Competency Evaluations
Concierge Competency to Stand Trial (CST) evaluations for legal teams.
Serving Greater Los Angeles & Virtual for California
Competency to Stand Trial Evaluations
To appropriately participate in one’s own legal proceedings and defense, federal and state laws require that a person be competent to stand trial. Competency is a legal term that outlines the requirements of a person to be able to meaningfully participate in their own defense (by communicating effectively with their attorneys) and make decisions during the judicial process. Specifically, California State law in criminal proceedings requires that a person be able to:
Understand the nature of the criminal proceedings
Be able to assist their counsel in a rational manner
When these two things become questionable, legal teams will call in a trained forensic psychologist to provide a Competency to Stand Trial Evaluation based on the standards set in PC 1367(a).
Legal teams requesting a competency to stand trial (CST) Evaluation:
Most often legal teams request the CST evaluation for clients. Our team of psychologists are well-acquainted with the detainment system in Los Angeles County and provide CST evaluations on-site when needed. Schedule a consultation with our lead forensic psychologist or reach out to our office here to schedule a Competency to Stand Trial Evaluation.
What’s involved in a competency evaluation?
Competency evaluations begin with a clinical interview and then validated psychological assessment measures are given. The information gathered in the interview and the performance on the measures are combined and written into a helpful psychological report with the psychologist’s opinion as to the current mental state of the client. This report is then submitted to the requesting attorney.
Who Performs Your Evaluation
Every forensic evaluation at Grey Matter is conducted or supervised by a licensed psychologist with forensic-specific training.
Dr. Quincee Gideon, PsyD
Dr. Gideon completed her forensic training at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles, working in the jail's Forensic Inpatient Unit — a hospital built directly into the jail for defendants with the most severe mental illness. She also completed extensive forensic training at Patton State Hospital, working with individuals found Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST) and Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGI).
Full bio & credentials →Dr. Megan Johnson, PhD
Dr. Johnson completed significant forensic work at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles — the largest mental health facility of its kind in the world — evaluating individuals for competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, and fitness for duty.
Full bio & credentials →