Operating from offices in Fort Lauderdale and Jupiter, the team handles evaluations and expert witness testimony across criminal, civil, family, immigration, and juvenile cases. For Davie attorneys, judges, and government agencies, engaging a forensic psychologist in Davie, FL through FC PsychExperts means getting specialist-level credentials with real local presence.
Three Doctoral-Level Forensic Psychologists Serving Davie Cases
The depth of a forensic psychology team matters as much as the qualifications of any single evaluator. FC PsychExperts brings three doctoral-level forensic psychologists to every case, each with distinct specialization. For Davie attorneys evaluating their options, this team-based depth differentiates the practice from solo clinicians who advertise forensic services as one capability among many.
Most psychologists who appear in Davie-area searches for forensic services are solo practitioners listed in clinical directories. They handle therapy, assessment, and forensic referrals as part of a broader practice. There is nothing wrong with that model for many clinical needs, but it creates a different posture than a dedicated forensic team.
FC PsychExperts is built differently. Dr. Cathy Colet founded the practice as a forensic specialty, not a clinical practice that takes legal cases on the side. Dr. Lauren Miller adds forensic neuropsychology, a credential that requires both doctoral psychology training and additional specialization in brain-behavior assessment. Dr. Christopher J. Beltran has spent over 25 years focused on criminal and family law forensic work. Each of the three brings something the others do not, and Davie attorneys can match the right specialist to the legal question at hand.
Team depth also matters when cases require multiple types of evaluation. A defendant with both a contested mental state defense and a documented traumatic brain injury can be assessed by Dr. Colet for criminal responsibility and by Dr. Miller for the neuropsychological dimension, with both reports built to meet Daubert admissibility standards. A solo clinician cannot offer that combination internally.
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.
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Dr. Christopher J. Beltran
Forensic PsychologistDr. Beltran is a Licensed Forensic Psychologist with over twenty-five years of experience in criminal and family law
Read MoreWhat a Forensic Psychologist Does and Why Specialization Matters
A forensic psychologist works at the intersection of psychology and law, conducting structured evaluations whose primary purpose is informing legal decisions. At FC PsychExperts, the duty runs to the court that needs accurate evidence, not to the comfort of the person being evaluated. This courtroom-facing orientation is what makes forensic psychology a specialty distinct from clinical practice.
The role is methodologically different from clinical psychology in three concrete ways. First, the audience for the work is the court, not the examinee. Findings are written for legal review and may be subject to cross-examination. Second, the methods are validated for forensic use. Standardized testing instruments, structured interviews, and collateral record review produce documentation that opposing counsel can challenge and the evaluator can defend. Third, the work product extends beyond the assessment. Reports must withstand legal scrutiny, and many evaluations conclude with sworn testimony at deposition or trial.
Specialization matters because the gap between a clinician who occasionally accepts forensic work and a dedicated forensic psychologist is wide. The dedicated specialist has handled hundreds of evaluations of similar legal questions, has been qualified as an expert in Florida courts, has been deposed by opposing counsel, and has refined methodology based on what holds up under challenge.
For Davie attorneys vetting potential experts, the questions worth asking are: what doctoral training does the psychologist have, what proportion of their practice is forensic, in which Florida judicial circuits have they testified, and have they been cross-examined on the specific evaluation type the case requires.
Criminal Forensic Evaluations for Davie Defense Cases
When a Davie criminal case turns on questions about a defendant’s mental capacity, mental state at the time of an offense, or future risk, a forensic psychologist often provides the evidence the court needs. FC PsychExperts conducts criminal evaluations covering competency, criminal responsibility, sentencing mitigation, violence risk, and sexual behavior, with reports written for admissibility under Florida’s evidentiary standards.
Competency to stand trial evaluations answer whether a defendant rationally understands the proceedings and can assist counsel in their own defense. The standard requires more than basic awareness of the charges. The defendant must be able to participate meaningfully, and a forensic psychologist measures this through validated instruments developed for legal settings, not general clinical screeners.
Criminal responsibility evaluations address mental state at the time of the alleged offense. This is retrospective work. The forensic psychologist reconstructs mental functioning from records, collateral interviews, and clinical assessment to determine whether the defendant meets Florida’s threshold for an insanity defense. Criminal defense attorneys engaging a forensic psychologist in Davie, Florida use these evaluations to support insanity pleas, diminished capacity arguments, and other mental state defenses where the legal question requires expert psychological evidence.
