FORENSIC EVALUATION 

Dr. Lawing is uniquely suited to provide a variety of forensic psychological services to attorneys, judges, and other agencies. In addition to providing expert forensic services in the two states in which she is licensed to practice psychology (Louisiana and Colorado), Dr. Lawing is also able to conduct evaluations across the nation in participating PSYPACT states:

What Is Forensic Psychology?

Forensic Psychology is the application of the science of psychology to legal issues; the practice of which, is focused on the intersection between psychology and the law. A forensic psychologist applies her or his science and research to legal questions. The role of the forensic psychologist includes a thorough clinical interview, review of collateral information (such as collateral interviews and reviewing objective data), as well as the selection, administration, scoring and interpretation of robust personality and psycho-emotional tests that are likely to yield objective data, diagnostic and otherwise, about the cognitive and psychological functioning of the person being examined.

How Dr. Lawing Can Help

Dr. Lawing’s goal as an expert witness is to deliver accurate and precise information to the decision makers in the courtroom regarding psychologically based legal questions. She takes measures to ensure that the opinions offered are as objective as possible and does not offer opinions that are merely possible.

Dr. Lawing’s Background in Forensic Psychology

During her doctoral studies, Dr. Lawing worked as a graduate student researcher with the Louisiana MacArthur Foundation’s Model for Change (LAMfC). Juvenile justice reform is the overarching initiative of the LAMfC. Within this grant, Dr. Lawing worked with several Louisiana parishes focused on reducing racial and ethnic disparities, and increasing evidence based decision-making for evaluation and placement of detained youth.

Dr. Lawing’s masters thesis focused on adolescent sex offending and offenders with callous and unemotional traits (i.e., a combination of affective and emotional traits found in adults with psychopathy). Dr. Lawing’s doctoral dissertation examined various types of juvenile offenders, characteristics of offenses, and outcome variables, such as recidivism.

Following her doctorate, Dr. Lawing completed a two year forensic post doctoral fellowship wherein she received advanced training in fitness for-duty and pre-employment assessment for federal officers, police, detention, and probation officers, and other high risk job candidates/employees. She received extensive supervised practice performing forensic psychological evaluations of criminal defendants, including evaluations of various legal competencies, sanity evaluations, and evaluations for sentencing (mitigating/aggravating) factors. She also received comprehensive forensic training in conducting personal injury evaluations and other forensic psychological evaluations involving civil matters.

Dr. Lawing has authored numerous peer reviewed articles as well as book chapters and presented at academic conferences in the area of forensic psychology. She brings her education, training, and experience to offer informed and objective expert opinions to the trier of fact in the courtroom. Dr. Lawing has been qualified as an expert in court in the areas of forensic psychology, child psychology, and clinical psychology. Her testimony experience includes civil and criminal matters, and she has worked with the defense, prosecution, and as a court appointed expert.

AREAS OF SPECIALTY

Criminal Law Issues:

- Affirmative Defense (Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity [NGRI]/Insanity Defense)

- Death Penalty Mitigation

- Mitigating/Aggravating Circumstances for Sentencing

- Psychological Risk Assessment

- Trial Competency

- Waiver of Miranda Rights/Suggestibility

Civil Law Issues:

- Employment Discrimination

- Fitness for Duty Evaluation/Fitness to Practice Evaluation

- Independent Medical [Psychological] Evaluation

- Personal Injury, Including Psychological Injuries and Emotional Distress

- Psychological Autopsy

Please Note:

Dr. Lawing works directly with attorneys, the courts, or other retaining agencies (e.g., police departments, hospitals, HR departments). She does not work directly with defendants, claimants, litigants, or fitness for duty evaluees. As such, initial contact with her office must be made by an attorney, or agency, and not the represented party.  If you are involved in a legal matter, please have your attorney reach out.