Inside Forensic Evaluations: How Psychologists Assess Criminal Cases | Real Stories

What does a forensic psychologist really do? Most people think we profile criminals—but in reality, we spend much of our time evaluating individuals after they’ve been arrested to help the court understand their mental state, competency, and circumstances. In this video, Dr. Megan McNeal explains several types of evaluations she conducts: Competency evaluations – assessing whether someone can effectively work with their attorney. Mental state evaluations – including the insanity defense and how mental illness can influence behavior. Mitigation evaluations – exploring psychological factors and trauma that may have contributed to criminal behavior. Dr. McNeal shares a real-life example of a woman facing federal prison for bank robbery, showing how a mitigation evaluation uncovered years of domestic abuse and trauma—and ultimately helped reduce her sentence. 📌 Watch more real cases and forensic psychology insights on my YouTube channel. 📝 For deeper analysis, training content, and stories like these, visit my Substack: https://drmeganmcneal.substack.com/