Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is forensic psychology?
- Why should I hire a forensic psychologist?
- What services do you offer?
- How can a forensic psychologist help in my legal case?
- What do you charge?
- What payment methods are accepted?
- How do I contact you?
- What if my client/family member/friend is incarcerated?
- How do I get a copy of my records?
- What language does Dr. Brookham speak?
What is forensic psychology?
Forensic psychology is any psychological service that is related to the legal system in some way. This includes, but is not limited to, psychological evaluations for criminal, civil, or immigration courts. They might include evaluations for accurate diagnosis and treatment recommendations, mitigation reports to assist in your criminal defense or sentencing, competency opinions, or assessment for immigration proceedings.
Why should I hire a forensic psychologist?
A forensic psychologist has experience working with the courts and legal professionals, and is experienced in writing psychological documents for legal purposes. They are expected to have additional training in areas of forensic psychology and to maintain the highest level of ethical and legal practices. Arizona only offers one license for individuals with doctorates in psychology or related fields, so it is important to do additional research into the specialty area for which your provider has training and experience. For example, many psychologists can administer psychological tests, but a forensic psychologist can interpret the tests in a manner relevant to your specific legal case and write the results in a way that is helpful to your lawyer and the courts.
What services do you offer?
Dr. Brookham specializes in criminal and immigration forensic psychological evaluations, but she is also available for some civil matters. A sample of possible services includes:
- Personality and cognitive evaluation to assist with your defense
- Mitigation evaluation to assist with plea agreements and/or sentencing
- Risk assessment (violence or sexual risk)
- Neuropsychological evaluation
- Competency and GEI (Guilty Except Insane) evaluations and opinions
- Immigration Hardship evaluation
- Asylum, VAWA, and other visa applications
How can a forensic psychologist help in my legal case?
A forensic psychologist can help your lawyer prepare a better or more thorough defense in a criminal or immigration case if there are psychological issues that should be considered. A report from a forensic psychologist might help at all stages of your case including competency, plea agreements, or sentencing. A forensic psychologist can also assist with civil matters by helping to diagnose psychological or neuropsychological issues that could be considered during negotiations or at trial. A high quality report by a forensic psychologist is usually considered an expert opinion by the Courts and has the potential to assist in your case. You and your lawyer can discuss how a psychological evaluation might be used in your legal case.
What do you charge?
Dr. Brookham’s services typically start at $300 per hour, which includes psychological testing, record review, report writing, and communicating with your lawyer. There is an additional fee for any time spent preparing for and/or delivering expert witness testimony. A forensic battery of cognitive and personality tests typically starts at about $3000, while a neuropsychological battery typically starts at about $4200. Immigration evaluations (without formal psychological testing) are usually in the range of $1200. Dr. Brookham also accepts payment by third parties, such as the public defender’s office, so please discuss payment possibilities with your lawyer if you are interested in a forensic psychological assessment. Fees and expected costs will be discussed fully before services begin.
What payment methods are accepted?
Dr. Brookham accepts cash, check, and money orders only. Forensic psychology services are not healthcare services and are not covered by health insurance. All services require payment at the beginning of the evaluation unless Dr. Brookham has an agreement with a third party who will be covering the cost of your evaluation, such as the public defender’s office. You will receive an estimate based on your individual needs and more services can be added as your case progresses if necessary. Payment is never contingent on your psychological test results or the outcome of your case. This allows opinions to remain unbiased and improves the quality and reliability of your results.
How do I contact you?
You can contact Dr. Brookham by phone at (480) 252-8960. There are several times when she is not able to answer her phone so please leave a message and you will receive a return call. Please note that until you retain her services, contact with Dr. Brookham does not constitute a confidential relationship. Please be aware that anything you say on a voicemail or in an email might affect your legal case. Please consult with your attorney and feel free to ask your attorney to contact me directly.
What if my client/family member/friend is incarcerated?
Dr. Brookham is able to complete psychological evaluations in most jail facilities in Maricopa and Pinal counties, including county, state, and federal facilities. Please contact her for questions regarding your specific needs.
How do I get a copy of my records?
Dr. Brookham maintains psychological records for a period of seven years. You can contact her directly for information about how to obtain a copy of your report, or to have a summary of your test results (also known as a psychometric summary) sent to another qualified psychologist. Please note that forensic psychological services can differ from medical services and there are instances when you might not have access to your records for legal reasons. Please contact Dr. Brookham directly for more information.
What language does Dr. Brookham speak?
Dr. Brookham is fluent in English, and can only evaluate in English. If English is not your primary language, some evaluation services can be conducted with an interpreter of your choosing. Forensic testing options are limited for non-English speakers.