We provide Psycholegal assessment and reports for Court to assist in a range of criminal and civil litigation matters.
Forensic Assessment Services
FCG specializes in providing professional and unique psycholegal assessments and reports for range of criminal and civil matters. We understand the importance of producing high-quality reports that can be used in a Court of law and understand our legal and ethical obligations as an expert witness, adhering to practice notes and codes of conduct in various jurisdictions and across different practice areas of law. Our experienced team of experts is equipped with the knowledge and skills required to deliver comprehensive assessments that accurately address the legal issues at hand, producing expert evidence that your legal team can draw from and rely upon to better understand factors affecting your case.
What is forensic psychology?
Forensic psychology is the application of a specialized branch of psychology to the legal system to investigate, understand, analyse, and prevent predominantly criminal behaviour. Forensic psychologists have specialised training which enables them to provide expert opinions and prepare Court reports including pre-sentence and mitigation assessments, general risk assessments, and more specialized risk assessments for sexual offending, violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking. Our team also have expertise in complex evidentiary matters, evaluating fitness to plead and whether a person has a mental impairment defence available under the relevant legislation.
Increasingly in addition to criminal matters, assessments are often required for civil litigation including Family Court matters relating to parenting and child custody arrangements or disputes; personal injury, medico-legal and compensation claims to determine extent of psychological injury due to exposure to an event; and in immigration cases, particularly in cases where protection is required or deportation is a risk.
Our experienced team are adept at providing reports to inform the relevant Courts and/or Department of Home Affairs for these more complex cases. At FCG, we have also been involved in providing reports for professional competency matters, where professional boards and registration are at stake.
Forensic Assessment Services
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Personal (use/possession)
Trafficking (commercial and simpliciter)
Importation and manufacture
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DUI & culpable driving
Dangerous/reckless driving
Unlicenced and unregistered driving
Traffic offences
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Firearms & weapons
Assault, sexual or violent offences
Child abuse material and child sex offences
Manslaughter & Murder
Dishonesty and fraud offences
Summary & Indictable Offences
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Single Expert Witness
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Institutional Abuse
Immigration
WorkCover & TAC
Personal injury
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APHRA
Medical Board
Legal Services Board
Psychological Fitness To Work
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Personality assessment
ADHD assessment
Specialised risk assessments for violent and sexual offenders reoffending, arson, stalking, substance abuse, and intimate partner violence.
Firearm Licensing applications
Forensic Report Fees
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The standard forensic psychological assessment includes an extended consultation with the client, psychometric testing, review of provided legal and medical documentation relevant to the matter, research, and report preparation.
Fee $3,000.00 (incl GST)*
*If a specialised risk assessment is required an additional fee of $500.00 will apply per assessment. More serious or complex offences (stalking, violent, or sexual offences) attract a higher rate due to extended testing and reporting required.
**FCG also continue to provide Victorian Legal Aid (VLA) assessments and reports as well as other third-party funded assessments (WorkCover/TAC) to service the community, often including those with complex issues, disadvantages, and marginalisation. However, the time and resources required to complete a comprehensive forensic assessment including psychometric testing have resulted in a special disbursement to be arranged. Please contact us to arrange a quote for VLA lodgement.
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The assessment includes an extended consultation with the client, psychometric testing, review of supplied legal and medical documentation relevant to the matter, research, and comprehensive report preparation.
Fee from $4,500.00 (incl GST)
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Single Expert Witness assessment includes an extensive consultation and comprehensive report preparation. There is also often a large volume of legal material to review relative to the matter.
Fee from $4,000.00 (incl GST) per parent. Risk assessments will attract an additional fee of $500.00 (inc GST) due to the extended time and resources required to complete.
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The assessment includes an extended consultation with the client, psychometric testing, a review of provided legal documentation relevant to the matter, research, and comprehensive report preparation.
Fee from $4,500.00 (incl GST)
Payment Policy
All private fees are payable in full seven (7) business days prior to the assessment date (except where funded by a third-party organisation - e.g. VLA-funded matters).
Reports will not be released to legal counsel prior to full payment being received.
Please contact us to discuss your individual case for fees for other criminal or civil matters, as this will vary depending on the complexity of the case.
Cancellation Policy
Our team requires 48 hours notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Any cancellations within 24 hours or non-attendance of an appointment may be charged the full fee as it is unlikely we can allocate this time to another client.
This cancellation policy is necessary due to our waitlist for urgent assessments, as well as the psychologist having reviewed large amounts of material in advance to prepare for the assessment or time spent preparing for treatment appointments.
Cancelled appointments adversely affect three people:
1. The client who has cancelled or not attended is affected as it delays their assessment or treatment and progress, and can result in further delays to the Court if adjournment is required (and there is no guarantee this will be granted by the Court which may adversely affect the outcome of the case if an assessment is not conducted and a report cannot be provided);
2. Another waitlisted client needing an urgent appointment is affected as they could have benefited from the cancelled or non-attended appointment;
3. The psychologist suffers a loss of time and income having prepared for the appointment.
Professional Development
FCG offers consultancy and provision of workshops/training to legal professionals and other mental health professionals.
In addition, we offer supervision and/or collaborative practice with other treating mental health professionals on forensic matters.