Mitigation evaluations identify psychological factors that may justify a downward departure from sentencing guidelines. Violence risk assessments use actuarial and structured professional judgment instruments to evaluate the probability of future dangerous behavior. Psychosexual evaluations assess sexual behavior patterns and recidivism risk in cases involving sexual offenses or sexually violent predator proceedings.
Family Law and Custody Evaluations in Broward County
Family court judges in Broward County rely on forensic psychological evaluations to resolve the hardest custody questions: what living arrangement serves the children’s best interests, whether each parent can safely meet a child’s needs, and whether risk factors like substance use or domestic violence affect parenting capacity. FC PsychExperts conducts these evaluations with strict objectivity.
Family forensic work carries an ethical obligation that does not exist in criminal or civil evaluations. The forensic psychologist’s primary duty is to the welfare of the children involved, regardless of who retained the evaluator or which side the report ends up favoring. This obligation shapes how interviews are conducted, what data sources are gathered, and how findings are presented to the court.
Custody and visitation evaluations assess each parent’s psychological functioning, parenting capacity, and the parent-child relationship. The evaluator examines risk factors including substance use, domestic violence, mental illness, and any abuse allegations. Dr. Cathy Colet conducts these evaluations methodically, building reports that document every clinical observation and the reasoning behind every recommendation.
The practice handles referrals from parents, family law attorneys, child welfare agencies including ChildNet and Communities Connected for Kids, and direct court orders. Davie family law cases involving relocation disputes, allegations of parental alienation, or contested fitness all benefit from independent, evidence-based evaluation.
Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, and Neuropsychological Assessment
Davie sits at the southwest end of Broward County, near a high volume of personal injury, workers’ compensation, and motor vehicle accident litigation. Civil cases of this kind frequently require a forensic psychologist serving Davie, FL who can document the psychological consequences of trauma in court-ready terms. FC PsychExperts handles these evaluations with a unique advantage: a forensic neuropsychologist on the team.
Personal injury and emotional injury evaluations document the psychological impact of an accident, assault, medical event, or other traumatic incident. The forensic psychologist examines pre-existing conditions, causation, severity of impairment, and prognosis, producing a report that connects clinical findings to the legal questions the case must answer. A diagnosis without forensic context is rarely useful in court.
Dr. Lauren Miller’s training in clinical and forensic neuropsychology is genuinely uncommon in Broward County forensic practice. Neuropsychological assessment measures cognitive functioning across memory, attention, executive function, processing speed, language, and visual-spatial reasoning. For Davie civil cases involving traumatic brain injury, post-concussion syndrome, anoxic injury, or cognitive impairment from medical conditions, neuropsychological testing produces the kind of granular evidence that clinical impressions cannot.
Workers’ compensation cases with cognitive impairment claims, auto accident litigation involving head injury, and medical malpractice cases with neurological sequelae all benefit from forensic neuropsychological evaluation. Davie civil litigators engaging Dr. Miller get an evaluator whose academic appointments at Nova Southeastern University and the University of Miami signal sustained engagement with the science behind the testing.
Independent medical examinations, guardianship evaluations, mental competency assessments, and psychological autopsies for civil litigation round out the team’s civil practice.
Immigration and Juvenile Forensic Evaluations
Beyond criminal, civil, and family law, FC PsychExperts handles two other categories of forensic work that Davie attorneys frequently need. Immigration psychological evaluations document hardship for waiver applications and asylum claims. Juvenile forensic evaluations address competency, behavioral risk, and sexual risk in cases involving minors.
Immigration evaluations support hardship waiver petitions, asylum applications, U visa applications, and other matters where the psychological consequences of removal, persecution, or family separation must be documented for an immigration court or USCIS officer. The forensic psychologist must understand both the clinical presentation of psychological hardship and the specific legal standards immigration adjudicators apply.
Juvenile forensic evaluations require age-appropriate instruments and a clinical understanding of adolescent cognitive and emotional development. Adult competency standards do not translate directly to juvenile court. Risk assessments for adolescents, sexual behavior assessments, and competency to stand trial in juvenile court each require evaluators with specific training in working with minors. FC PsychExperts has documented experience providing child and adolescent psychological evaluations for the Department of Juvenile Justice, ChildNet, Communities Connected for Kids, and direct court referrals.
