Dr. Maxwell is a board-certified clinical psychologist who provides forensic psychological services addressing the relationship between psychological functioning and legal questions. His work includes competency evaluations, criminal mitigation, sexual-offense risk assessment, psychological injury, parenting capacity, and immigration-related hardship. He has provided services in state and federal matters, with referrals from public defenders, the Federal Public Defender, and private attorneys.
Dr. Maxwell brings particular expertise in personality-related and other psychopathology, diagnostic clarification, and cognitive functioning. He uses a multi-method assessment approach that may include clinical interviews, psychological testing, review of relevant records, and collateral information. Each evaluation is tailored to the specific referral question, with findings communicated through clearly reasoned reports, consultation, and testimony as appropriate.
Competency to proceed
Dr. Maxwell evaluates psychological and cognitive difficulties that may affect a defendant’s ability to understand legal proceedings and assist counsel. His experience includes assessment of psychotic symptoms, intellectual limitations, memory difficulties, and other problems relevant to competency-related functioning.
He provides initial evaluations, independent evaluations following prior competency findings, and follow-up assessments addressing changes in psychiatric functioning. His work in this area includes evaluations and expert testimony in state and federal criminal matters.
Immigration-related psychological hardship
Dr. Maxwell provides psychological evaluations addressing hardship associated with potential immigration-related family separation. These evaluations examine an individual’s psychological functioning, relevant personal and family circumstances, and the anticipated effects of separation on emotional well-being and daily life.
He integrates assessment findings into a forensic report addressing the psychological questions relevant to the referral. The aim is to provide a careful, individualized account of hardship that helps counsel and decision-makers understand its nature, extent, and likely implications.
Criminal mitigation and mental state evaluations
Dr. Maxwell conducts evaluations addressing psychological factors relevant to criminal mitigation and questions concerning an individual’s mental state. His experience includes assessment of psychiatric symptoms, cognitive abilities, memory functioning, and substance use or substance-related effects.
These evaluations examine how identified difficulties may relate to the behavior and circumstances under review. Findings may also inform recommendations concerning treatment and management, depending on the referral question and goals of assessment.
Sexual-offense risk assessment
Dr. Maxwell provides specialized assessment of sexual-offense recidivism risk. His experience includes psychological assessment, structured risk assessment, consultation with defense counsel, report preparation, and expert testimony at sentencing.
He integrates relevant psychological findings with behavioral history and specialized instruments, including the STATIC-99R and STABLE-2007 when appropriate to the individual and referral question. Evaluations address identified risk factors, their implications, and treatment or management considerations, with attention to the limitations of risk estimates.
Assessment of personality and other psychopathology
Dr. Maxwell specializes in assessing personality structure and personality disorders, including Cluster B psychopathology (e.g., borderline and antisocial personality disorders). In forensic matters, these evaluations help clarify how patterns of thinking, emotional responding, interpersonal functioning, and behavior may bear on the questions at issue.
He uses structured diagnostic interviewing and well-researched psychological measures to examine complex clinical presentations and distinguish among possible explanations. Instruments represented in his forensic work include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–3 (MMPI-3) and Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). Measures are selected according to the needs of the evaluation.
Cognitive and neurodevelopmental assessment in legal settings
Dr. Maxwell assesses cognitive and intellectual functioning, as well as autism-spectrum and other diagnostic questions, when relevant to a legal matter. His forensic experience includes evaluations and consultation addressing intellectual limitations, memory and attentional difficulties, and neurodevelopmental considerations.
These services help clarify an individual’s abilities and difficulties, their relevance to the referral question, and appropriate treatment or management recommendations. His experience also includes federal capital-case consultation addressing cognitive, memory, attentional, and psychosocial factors.
Psychological injury in civil litigation
Dr. Maxwell provides psychological injury assessment and consultation for civil matters. His experience includes work with plaintiff and defense counsel, direct assessment, review of clinical records and prior psychological findings, and deposition testimony.
Evaluations address the nature and extent of psychological symptoms, associated difficulties in daily functioning, and questions concerning their relationship to the events at issue. Record review and consultation may also address relevant psychological history, treatment adherence, and alternative explanations for reported difficulties.
Parenting capacity
Dr. Maxwell provides psychological evaluations addressing parenting capacity to assist family-court decision-making. These evaluations examine psychological functioning in relation to the specific parenting concerns identified in the referral.
He uses psychodiagnostic assessment to clarify relevant symptoms and patterns of functioning, with recommendations tailored to the assessment findings and referral questions.
Independent evaluations, consultation, and expert testimony
Dr. Maxwell offers independent and second-opinion evaluations, review of psychological records and prior findings, and consultation with attorneys. These services can help clarify complex diagnoses, examine the basis of psychological opinions, and identify questions requiring further assessment.
His forensic experience includes written reports, consultation with legal teams, deposition testimony, and in-court expert testimony. Opinions are grounded in the available evidence, with attention to both the findings and their limitations.