Forensic Psychiatry

Forensic psychiatry is a medical subspecialty of psychiatry that includes consultation, research and clinical practice as applied to legal issues. It encompasses the interface between law and psychiatry. Some practitioners of forensic psychiatry have taken extra training in that specific area. In the United States, one year subspecialty or fellowships are offered in this field to psychiatrists who have completed their general psychiatry training.

A forensic psychiatrist is a physician who integrates clinical experience, knowledge of medicine, mental health, and the neurosciences to form an independent, objective opinion. Relevant data are gathered and analyzed as part of a process of alternative hypothesis testing to formulate an expert medical/psychiatric opinion. Forensic psychiatrists work with courts and are often called to be expert witnesses in both criminal and civil proceedings. A medical expert is a physician who has the requisite clinical experience and academic achievement to form an objective medical opinion to a reasonable degree of medical certainty. Often the psychiatrist will have prepared a detailed report before testifying. The primary duty of the expert witness is to provide an independent opinion to the court. Please note that Forensic Psychiatrists are NOT psychic, nor are they engaged in profiling, a job better done by experienced police.

Forensic psychiatrists are also involved in the care of prisoners, both those in jails and those in prisons, and in the care of the mentally ill and dangerous (such as those who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity).

We are experienced in working closely with attorneys in a variety of legal issues providing consultation to attorneys, courts, employers, insurers and agencies in relation to civil, criminal, correctional and regulatory issues. We offer a full range of evaluation services including, but not limited to:

• Child Custody and Visitation
• Competence, Civil and Criminal
  • Competency to Consent to Treatment
  • Competency to Stand Trial
  • Testamentary Capacity (the legal term of art used to describe a person’s legal and mental ability to make a valid will.)
• Correctional Psychiatry
• Criminal Responsibility
  • Insanity Assessment
  • Malingering Assessment
• Critiquing Opposing Experts Reports
• Fitness for Duty
• Involuntary Treatment
• Juvenile Justice
• Malpractice
• Mental Disability
• Psychic Injury
• Risk Assessments:
  • Domestic Violence Risk Assessment
  • Sex Offender Risk Assessment
  • Stalking Risk Assessment
  • Suicide Risk Assessment
  • Violence Risk Assessment

Dr. Mark DeLuca is currently the only fellowship trained forensic psychiatrist in Palm Beach County.