Forensic Evaluation in Hialeah, FL: Psychological Assessments for Criminal, Family, Immigration, and Civil Cases
Legal situations that require psychological expertise arrive without warning. A criminal arrest raises questions about mental competency. A custody dispute puts your children’s living arrangement in the hands of a judge. An immigration case needs documented evidence of psychological hardship. An accident leaves emotional injuries that require professional documentation for court. FC PsychExperts is a forensic and clinical psychology practice that provides court-ready psychological assessments in Hialeah, FL . Founded in 2008 by Dr. Cathy Colet, a Licensed Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with advanced training in immigration law, our team of doctoral-level psychologists has conducted thousands of evaluations across Florida’s circuit courts.
Whatever legal situation brought you here, the assessments that FC PsychExperts produces are built for one purpose: giving courts, attorneys, and judges the objective psychological evidence they need to make informed decisions. We serve defense attorneys, prosecutors, family law professionals, immigration attorneys, personal injury firms, and individuals throughout Hialeah and South Florida.
When Criminal Charges Raise Questions About Mental State
If someone you represent has been charged with a crime and their mental state is relevant to the case, a forensic evaluation produces the psychological evidence that courts rely on. FC PsychExperts conducts criminal assessments for defense attorneys and prosecutors throughout Miami-Dade County, covering the full range of criminal psycho-legal questions.
Dr. Matthew J. Jalazo, Psy.D., leads our criminal assessment work. His credentials include a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology at Dorothea Dix Hospital, a Clinical Psychology Internship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and over two decades of full-time forensic practice. He conducts competency to stand trial assessments, criminal responsibility evaluations for insanity defense cases, competency to waive Miranda rights assessments, violence risk assessments, psychosexual evaluations, sexually violent predator assessments, mitigation evaluations for downward departure and capital sentencing, and involuntary commitment assessments.
Dr. Colet adds additional criminal expertise with advanced training in criminal responsibility and forensic report writing. Each assessment integrates legal record review, structured clinical interviews, validated psychological testing, and collateral data into a report built to withstand cross-examination. When cases proceed to trial, both psychologists provide expert witness testimony across Florida’s circuit courts.
When Immigration Proceedings Require Psychological Evidence
For Hialeah residents navigating immigration proceedings, forensic psychological assessments document the trauma, hardship, and psychological consequences that immigration courts need to see. Dr. Colet has advanced training in immigration law and conducts these assessments with the clinical depth and cultural sensitivity that complex immigration cases demand.
Dr. Colet provides assessments for extreme and exceptional hardship cases, political asylum applications, spousal abuse documentation, Violence Against Women Act petitions, competency to participate in immigration proceedings, and same-sex couples hardship waivers. These trauma-informed assessments are specifically designed to meet the evidentiary standards that immigration judges apply when reviewing psychological evidence. Dr. Colet is available to conduct assessments at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers and correctional facilities throughout Florida.
Immigration cases often involve individuals who have experienced persecution, domestic violence, trafficking, or separation from family members. Documenting the psychological impact of these experiences requires a forensic psychologist who understands both the clinical dimensions of trauma and the specific legal standards immigration courts require. This combination of immigration law knowledge and forensic psychology expertise is what sets FC PsychExperts apart from general clinical practitioners who may lack the forensic methodology immigration cases demand.
When a Custody Battle Puts Your Children’s Future at Stake
Custody disputes are among the most emotionally difficult legal situations families face. FC PsychExperts conducts custody assessments that serve one purpose: producing the objective psychological evidence that Miami-Dade family court judges need to determine which arrangement best protects children.
Dr. Colet has completed specialized training in custody evaluations and conducts these assessments following Florida’s statutory requirements under Chapter 61. Our family law services include parental capacity evaluations, child custody assessments, social investigations, psychological evaluations of parents and children, attachment and bonding assessments, and risk factor assessments related to potential abuse or neglect.
The forensic psychologist conducting these assessments is ethically bound to represent the best interests of the children, not the interests of the parent who requested the assessment. This means findings may support one parent, the other, or recommend arrangements neither party anticipated. In high-conflict custody disputes, our team-based approach brings multiple perspectives. Where a case involves neuropsychological factors, Dr. Lauren Miller contributes nearly 20 years of experience as a Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychologist. Where immigration-related stressors affect a family, Dr. Colet draws on her immigration law training. The result is an assessment that captures the full picture.
When an Accident Leaves Psychological Scars That Need Documentation
Motor vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, medical negligence, and other traumatic events often cause psychological harm that is invisible but real. FC PsychExperts documents these injuries for plaintiffs and defense attorneys so that courts can fairly assess the extent of psychological damage.
Dr. Colet has firsthand experience working in a Level 1 Trauma Center directly with trauma patients and their families. Our civil assessments cover personal and emotional injury evaluations, independent medical examinations, guardianship evaluations, civil commitment assessments, mental competency examinations for wills and power of attorney, pre- and post-adoption evaluations, and psychological autopsy assessments. We document symptoms including chronic pain, personality changes, PTSD, anxiety, depression, flashbacks, and memory deficits. We also assess for malingering and deception, ensuring our findings carry credibility with both sides.
