Forensic Services
Phone: (513) 352-1342
Fax: (513) 352-1345
Director: Sherry Baker, PhD
Coordinator: Dorothy O'Neil
General Information:
As a certified Forensic Center in the State of Ohio, evaluations are provided to the Judges of the criminal courts of Hamilton and Clermont Counties, in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, and Ohio Department of Mental Health standards. Evaluations are performed by Court Clinic staff with qualifications/credentials that are stipulated by law, and include licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, and independently licensed social workers.
Special Services
The Forensic Services unit of Court Clinic provides the following specialized programs:
- Competency Monitoring: This is a service for defendants who have been found to be Competent to Stand Trial by the Court but may be at risk of de-compensating. Court Clinic staff meets with the defendant while at the Hamilton County Justice Center awaiting court proceedings. If Court Clinic staff identifies a change in the defendant’s mental status, they will notify the Court;
- Competency Restoration: Forensic Services offers outpatient competency restoration treatment, an alternative to inpatient treatment. This service will be recommended by the Court Clinic Staff as appropriate in a court ordered competency evaluation;
- Jury Intervention: Forensic Services provides this service upon request by a Judge or Jury Commissioner. Court Clinic provides assistance to Jurors who may have experienced psychological or emotional stress as a result of their participation in a major criminal case;
- Forensic Monitoring: Forensic Services provides the Forensic Monitor, who serves as the liaison between the criminal justice system, community treatment agencies, and state behavioral health hospitals for individuals found NGRI or Incompetent to Stand Trial/Un-restorable who remain under Court jurisdiction (IST-U-CJ).
Evaluations
Court Clinic's Forensic Services provides evaluations to meet the needs of Hamilton and Clermont Counties criminal courts systems. These include:
- Competency to stand trial;
- NGRI (Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity);
- Post-NGRI (Conditional Release);
- Pre- and Post-Sentence advisability of treatment/mitigation of sentence;
- Intervention in lieu of conviction;
- In-Depth Assessment for Women (AIW);
- Eligibility for Mental Health Court;
- Involuntary hospitalization;
- Second opinions for non-secured privileges;
- Risk of sexually re-offending;
- Probation and Pre-Trial curbside consultations
Location
Forensic Services is provided at the central Court Clinic building convienently located in downtown Cincinnati, across from the Hamilton County Justice Center. For directions and information, please click the link below.