Friday, July 25, 2014

A Forensic Neuropsychologist In Los Angeles Tests Litigants Charged With A Crime

By Miranda Sweeney


There is a requisite level of education required to perform the tasks of a forensic neuropsychologist. He or she must be qualified in several fields, including forensic psychology and clinical neuropsychology. The forensic neuropsychologist in Los Angeles must meet the legal standards required in the State of California.

He or she will finish an education that prepares him or her to be a licensed practicing psychologist. Additional training is needed to be board certified. Only those with the highest qualifications are eligible to be board certified.

The job this profession performs is to evaluate litigants who are facing criminal or civil court trials. Testing methods are specific and extensive. The reporting that results from testing involves whether the individual is malingering or trying to elude conviction in some devious manner.

The intense testing has safeguards against the examiner being tricked. The information provided to the court in preparation for trial has questions posed in various ways to confirm whether the testee is being honest. This is the testing used to assess brain injuries by medical doctors.

The only way it is different is the application is to those charged with criminal activity. Brain dysfunction in the neurological or non-neurological sense will be discovered. The results of testing are turned over to the lawyer who requested the evaluation.

A person working in this capacity would have a strong interest in the practice of criminal law. Most of the individuals being evaluated are charged with vicious crimes. Murder, including death penalty cases is one example.

The testing is done for the purpose of helping the attorneys. In some instances a jury has already found the litigant guilty and he or she is imprisoned. Then an appeal is filed and this is when the forensic neuropsychological exam becomes crucial to the outcome of the appeal.

A high income is possible for the psychologist working in this capacity. The testing procedure is grueling. Many specific facets of the litigants personality are reviewed. Social maladjustment and the inability to hold a job are often discovered.

The litigant may have a psychological disorder such as borderline personality disorder. It may cause him or her to lean toward violent behavior. It is not an excuse since legal insanity is strictly defined.

The testing may be exhausting, often lasting for more than two days. Cognitive ability is evaluated. Other areas of interest are perception, large and small motor skills and coordination. The attention span is checked for visual or auditory acuity.

In addition the presence of an emotional disorder can be verified. If there is a learning disability it may have resulted in impaired judgement. All levels of skills are important.

These are tested and evaluated and a final report is compiled. The forensic neuropsychologist may then appear in court as an expert witness. The litigant is usually being charged with a violent crime such as kidnapping, rape or murder. It is an awesome responsibility to aid in convicting one of these allegedly dangerous individuals. Innocence can be indicated as well.




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