Forensic Evaluation Template

## What's Included

This Forensic Evaluation Template provides a comprehensive framework for conducting and documenting forensic mental health assessments. It includes structured sections such as Identifying Information, Referral Source, Legal Context, and Reason for Evaluation. Detailed components guide the clinician through Mental Status Examination, Psychosocial History, Substance Use, and Mental Health History. The template also incorporates standardized assessment tools and scoring fields, as well as a thorough Risk Assessment section addressing potential for harm to self or others.

Additional sections cover Diagnostic Impressions with DSM-5 coding, Opinion and Conclusions, and Recommendations tailored to legal questions such as competency, criminal responsibility, or custody matters. Each section is designed with prompts and checklists to ensure completeness and clinical rigor, facilitating clear, objective, and legally defensible documentation.

## Who This Template Is For

This template is specifically designed for forensic psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, and other mental health professionals who perform court-ordered or legally relevant evaluations. It is ideal for clinicians involved in criminal, civil, or family court cases requiring a detailed mental health assessment within a forensic context.

## How to Use

Begin by collecting all relevant referral information and legal parameters to frame the scope of your evaluation. Use the template’s prompts to systematically document your clinical interview, collateral information, and standardized testing results. Carefully complete each section, ensuring that observations, clinical findings, and test data are clearly articulated and supported by evidence.

Integrate your diagnostic impressions based on DSM-5 criteria and synthesize findings into a cohesive opinion addressing the referral questions. Review the Risk Assessment thoroughly and provide clear recommendations that align with legal standards. Save the completed document in your clinical record and prepare it for submission to the referring legal parties as needed.

## Customize with MentalNote

Leverage MentalNote’s AI-powered tools to automatically generate forensic evaluation reports directly within Microsoft Word. By inputting key clinical data and case details, MentalNote can produce a customized, professionally formatted forensic evaluation that adheres to best practice documentation standards. This streamlines your workflow, allowing you to focus on clinical interpretation while ensuring accuracy and consistency in your forensic reports.