Leading provider of psychological services

Expert WitnessPrison Law

Dedicated to providing expert witnesses for Prison Law cases

Fast, efficient service with the human touch

The practice of Forensic Psychology is intrinsic to prison and parole cases; with prisoner rehabilitation, re-offending risk, mental health assessment among other areas heavily dependent on the opinion, testimony and recommendations of experts and their Medico-Legal Reports. A complex area of law; public safety, consideration of victims and well-being of offenders are all affected by judgements and decisions made by probation services, parole boards and legal authorities.

For this reason, access to experienced, skilled Psychologists, able to communicate thorough, objective, evidence-based findings via high quality, clear reports and in person at hearings, is crucial to solicitors and prison authorities.

Professionals working in this challenging area of law, which can be fraught with pressure, deserve an empathetic, professional, fast, reliable and personable service when they are looking for expert Psychological assessment.

At Psychology Direct we have a register of over 1000 qualified Psychologists drawn from every specialist field of Psychology, all of whom comply with Legal Aid rates. We work fast to provide CVs within 24 hours from Psychologists with an in-depth understanding and experience of criminality and offending, and their expert legal reports within 4-6 weeks. Your dedicated client manager will offer a personal, helpful, supportive service, being there when you need them, handling all appointments and administration and proof-reading reports.

Our prison law assessment services include;

Pre-sentencing reports
Recommendations for parole
Recommendation and guidance for rehabilitation
Suitability for release
Prison category review
Neuropsychological assessment
Risk assessment of reoffending
Recommendations for intervention
Mental health and personality disorder assessment
Sex offender risk assessment
Capacity assessments
Assessments of Indeterminate Prisoners for Public Protection (IPP)

Psychology Direct – A dedicated, professional service

Three CVs and fees of Forensic/specialist Psychologists within 24 hours
Medico-legal reports supplied quickly – usually within 4-6 weeks
In depth assessments include expert intervention and treatment recommendations where relevant
All Psychologists comply with Legal Aid rates
All reports quality-checked
Able to meet cultural, language or geographical requirements
Team on hand to book appointments and handle administration

Do you need an expert witness for your prison or parole case?

Contact us

Get in touch

Contact us using one of the tabs on the form below, or call us on 01306 879 975 to find out how we can help. Alternatively, click here to request a call back.

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“Deadlines needed to be met and it was extremely useful having the services of a local Psychologist. I would definitely use your service in the future and will recommend you.”

- Steve Harman, Solicitor - Williamsons Solicitors

“I started using PD about six years ago after finding the company on the internet. I found staff to be helpful and informative and their range of experts to be second to none. Enquiries are responded to promptly. Reports are delivered securely and on time. In fact many of my colleagues use PD now. They do take the hard work out of locating relevant available experts.”

- Brent Patterson, Solicitor - Howard Bernstein Solicitors

“I was very grateful for the speed and quality of response from Psychology Direct in identifying suitable experts who could hit tight timeframes. A very helpful service.”

- Tom Battarbee, Solicitor - Swain & Co

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Are you looking for more information? Why not look through our resource centre?Go to Resource Centre

Case studies

20Nov

Delivering a Court report within days

Problems arose during a Fitness to plead assessment and we stepped in to provide a new psychologist.

Complex logistics in a Family Law case

A complex case involving domestic violence, funding issues and tight timescales put our team to the test.

24hr turnaround for the CPS

Our efficient handling of an urgent court ordered report meant we exceeded the CPS's expectations.

FAQs

Does you accept referrals from private individuals?

Unfortunately not, we only work business to business, through solicitors, local authorities, CPS, case management companies and schools. If you are a private individual looking for a psychologist please speak with your solicitor, school, GP or insurer.

If you wish to locate a Psychologist yourself then visit the British Psychological Society’s website at https://www.bps.org.uk/

Will I pay more through you for a Psychologist rather than finding one myself?

Absolutely not! Our service is based on providing excellent value – and added value.

Not only will we secure you an appropriately qualified and experienced Psychologist for your case without all the time and hassle of searching for one yourself, but we’ll handle all administration, bookings and ensure you get the report on time plus you’ll have a dedicated client manager at your beck and call too.

So you get competitive prices and all our extra support at no extra cost, meaning you save yourself time and money.

What is the difference between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist?

This is often an area of confusion. Understanding the difference between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist can be crucial to securing the right professional for your case.

Psychologists are trained in human and emotional development. They use their extensive knowledge of human emotions, behaviour and mental health to assess the problems being experienced by their clients. Based on their expert assessment; conclusions, recommendations and treatment plans will be presented in a report as required. Psychologists use a range of assessment techniques including psychometric testing as well as varied therapeutic models in order to understand and improve the mental health and psychological well-being of clients.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors and as such are qualified to prescribe medication (such as anti-depressants) or in more extreme cases recommend hospitalisation, to help assess and manage the symptoms being experienced by the person concerned.

In some cases, it may not be immediately clear whether a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist is required. A complex case may even require both. Our extensive register of professionals includes both Psychologists and Psychiatrists, and our knowledgeable client team are on hand to give you the advice you need and supply the right type of professional. If you have any questions at all, just give us a call.

Do your Experts work at legal aid rates?

Yes. We are fully aware and understanding of our clients’ budgets, so all our Psychologists work to Legal Aid rates.

We can also supply CVs and quotes for 3 Experts with the full breakdown of hours, as required by the Legal Aid Agency.

I need an Expert Witness. What’s the process?

First of all, contact us! You can call us on 01306 879 975. You can request a call back. You can email us or use our contact form. Once we have your initial contact request, we’ll respond within an hour. One of our Client Managers will take a brief of your requirements, and get to work straight away, using their knowledge of our network of Psychologists and Psychiatrists to get you 3 CVs and quotes within 24 hours. Once an Expert Witness is instructed, bookings for assessments and all other administration required for the case will be managed by us and we will ensure that the report is delivered within your required timescales.