Criminal Responsibility Assessment

Our forensic criminal responsibility evaluations in Sugar Land and the Greater Houston area determine whether a defendant had the mental capacity to understand the nature or wrongfulness of their actions at the time of the offense. These comprehensive assessments examine psychiatric symptoms, cognitive functioning, and behavioral evidence to assess legal insanity under applicable standards. When mental illness may have impaired moral or legal judgment, our expert team offers clear, evidence-based opinions to assist the court in determining criminal responsibility.

Who Can Conduct This Assessment?

In Texas, under Article 46C.102 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, court-appointed experts evaluating a defendant’s criminal responsibility must be licensed psychiatrists or psychologists with specialized forensic training and experience. They are also required to complete continuing education in forensic psychiatry or psychology. Presently, Dr. Derek Ream meets these requirements and provides this assessment.

What's Involved in This Assessment?

In criminal responsibility evaluations, the psychologist conducts a thorough forensic interview, administers targeted psychological tests as indicated, reviews pertinent legal and clinical records, and evaluates the defendant’s behavior; either in person or through secure telehealth platforms when permitted. The focus of the evaluation is not on current legal understanding, but rather on whether, at the time of the alleged offense, the defendant was suffering from a severe mental illness that impaired their ability to know the nature or wrongfulness of their actions. This structured process allows the evaluator to form a professional opinion regarding the defendant’s mental state during the commission of the offense, in accordance with applicable legal standards.

How to Get Started?

A criminal responsibility evaluation may be ordered when there is concern that a defendant’s mental state at the time of the offense was impaired by a severe mental illness. This concern can be raised by the defense, prosecution, or the court itself. The process typically begins with a formal motion or judicial inquiry, often based on behavioral evidence, psychiatric history, or the nature of the alleged offense. If the court finds sufficient cause, it will order a criminal responsibility evaluation and appoint a qualified forensic expert; typically a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist with specialized training; to determine whether the defendant lacked the capacity to understand the nature or wrongfulness of their actions at the time of the offense.

How the Process Works:

Forensic Assessment

At the beginning of the evaluation, the psychologist will conduct a comprehensive interview to gather information about your background and any cognitive or emotional symptoms. You may also complete targeted psychological tests to support the assessment. Most evaluations take between one to four hours, though the exact duration may vary based on your individual circumstances. If additional sessions or follow-up questions are needed, the psychologist will inform your attorney.

Report of Findings

After the evaluation is completed, the psychologist will prepare a detailed report outlining findings and conclusions regarding criminal responsibility. This report is submitted directly to the court and the defendant’s attorney to assist in legal decision-making. Please note that the defendant does not receive a copy of the report.

Get Started

Step 1

Schedule your assessment online by calling us at 281-402-9227.

Step 2

New examinee paperwork will be sent to you in advance to be completed via our secure HIPAA-compliant platform. (Please complete and submit your paperwork no later than 24 hours prior to your appointment).

Step 3

Meet with your psychologist in person, or, over video using our HIPAA-compliant platform - a link will be emailed to you to access your appointment in advance.