When a Juvenile Case Requires Specialized Psychological Assessment
Juvenile cases involve minors whose developmental stage, family circumstances, and psychological functioning require assessment approaches that differ from adult evaluations. FC PsychExperts has extensive experience providing evaluations for juvenile cases involving the Department of Juvenile Justice and child welfare organizations across Florida.
Our juvenile assessments include competence to stand trial evaluations for minors, violence and sexual risk assessments, and sexual behavior assessments. Each assessment considers the developmental context that shapes how minors understand legal proceedings and how psychological factors influence their behavior.
The Forensic Psychologists Who Handle These Cases
Dr. Cathy Colet
Forensic PsychologistDr. Cathy Colet is a Licensed Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and founder of Forensic and Clinical PsychExperts, LLC.
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Dr. Lauren Miller
Clinical and Forensic NeuropsychologistDr. Miller has nearly 20 years of experience as a clinician, consultant, lecturer, and writer.
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Dr. Matthew J. Jalazo
Forensic PsychologistDr. Matthew J. Jalazo is a licensed psychologist who has practiced forensic psychology on a full-time basis for the last fifteen years.
Read MoreFrom Your First Call to the Final Report: How Our Assessments Work
Every assessment at FC PsychExperts follows six steps: initial consultation, record review, clinical interview and testing, collateral contacts, report preparation, and feedback or testimony. This structure ensures that conclusions are thorough and legally defensible.
When you call, we discuss the legal question driving the assessment and match your case to the right psychologist and assessment type. Before meeting the person being assessed, we review all relevant records. In-person sessions typically run two to four hours and include structured clinical interviews and validated psychological testing. Some complex cases require multiple sessions. The final report integrates all data sources and directly addresses the legal question. If the case proceeds to court, our psychologists provide expert witness testimony across Florida’s circuit courts.
Serving Hialeah, Miami-Dade County, and South Florida
FC PsychExperts serves attorneys, individuals, and families throughout Hialeah and the wider South Florida region. Our assessments support cases in the 11th Judicial Circuit covering Miami-Dade County.
We work with criminal defense attorneys, public defenders, prosecutors, family law attorneys, immigration lawyers, and personal injury firms. Beyond the legal community, we serve individuals and families directly: parents navigating custody disputes, accident victims documenting psychological injuries, individuals pursuing immigration relief, and families working through guardianship decisions. Our practice serves clients statewide and coordinates evaluation sessions and testimony throughout South Florida and across Florida’s circuit court system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a forensic evaluation in Hialeah, FL and why might I need one?
A forensic psychological assessment is conducted to answer a specific legal question for a court, attorney, or agency. It is not therapy. The psychologist does not take sides. They collect data through clinical interviews, validated psychological tests, and record reviews, then present impartial findings. You may need one if you face criminal charges, a custody dispute, an immigration proceeding, a personal injury claim, or any legal situation where psychological evidence could affect the outcome. FC PsychExperts conducts these assessments across criminal, family, civil, immigration, and juvenile law in Hialeah, FL.
Does FC PsychExperts conduct immigration evaluations for Hialeah residents?
Yes. Dr. Colet has advanced training in immigration law and provides assessments for extreme hardship cases, political asylum, VAWA petitions, spousal abuse documentation, competency to participate in immigration proceedings, and same-sex couples hardship waivers. She is available to conduct assessments at ICE detention centers and correctional facilities. These trauma-informed evaluations meet the specific evidentiary standards immigration courts require.
How long does the assessment process take from start to finish?
Most assessments involve one to three in-person sessions lasting two to four hours each. The full process from initial consultation to completed report typically takes two to six weeks, depending on record availability, collateral interviews needed, and case complexity. FC PsychExperts works within court deadlines and discusses scheduling during the initial call.
What are the fees for a forensic assessment and does insurance cover it?
Fees vary based on assessment type, number of sessions, record review complexity, and whether expert witness testimony is required. Health insurance generally does not cover forensic assessments because they serve legal purposes rather than medical treatment. FC PsychExperts discusses all fees transparently during the initial consultation before any work begins. Some court-appointed assessments may be funded through the court system.
Can the psychologist testify in Miami-Dade County court?
Yes. Our psychologists provide expert witness testimony across Florida’s circuit courts, including the 11th Judicial Circuit serving Miami-Dade County. Every report is prepared with the assumption that it may face cross-examination. We coordinate testimony scheduling with your legal team and explain findings clearly for judges and juries.
Do I need a court order to get an assessment?
No. Attorneys and individuals can retain FC PsychExperts privately without a court order. Many clients engage us proactively through their legal counsel before any formal court involvement. We also accept court-ordered and court-appointed assessments. During your initial consultation, we discuss which referral pathway fits your situation.
What types of forensic assessments does FC PsychExperts provide in Hialeah?
We provide competency to stand trial assessments, criminal responsibility and insanity defense evaluations, violence risk assessments, psychosexual evaluations, custody and parental capacity assessments, personal injury and emotional distress documentation, immigration hardship assessments, guardianship evaluations, juvenile assessments, mitigation evaluations for sentencing, independent medical examinations, and expert witness testimony. Each assessment is conducted by a doctoral-level forensic psychologist whose specialization matches the legal question.
Your Legal Situation Needs a Forensic Evaluation That Courts Respect
FC PsychExperts delivers the forensic evaluation Hialeah attorneys, families, and individuals depend on for criminal, family, immigration, and civil cases throughout Hialeah, FL.