Serving Davie and the 17th Judicial Circuit
Davie sits in southwest Broward County, approximately 10 miles from the FC PsychExperts office at 1451 W. Cypress Creek Road in Fort Lauderdale. The team’s connection to Davie runs deeper than proximity. Dr. Lauren Miller’s adjunct faculty position at Nova Southeastern University, located in central Davie, anchors the practice in the local academic and clinical training community.
Broward County falls within Florida’s 17th Judicial Circuit, which handles all criminal, civil, and family law matters for Davie, Fort Lauderdale, and surrounding communities. FC PsychExperts has provided expert witness testimony in this circuit, alongside testimony in the 1st, 15th, 19th, and 20th circuits. For Davie attorneys, this means engaging a forensic psychologist in Davie, FL who already understands local court expectations and has been cross-examined in front of Broward County judges and juries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a forensic psychologist do?
Forensic psychologists evaluate mental state, cognitive function, and behavioral risk for legal cases. The role is fundamentally court-facing. At FC PsychExperts, the psychologist’s primary obligation runs to the court that needs accurate, evidence-based findings, not to the person being evaluated. Each evaluation follows ethical guidelines and uses validated psychological instruments selected for the legal question at issue. Reports document findings in detail and are designed to meet admissibility standards in Florida courts. Where appropriate, the evaluator also provides sworn testimony at deposition or trial.
How is a forensic psychologist different from a clinical psychologist?
Three differences set the roles apart. Purpose: a clinical psychologist provides treatment, a forensic psychologist provides evaluation. Allegiance: a clinical psychologist serves the patient, a forensic psychologist serves the court. Methodology: clinical work centers on the therapeutic relationship, while forensic work centers on validated assessment instruments and documented findings that withstand cross-examination. FC PsychExperts conducts only forensic evaluations, which means each report and testimony is built specifically for legal scrutiny. This specialization is why courts and attorneys retain forensic psychologists rather than relying on clinical providers for legal questions.
What types of cases require a forensic psychologist in Davie or Broward County?
A forensic psychologist may be needed whenever psychological factors are central to a legal question. Common categories include criminal matters (competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, sentencing mitigation, violence risk, psychosexual assessments), civil matters (personal injury, independent medical examinations, guardianship, psychological autopsies), family law matters (custody evaluations, parental capacity, social investigations), immigration hardship petitions, and juvenile court proceedings. Each case type requires specific forensic training and familiarity with the legal standard the court applies. FC PsychExperts handles every category for Davie attorneys, judges, and government agencies.
Where is FC PsychExperts located relative to Davie?
FC PsychExperts operates from two South Florida offices. The Fort Lauderdale office at 1451 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 300 is approximately 10 miles from central Davie, roughly a 20-minute drive depending on time of day. The Jupiter office at 210 Jupiter Lakes Boulevard serves Palm Beach County matters. The team’s connection to Davie also extends through Dr. Lauren Miller’s adjunct faculty appointment at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, where she trains the next generation of Florida psychologists. For Davie attorneys, this means engaging a practice with both regional reach and authentic local presence.
What should I expect during a forensic evaluation?
A forensic evaluation generally includes a clinical interview, standardized psychological testing, and behavioral observations conducted by a licensed forensic psychologist. The evaluator reviews medical records, legal documents, and other collateral information relevant to the legal question. At the start, the psychologist explains the purpose, scope, and limits of confidentiality, which differ from clinical settings. After the assessment, the evaluator prepares a written report documenting every finding and the factual basis for each conclusion. Total time varies by evaluation type, ranging from a single session to multiple appointments for complex assessments.
How do I choose the right forensic psychologist for my case?
Look for doctoral-level training, specific forensic specialization rather than general clinical experience, documented experience with the type of evaluation your case requires, a record of expert witness testimony in Florida courts, and familiarity with Daubert admissibility standards. Ask whether the psychologist has been cross-examined in your evaluation type and in your judicial circuit. The forensic psychologists at FC PsychExperts meet these criteria and bring an additional differentiator: academic credentialing through Nova Southeastern University in Davie, which grounds the practice in the same training environment that produces qualified Florida forensic psychologists.