Full Certification
Full certification has a maximum duration of 24 months from certification date. Applicants must:
- Be psychiatrists or licensed psychologists currently licensed to practice in Oregon,
- Participate in and successfully complete the Oregon Forensic Evaluator Training, and
- Submit for review three redacted forensic evaluations completed within the previous 24 months.
- If the applicant desires to perform criminal responsibility evaluations, at least one redacted sample shall be an evaluation of criminal responsibility.
If the applicant desires to perform competency and criminal responsibility evaluations for juveniles:
- The applicant must also participate in the specialized segment of the Oregon Forensic Evaluator Training, and
- At least one of the three required redacted forensic evaluations shall be for juvenile competency or criminal responsibility.
Applicants who do not yet have redacted forensic evaluations for review may perform evaluations of those charged with crimes other than aggravated murder, murder or ballot measure 11 offenses for the purpose of generating reports to the Authority for review. The applicant must notify the Authority at the time of application that they will be doing evaluations for this purpose and a Temporary Certification will be issued.
Redacted work samples will be reviewed by the Forensic Evaluation Review Panel. This multidisciplinary panel:
- Includes psychiatrists, licensed psychologists, defense attorneys and prosecuting attorneys.
- Compares evaluations with the standards for required elements for forensic evaluations as listed in the Oregon Administrative Rules.
- Investigates complaints received by the Authority related to the content of written evaluations.
Temporary Certification
Temporary certification has a maximum duration of 6 months. An extension of an additional six months may be granted by the Authority on a case by case basis. Applicants will be granted a Temporary Certification until:
- Participation in and successful completion of the Oregon Forensic Evaluator Training and
- Submission of three redacted forensic evaluations.
If the applicant desires to perform criminal responsibility evaluations, at least one redacted sample shall be an evaluation of criminal responsibility. Applicants must attend the next regularly scheduled training date.
For certification purposes, psychiatrists enrolled in an ACGME-accredited residency training program may participate in evaluations requiring certification only under the direct supervision and review of a psychiatrist or psychologist who has been granted full forensic certification.
Conditional Certification
The court may grant a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist conditional certification if exigent circumstances exist such as:
- An out-of-state expert evaluation being sought, or
- Unusual expertise is required.
The court will notify the Authority when it grants a conditional certification. Conditional certification ends at the disposition of the particular case for which the conditional certification was granted.
Notice of Conditional Forensic Evaluator Certification