Forensic Evaluation in St. Petersburg, FL: Court-Ready Psychological Assessments That Shape Case Outcomes
Forensic psychological assessments change the trajectory of legal cases. They determine whether defendants stand trial, which parent gets custody, how much compensation injury victims receive, and whether immigration petitions succeed. FC PsychExperts is a forensic and clinical psychology practice that delivers these court-ready assessments to attorneys, families, and individuals in St. Petersburg, FL and throughout the 6th Judicial Circuit serving Pinellas County. Founded in 2008 by Dr. Cathy Colet, a Licensed Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, our team of doctoral-level psychologists has conducted thousands of evaluations across Florida’s circuit courts.
The outcomes of your legal case may depend on a single psychological question. Can this defendant understand the charges against them? Is this parent fit to have custody? Did this accident cause lasting psychological harm? These questions require answers that courts can rely on, and producing those answers is what FC PsychExperts has done since 2008 across criminal, family, civil, immigration, and juvenile proceedings throughout Florida.
How Forensic Assessments Shape Legal Outcomes in Pinellas County Courts
A forensic evaluation in St. Petersburg, FL produces a specific, defensible answer to a legal question. That answer becomes evidence. It shapes motions, plea negotiations, custody orders, settlement amounts, and judicial decisions. FC PsychExperts produces assessments designed to withstand cross-examination and influence outcomes because every report is built on validated testing, structured methodology, and impartial analysis.
The reason forensic assessments carry this weight is that they operate under different standards than clinical work. Clinical psychologists help patients feel better. Forensic psychologists answer legal questions. They do not advocate for either side. They collect data through structured interviews, validated psychological tests, and comprehensive record reviews, then present impartial conclusions. At FC PsychExperts, 75% of our work is forensic, which means this objectivity is not an occasional posture. It is how we operate every day.
Courts in the 6th Judicial Circuit and across Florida recognize this distinction. When attorneys need assessments that judges take seriously and opposing counsel cannot easily dismiss, the methodology and documentation standards matter as much as the conclusions themselves.
Outcomes in Criminal Defense: Competency, Responsibility, and Sentencing
Criminal forensic assessments at FC PsychExperts produce conclusions that directly affect whether defendants go to trial, how courts assess their culpability, and what sentences they receive. Dr. Matthew J. Jalazo, Psy.D., who completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology at Dorothea Dix Hospital and trained at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, leads our criminal assessment work with over two decades of full-time forensic practice.
Dr. Jalazo conducts competency to stand trial assessments that determine whether defendants can understand proceedings and assist in their defense. He performs 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 brings 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 that addresses the specific legal question. When cases reach trial, both psychologists provide expert witness testimony explaining their findings under direct and cross-examination.
Outcomes in Family Court: Custody Decisions That Protect Children
Custody assessments at FC PsychExperts produce the psychological evidence that Pinellas County family court judges use to determine which living arrangements best serve children’s safety and development. Dr. Colet has completed specialized training in custody evaluations and conducts these assessments following Florida’s statutory requirements under Chapter 61.
Our family law assessments 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.
In high-conflict custody disputes, our team-based approach adds depth that solo practitioners cannot offer. Where a case involves neuropsychological factors, Dr. Lauren Miller brings nearly 20 years of experience as a Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychologist. Where immigration-related stressors affect the family, Dr. Colet draws on her advanced immigration law training. The result is a custody assessment that captures the full psychological picture rather than a narrow slice.
Outcomes in Civil Litigation: Documenting and Quantifying Psychological Harm
Personal injury and civil cases hinge on proving the nature and extent of psychological harm. FC PsychExperts produces the documentation that plaintiffs need to establish damages and that defense attorneys need to evaluate claims objectively.
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, which gives our findings credibility with both sides. When opposing counsel challenges the severity of claimed psychological harm, our methodology and documentation hold up under scrutiny.
Outcomes in Immigration and Juvenile Proceedings
Specialized forensic assessments produce critical evidence for immigration cases and juvenile legal matters. FC PsychExperts provides trauma-informed assessments that meet the specific evidentiary standards these proceedings require.
Dr. Colet has advanced training in immigration law and conducts assessments for extreme and exceptional hardship cases, political asylum applications, Violence Against Women Act petitions, spousal abuse documentation, competency to participate in immigration proceedings, and same-sex couples hardship waivers. She is available to conduct assessments at detention centers and correctional facilities throughout Florida.
For juvenile cases, our team evaluates minors for competence to stand trial, violence and sexual risk, and sexual behavior concerns. We have extensive experience working with the Department of Juvenile Justice and child welfare organizations across Florida.
The Team Behind Court-Ready Results in St. Petersburg
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 MoreThe Assessment Process That Delivers Defensible Conclusions
Every assessment at FC PsychExperts follows a six-step process: initial consultation, record review, clinical interview and testing, collateral contacts, report preparation, and feedback or testimony. This structure ensures that conclusions are thorough, replicable, and legally defensible.
The process starts when you call our office. We discuss the legal question driving the assessment, determine the right psychologist and assessment type, explain what to expect, and schedule the appointment. Before meeting the individual being assessed, we review all relevant records including medical files, court documents, police reports, and prior evaluations.
In-person sessions typically run two to four hours and include structured clinical interviews and validated psychological testing. Some complex cases require multiple sessions. When appropriate, we conduct collateral interviews with family members, treatment providers, or other relevant parties. The final report integrates all data sources and directly addresses the legal question with supported conclusions. If your case proceeds to court, our psychologists provide expert witness testimony across Florida’s circuit courts.
Serving St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, and the Tampa Bay Region
FC PsychExperts serves attorneys, individuals, and families throughout St. Petersburg and the wider Tampa Bay area. Our assessments support cases in the 6th Judicial Circuit covering Pinellas and Pasco counties.
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 the Tampa Bay region and across Florida’s circuit court system.
What St. Petersburg Attorneys and Residents Want to Know About Forensic Assessments
What results does a forensic evaluation in St. Petersburg, FL actually produce?
A forensic psychological assessment produces a comprehensive written report that answers a specific legal question with supported conclusions. This report documents the methodology used, the psychological tests administered, all data sources reviewed, and the clinical reasoning connecting evidence to conclusions. The report serves as documentary evidence in court, and the evaluating psychologist can provide expert witness testimony explaining the findings. FC PsychExperts conducts these assessments across criminal, family, civil, immigration, and juvenile law in St. Petersburg, FL.
How are forensic assessments different from therapy or clinical evaluations?
Clinical evaluations answer treatment questions: what diagnosis does this person have and what therapy do they need? Forensic assessments answer legal questions: is this person competent, which parent is more fit, how severe is the psychological harm? The psychologist conducting a forensic assessment does not advocate for any party. They remain neutral and present impartial findings. FC PsychExperts devotes 75% of its practice to forensic work, meaning this objectivity is central to everything we do.
How long does the full assessment process take?
Most assessments involve one to three in-person sessions of two to four hours each. The total 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 do forensic assessments cost and does insurance cover them?
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.
Do I need a court order to get a forensic 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 the referral pathway that fits your situation.
Will the psychologist testify in Pinellas County court if needed?
Yes. Our psychologists provide expert witness testimony across Florida’s circuit courts, including proceedings in the 6th Judicial Circuit serving Pinellas and Pasco counties. 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.
What types of forensic assessments does FC PsychExperts offer?
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 Case Deserves a Forensic Evaluation That Produces Results
When St. Petersburg attorneys and families need a forensic evaluation that delivers defensible conclusions, FC PsychExperts is the practice they trust.