UNC Forensic Psychiatry Program

Mission Statement:

Define and advance understanding of complex issues at the interface of psychiatry and law through excellence in education, research and evaluations.

Goals:

The Clinic is a statewide and national resource for high-quality civil and criminal forensic evaluations and expert testimony. Through ongoing involvement in training, education and research, we integrate the most current science into our consultations and evaluation services. The UNC Department of Psychiatry Forensic Program & Clinic:

• Provides prompt, reliable, and credible forensic services by knowledgeable and highly-trained clinical staff.
• Trains psychiatrists and psychologists in the practice of conducting evidence-based assessments on forensic questions.
• Educates and provides consultation to attorneys, legal professionals, and the mental health community about how expertise in psychiatry and psychology can be of assistance to them and the people they serve.

We provide legal and mental health professionals expertise and consultation within the following areas:

• Criminal Forensic Assessment – Competence to Stand Trial, Competence to Waive Miranda Rights, Mental State at Time of Offense/ Insanity, Dangerousness/Violence Risk Assessment, Death Penalty Evaluations, Treatment amenability, Malingering
• Civil Forensic Assessment – Psychological Injury/ emotional distress/ PTSD, Competence to Refuse Treatment, Competence to Manage Finances, Testamentary Capacity, Disability Evaluations, Workers Compensation Claims, Guardianship Hearings, Fitness for duty evaluations, Independent Medical Evaluations
• Expert Testimony – Medical Malpractice, Negligent Release, Psychological Autopsy, Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology Research

Evaluator:

Sally C. Johnson, M.D.
Evan Vitiello, M.D.
Charity Wijetunga, Ph.D., J.D.
Please contact the UNC Department of Psychiatry Forensic Program & Clinic directly at (919) 972-7456 to discuss evaluation fees.

Contact:

Forensic Psychiatry Program and Clinic
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine
Department of Psychiatry, Campus Box 7167
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7167

Phone: (919) 919-972-7456
Fax: (919) 493-8680