The Process of Writing a Forensic Report

Michael Staib reports:

"Forensics is the scientific aspect of criminal investigations. A forensic report simply and succinctly summarizes the substantive evidence in a criminal case...Identify the available data and the events that transpired. Answer the 5 W's; Who, What, When, Where and Why? Begin writing the report, identifying the parties involved...Identify legal representatives, including all defense attorneys and prosecutors, accompanied by addresses and phone numbers for contact references. Accurately describe all details of what allegedly transpired...Provide psychological opinion within the context of clinical confidentiality. Derive a clinical impression of a defendant, inferring the condition of his mental or cognitive state, and document your conclusion. Describe defendant's psychological disposition based on your professional observation. Include any personal interviews with defendant and documents reviewed. Contact the attorneys to help assess the defendant's perceptions before, during and after the alleged incident...Provide any pertinent information about the defendant's psychiatric history. Include details about any psychiatric history, substance abuse history or involvement with the criminal justice system. If possible, document the defendant's current living circumstances, any relationships she may have had with the alleged victim, and anything that may have precipitated the alleged incident...Specifically state your positive and/or negative findings regarding the defendant's mental status. Include direct quotes and objective assessments...If necessary information is unavailable, document why...Provide concrete examples to demonstrate the defendant's mental abilities and deficiencies. Extrapolate from previously annotated observations to assess the defendant's mental competence. Exclude from the record any self-incriminating statements made by the defendant regarding the alleged offense, because assertions are inadmissible in determining legal competence. Provide data elucidating the presence or absence of mental illness during the alleged incident to assess criminal responsibility. Include any other possible extenuating and/or incriminating factors necessary for the court to determine criminal culpability...State your conclusions and recommendations. Your previous data must support your conclusions. In your recommendation, include all opinions concerning mental competency. Harness the evidence to substantiate your professional opinion. After the court reaches a disposition in the defendant's case, document the outcome of the case whenever possible. If information that would lead to a different recommendation becomes available after the completion of your report, submit an addendum explaining the reason for the change...Keep it simple. Stay terse and to the point in your descriptions. Present your evaluation in a readable, unambiguous prose style with easily accessible references. Keep copies of any addenda with your original report."