at acute risk of being a danger to themselves and being danger to others and others’ property, or due to being gravely disabled/unable to care for themselves.