Week5 Paper

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Capella University *

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PSY6930

Subject

Psychology

Date

Dec 6, 2023

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Uploaded by kishmeal

Running Header: Direct Testimony 1 Direct Testimony Kyerranie Ishmeal Psy6930: Current Issues and Trends in Forensic Practice Dr. Rick Van Haveren

Direct Testimony 2 Training, Credentials, and Expertise My name is Kyerranie Ishmeal. I am a clinical psychologist who is the owner of K&K Therapy. In my current position, I assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. I also assist other therapists within the practice with cases, provide expert testimonies, and perform consultations. I obtained my bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Memphis in 2005, my master’s in clinical psychology from Capella University in 2010, and my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Memphis in 2015. I have been licensed for eight years in the Psychology field in Tennessee. I have been practicing within the field of psychology for seven years. Throughout my time working in the psychology field, I have conducted two examinations before this one. Both were conducted in Tennessee at the North Hall Court House. The first examination was in July 2020, and the second was in September 2022. Also, I have testified once as an expert witness. I taught Psychology classes at the University of Memphis from August 2010 to December 2010. Since completing my education, I have held three positions before opening my practice. The first was for Hope Healing as a Psychiatric Technician, and I worked for them for three years. My second job was as a counselor at Loving Second Home Therapy for four years. My last job was as a clinical psychologist for the Angel Rehabilitation Center, and I worked there for 2 ½ years. Within the field of psychology, I qualified and obtained honors in Psychology by maintaining a 3.5 GPA from the University of Memphis. I also received the American Psychological Association International Humanitarian Award for my continuous volunteer work providing free therapy to lower and middle-class communities and working hand in hand with associations helping survivors of natural disasters to help alleviate stress caused by the disaster.

Direct Testimony 3 Methodology, Findings, and Opinions Doctor, please describe the evaluation you conducted. That is, what were you asked to do? The court requested that I conduct a competency-to-stand-trial evaluation of the defendant. The purpose of my evaluation was to evaluate the defendant, Mr. Kevin Halo, and to provide a professional opinion concerning his capacity to grasp the adjudicatory process and to participate effectively in it. My task was to assess whether the defendant could comprehend the purpose of the proceedings, and if so, if he could participate effectively and, if not, to recommend whether we should proceed. As part of the request, I was asked to identify any mental or physical impairments, explain their severity, and whether those impairments prevented the defendant from participating in the proceedings. What information did you obtain as part of your evaluation? Describe your methodology. The information obtained during the evaluation included Mr. Kevin’s employment history, criminal records, educational records, mental health and medical records, and collateral information acquired from interviews with the defendant’s girlfriend, former therapist, family members, friends, and neighbors. The defendant, Mr. Kevin, was also interviewed to collect information. During the evaluation process, a multifaceted methodology was employed to obtain as much information as possible from and about the defendant. In addition to conducting a clinical interview with the defendant, I conducted collateral interviews with the defendant's family, neighbors, and friends. All of the defendant's records, including his medical and psychiatric history, were reviewed by me. Mr. Kevin’s childhood experiences were also taken into

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Direct Testimony 4 consideration. I administered multiple psychological assessments, including the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) and the Brief Dissociative Experiences Scale. Could you render an opinion? What was your opinion? Please explain your opinion and how you arrived at it. Based on the information gathered when interviews were conducted, reviewing the records, and the results from psychological testing given, my opinion was formulated. With all this considered, the defendant is competent to stand trial. No significant mental or physical impairments present would cause Mr. Kevin to be incompetent to stand trial. In this case, the defendant demonstrated a thorough understanding of the nature and purpose of the proceedings. Mr. Kevin explained his role as well as those of the judge, jury, prosecutor, and defense team in the proceedings. It was evident that the defendant understood what the court proceedings were about as well as the potential outcomes. Did you render a diagnosis? Can you explain that to the court? The defendant's diagnosis could be reached after weighing all the available information. Mr. Kevin was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder after I considered all the information I had collected. Observing Mr. Kevin's symptoms, he exhibits signs of high anxiety levels. Several symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder are exhibited by the defendant, among them irritability, muscle tension, constant worrying, and restlessness. Mr. Kevin also shows signs of having mild obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). During the interviews, Mr. Kevin would repeatedly tap his finger on the table in sets of three. He also had to open and close the door a couple of times before being able to walk out of the room when the interview was over.

Direct Testimony 5 Did you administer any psychological testing? What were your findings? Why did you choose this test (or these tests) Psychological testing was completed as part of the methodology used. The MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool (MacCAT-CA), the Competency to Stand Trial Assessment (CAI), and the Competency to Stand Trial Screen test (CST) were all administered to the defendant. I chose these assessments because they all assessed the defendant's mental abilities and functioning in relation to legal proceedings. The psychological tests showed that the defendant was well-informed and competent about the legal process and its systems. The evaluation of the defendant's competence to stand trial considered the outcomes of the psychological tests, which operated as expected. Testimony Effectiveness The testimony provided unbiased, factual, and helpful information. In my experience, this scenario illustrates how tight efforts were taken to ensure the validity and reliability of the defendant's assessment using multiple psychological testing instruments. Additionally, this writer's testimony was enhanced by explaining how several fact-finding methodologies were incorporated into this evaluation. Potential weaknesses arose from moments of uncertainty when asking questions to the defendant and then processing that information to determine competency. Following ethical boundaries is essential when giving psycho-legal opinions. Neither the defense nor the prosecution should expect me to present their case in this process. By providing a professional opinion without personal beliefs that can blur ethical lines, I aim to provide an unbiased assessment.

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