Criminal Law Expert Witness Psychiatrists
Psychiatric Expert Witnesses can provide invaluable information to the court in criminal proceedings. Our Expert Psychiatrists will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the client including a face-to-face interview, review of medical records and any other relevant documentation. They will then provide a concise psychiatric medico-legal report including a diagnosis of any Mental Health conditions and recommendations for treatment, where applicable.
Professional advice & proactive case management
We can assist you in determining whether an Expert Psychiatric or Psychological report is most suitable for your case and can provide both, in collaboration with our sister company Psychology Direct. Our dedicated Client Managers will also ensure that yours case is managed so that agreed costs & timescales are adhered to.
Rapid response to enquiries & fast track reports
We aim to respond to all enquiries within 1 hour and confirm details of up to three suitable experts within 24 hours. Reports are usually filed within 4-6 weeks from instruction, but we can provide a fast track service for cases where reports are required within a very short timescale.
Working with clients across the Criminal Justice System
We receive instructions from a wide range of clients including the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Police, Courts, Prisons, Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), Solicitors and Barristers. We provide Expert Psychiatric reports for both the defence and prosecution. All work completed by Psychiatry Direct associates in Public Law cases is carried out within the Legal Aid Authority codified rates.
Highly experienced Experts providing high quality reports
All of our Expert Psychiatrists are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and are members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych). Our Expert Witness Psychiatrists have extensive experience in preparing medico-legal Psychiatric reports for the criminal courts and communicate their findings in a manner that is clear and accessible to all parties. All reports are quality checked as part of our free proofreading service.
Specialist language & cultural expertise
In addition to being able to provide Expert Witness Psychiatrists across the country, our network of over 1,000 Expert Witnesses means that we are also able to provide Expert Psychiatrists with specialist language and cultural expertise and knowledge.
Recent instructions for Psychiatric Medico-Legal reports include:
- Mental capacity and Fitness to Plead assessment
- Psychiatric assessment of fitness to stand trial
- Dangerousness / Risk Assessments
- Anxiety, including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) assessment
- Psychiatric assessments involving substance misuse
- Assessment of Criminal Responsibility
- Psychiatric Pre-sentencing & Probation reports
- Neuropsychiatric Assessments
- Psychiatric assessments of learning difficulties/disabilities, including Autistic Spectrum Disorders
- Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment, including Personality Disorders & Psychoses
- Psychiatric Assessments of Offenders
- Psychiatric assessments of sexual or violent offenders
- Psychiatric assessments in murder cases
- Recommendations for disposal and Psychiatric treatment
These are just a few examples of cases we have undertaken, please contact us for a detailed quotation including a breakdown of costs, confirmed timescales and up to 3 Expert Witness Psychiatrist CV’s.
Expert Witness News
- Important change to Expert Witness’ Declaration in criminal cases April 19, 2017
This week changes to the wording of the declaration in an expert’s report came into force. This change affects expert witnesses who act in criminal cases with immediate effect. The amendment is at Criminal Practice Direction Part V: Evidence 19B: Statements of Understanding and Declarations of Truth in Expert Reports.
The previous version of paragraph 13 ...
- Addressing mental health issues among pilots March 1, 2017
Hundreds of commercial airline pilots currently flying may be clinically depressed, a study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has found.
The new findings, published a year and a half after the tragic Germanwings crash, signal the need to tackle stigma and better support pilots dealing with mental health issues.
The study is the ...
- Our new offices in Epsom, Surrey January 25, 2016
As a result of our continued growth, we are pleased to announce that we have moved to new offices.
The move is effective from Monday 25th January 2016.
Our new address is:
Psychiatry Direct, 2.2(a) 40 East Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1BH
NB – Our telephone and fax numbers remain the same.
- The Law Commission – new unfitness to plead proposals January 13, 2016
The Law Commission has today published proposals to update the current test of a defendant’s fitness to plead, by broadening the range of tests that can be used and including opinion from Expert Psychologists.
The current test of Fitness to Plead assessment is generally conducted by Expert Witness Psychiatrists and includes elements ...
- APIL annual conference 1 & 2 May 2014 February 12, 2014
As a leading provider of Expert Witness and Rehabilitation services to the Personal Injury sector, we are pleased to confirm that we will be exhibiting at the annual conference of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) on 1 & 2 May at ...