Pre-Sentencing and Risk Assessment Here at ARCH Psychological Services, we have extensive and diverse experience working with courts, attorneys and regulatory bodies. When conducting forensic psychological assessments, we use multidisciplinary approach that includes psychological testing (such as behaviour and personality tests, tests of cognitive abilities, etc.), clinical interviews with client and collateral sources, and data from available documentation and records. We aim to be detailed, accurate and useful in provided reports and testimonies, but also time and cost effective. We can conduct separate pre-sentencing and risk assessment, or combination of them. Pre-Sentencing Assessment Pre-sentencing assessment is used to collect information for writing a report that is an objective psychological evaluation that can assist the courts in making sentencing decisions. Pre-sentencing assessments are usually conducted in one of these stages: If there is a risk of being formally charged or if a person is formally charged or prior to sentencing. Usually those type of assessments are often requested to examine if there are mitigating factors related to the person’s actions. The report of pre-sentencing assessment will provide explanation and better understanding of client’s behaviours that are often very complex. That allows the court to make further decisions based on a broader understanding of the situation and person's actions. Also, if there are determined factors such as certain psychological state, it may result in lesser penalty. Risk Assessment Risk assessment can be conducted to identify triggers and assess chances of possible repetition or indivudual's proneness to criminal behaviour, in order for it's prevention (for example for treatment and therapy purposes). Risk assessment can also be conducted for criminal or civil law purposes. In criminal law, risk assessment is usually being conducted to assess potential risk for reoffending, for bail application purposes, for preventative detention and dispositions of charged individuals with mental disorders. In civil law, risk assessment relates to assessing individuals diagnosed with a mental health issue or intellectual disability, assessment of the violence risk, ect. After conducting an assessment(s), we provide our recommendations to the court. We also defend our reports in court and are willing to cooperate with the court to make sure that our recommendations are fully understood. Duration of Pre-Sentencing and Risk Assessment Depending on complexity, pre-sentencing and risk assessment can take up to 16-20 hours per assessment or up to 25-30 hours to complete them both.