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State of Washington Classified Job Specification

PSYCHOLOGIST - FORENSIC EVALUATOR

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PSYCHOLOGIST - FORENSIC EVALUATOR
Class Code: 362F
Category: Social Services


Definition

Conducts psychological evaluations and provides expert testimony regarding criminally (RCW 10.77) and civilly (RCW 71.09) committed persons. Performs pre-trial evaluations to include competency, diminished capacity, sanity and dangerousness or performs post-sentence or adjudication evaluations of sexually violent predators (SVP). Forensic evaluations are performed in jails, state facilities and/or community settings.

Typical Work

Performs forensic evaluations and provides testimony for the courts in accordance with RCW 10.77 and/or RCW 71.09;

Provides expert testimony in court regarding evaluations, competency, sanity, diminished capacity, civil commitment under RCW 71.09 or risk assessment; explains and defends findings;

Prepares forensic evaluation reports to the courts;

Conducts comprehensive review of relevant criminal or civil information, records and history;

Reviews case findings with prosecutors and defense counsel; provides case status reports;

Documents all aspects of evaluation and case chronology;

Conducts risk assessments; assesses patients for psychological testing needs;

Administers, scores and interprets psychological tests and produces written reports;

Provides in-service training and formal and informal psychological consultation regarding psychiatric disorders, treatments and care strategies to staff;

Interviews both pre- and post-trial defendants;

Conducts risk assessments of forensic patients subject to RCW 10.77.270;

Conducts forensic psychological evaluations pursuant to RCW 10.77;

Completes annual evaluation reports per RCW 71.09 for Special Commitment Center (SCC) residents, who have been civilly committed under RCW 71.09 for treatment;

Reviews resident medical records, psychological evaluations, police reports, victim statements and other records;

Reviews treatment progress; interviews resident to determine mental status; interviews treatment team regarding resident’s progress and response to treatment; consults with staff, members of the community and sex offender treatment providers;

Makes recommendations to the court regarding whether conditional release to a less restrictive alternative is in the best interest of the resident; makes recommendations to the court regarding conditions imposed to adequately protect the community;

Provides expert consultation to clinical staff that provides treatment services to individuals in the total confinement program; 

Performs other duties as required.

Legal Requirement(s)

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position. 

Desirable Qualifications

Doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited school or department of clinical/counseling psychology

                                                                                    AND

Three years of post-doctoral psychology experience working with forensic populations.

                                                                                    AND

Possession of a license to practice psychology in the state of Washington.

Class Specification History

New class; adopted June 30, 2015; effective July 1, 2015.
Base range salary adjustment adopted 6/30/2017, effective 7/1/2017.