Training, certification, and regulation of forensic evaluators

Forensic evaluators play a crucial role in criminal cases in which the defendant appears to have a mental disability. Historically, state laws restricted eligibility to perform forensic evaluations to physicians or psychiatrists. These restrictions had loosened by the time of G. Farkas' (1997) survey of states. According to the research underlying this case study, all but six states allow psychologists to conduct forensic evaluations and an increasing number of states broaden eligible professions even further. At the same time, states show an increased interest in comprehensive training programs or formal certification programs for forensic evaluators. This case study examines Massachusetts' certification program and summarizes legal requirements for forensic evaluators in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.