Consulting in Mental Health Forensics, Including Jail and Prison Suicide, Sexual Abuse, and Mental Health Interactions with Law Enforcement.

Consulting in Mental Health Forensics

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Incarceration Suicide

26 year-old women with a history of sexual victimization and mental illness is incarcerated in a local jail and the mental health staff fails to provide appropriate care.  After her suicide mental health alters records to indicate they provided services.

 

Mental Status of Criminal Defendant

32 year-old African-American women is investigated by Children and Family Services and forced to complete a personality inventory.  The Personality inventory is misinterpreted and Children and Family Services begin the process of permanently removing her children.

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Incarceration Sexual Abuse

At least 3 women are incarcerated in a rural jail and transported repeatedly to another rural jail by a lone male correctional officer who repeatedly sexually assaults them.  Jail staff and Sheriffs appear to know about behavior and do not stop it.  Officer eventually arrested on multiple sex crimes after he attempts to assault a female inmate after her release and it is caught on tape by her family.

 

Vulnerability to Interrogation Techniques

19 year-old male is arrested for a crime involving violence.  During the interview, which lasts for more than 23 hours without a break, the police tell him they have his fingerprints on the murder weapon and they are not going to stop interrogating him until he confesses.  He knows he was not there and never handled a gun, so he confesses to stop the interrogations.  He knows when they run his prints against the gun he will be exonerated.  They then charge him based on his confession and tell him they have no fingerprints on the gun.  He tries to withdrawal his confession, but the prosecutor says, "If you were not guilty you would have never confessed."  He has no chance to exonerate himself.

 

Child Sexual Abuse

A 15 year-old female gets angry with her father because he stops her from dating a 20 year old man.  She makes allegations of sexual abuse against her father to get him out of the home so she can see her "boyfriend".  She is interviewed on camera by her local Child Protection Team and the interview shows clear indications that her story is rehearsed, suggested and altered by the counselors to meet their preconceptions.

 

I have been practicing Clinical Social Work for 28 years, since my graduation from Florida State University in 1990.  While my work history has been diverse, I have specialized in suicide prevention in a multitude of settings for the majority of my career.

 

I routinely provide advice, consultation and trainings on Suicide & Prevention; and Mental Health co-occurring issues, including Post Traumatic Stress, Substance Abuse, Victim Issues with Surviving Rape and Abuse.

 

I have testified and/or provided opinions and depositions in Federal Actions, State Actions and District Courts.  

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