Forensic Psychology
Through its Forensic Clinic, the Institute provides forensic psychological consultation and evaluation services for a range of criminal and
civil cases, referred by judges and attorneys throughout Virginia and other states. Evaluations are conducted for both criminal and juvenile court,
subsequent to a range of offenses (e.g., capital murder,
homicide, stalking, robbery, sexual assault, and property crime).
Some common referral questions in
criminal cases involve:
- Competence to stand trial
- Competence to make decisions and waive rights
- Sanity at the time of the offense
- Sentencing issues in capital and non-capital cases
- Sex offender evaluations, including risk assessments for sexual violence
- Suggestibility and coercion
- Threats of violence
- Violence risk assessment
The Forensic Clinic also provides assessment and consultation related to civil litigation. Forensic
evaluations in civil litigation typically involve assessment of emotional injury, trauma, physical or
sexual abuse (including abuse in institutions), and related issues. Questions related to professional practice
are also addressed.
Additionally, the Clinic provides evaluations and consultation in cases that are not before the court. Most often, these private consultations involve violence risk assessment or threat assessment for schools or universities. Others involve fitness for duty evaluations for the workplace.
Director of Psychology Dr. Daniel Murrie, and other
forensic evaluators at ILPPP, are active researchers and educators as well as clinicians. Thus, in addition
to performing evaluations, educational consultation may be provided to attorneys and agencies regarding the state
of research, or best practices, related to forensic psychology. For example, research
reviews and "teaching expert" consultation have been provided for topics such as: best practices in sex offender and
violence risk assessments, violence risk in capital sentencing, the role (and limits) of psychopathy
assessment, and psychological assessment in juvenile justice contexts.
Questions regarding forensic psychology consultation should be directed to Dr. Daniel Murrie at DCM3w@virginia.edu.