Dr. Kline's experience and training give him the skills necessary to provide comprehensive clinical and forensic conceptualizations. His opinions are based on solid evidence garnered from a variety of sources. The information he provides will help you make informed strategy decisions for your clients.
A psychological assessment, for either criminal or civil issues, consists of information drawn from multiple sources. Multiple sources of information allow for clear psychological opinions. Sources of information can and often include hospital records, interviews with relevant individuals, testing, employment records, and review of past evaluations. This information is then combined with the relevant research to render an opinion.
Psychological evaluations are only part of the issue in forensic evaluations. Court testimony is an important component to the assessment process. Dr. Kline has experience testifying in both civil and criminal cases from guardianship to capital cases.
Depending on the case there are a variety of questions, which might be important to have answered. These include:
Criminal Cases:
Mental State at Time of Criminal Offense: In these evaluations Dr. Kline needs access to as much data as possible including Police reports, previous interviews, witness statements, treatment records, interviews with the defendant, interviews with relevant family members, and possible interviews with other witnesses and law enforcement officers. Missouri law, which is similar to many other states, requires that there be present a mental disease or defect and that the mental disease or defect interferes with the defendants ability to "appreciate the nature, quality, or wrongfulness" of their alleged criminal behavior.
Competency to Proceed To Trial: For these cases the information needed is almost identical to the issue of Mental State as outlined above. The question is a little different though. In Missouri the standard follows the United States Supreme Court ruling in Dusky v. United States. Missouri Statute states that the defendant cannot be tried if that "as a result of mental disease or defect [he or she] lacks capacity to understand the proceedings against him or to assist in his own defense."
Diminished Capacity: Certain criminal offenses require a certain level of intent (i.e. First Degree Murder requires that a person "knowingly cause the death of another person after deliberation upon the matter”). There are times when a person's mental state (often a mental disease or defect) interferes with their ability to fully form the necessary intent for the crime charged. The information needed to perform this type of evaluation is similar to the information needed to establish mental state at time of the offense.
Mitigating Factors: In many cases it is important to present information to the court regarding mitigating factors that may have influenced the defendants actions during the course of the alleged crime. These factors can help influence sentencing issues and are often used in capital murder cases.
Civil Cases:
Disability Determinations: In these evaluations Dr. Kline reviews a variety of information regarding the person's past treatment for both medical and mental health issues. He gathers pertinent background information that covers specific information regarding the patient's current level of functioning in a variety of environments. Dr Kline also reviews collateral information from sources other than the patient's medical/mental health record in order to gather as much pertinent information as needed.
Workplace Violence Assessments: In these evaluations Dr. Kline interviews the employee and gathers information from his (or her) employers and fellow employees as necessary. Other information comes from appropriate collateral sources and includes any treatment records, interviews with friends and family members, and psychological testing. These evaluations are often complex requiring a great deal of data to help the employer make effective decisions regarding risk assessment and violence prevention.
Personal Injury Evaluations: In these evaluations Dr. Kline reviews collateral data, medical, and psychiatric records. He gathers pertinent background information that covers specific information regarding the patient's current level of functioning in a variety of environments. Interviews with friends and family members, and psychological testing is also helpful.
Tests Commonly Administered
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - 2 (MMPI-2)
Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI)
Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (SIRS)
Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI)
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale -III (WAIS-III)
Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales
Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scales
Wechsler Memory Scale -III (WMS-III) A common measure of memory.