Telehealth has emerged as a powerful tool for bridging service gaps within the legal system. With the ongoing challenges of rising caseloads, geographic limitations, and systemic inefficiencies, telehealth is not merely a convenience—it is a critical solution. At CDTC, telepsychology is used as a practical and clinically sound approach to court-ordered mental health evaluations and treatment.
Telehealth: A Trusted Bridge to Timely, Effective Care
Backed by scientific evidence, ethical standards, and forensic best practices, telehealth ensures that justice-involved individuals receive consistent, timely, and effective care.
We view telehealth not as a replacement for in-person services, but as an enhancement of access, efficiency, and safety in forensic mental health," says Renee Palacios, Executive Director of CDTC. "When used appropriately, it allows us to meet the needs of courts and other referral sources, as well as the individuals they serve.
A Foundational Shift Backed by Research and Practice
In August 2024, the American Psychological Association (APA) released its revised Guidelines for the Practice of Telepsychology, citing decades of professional research and ethical standards. These guidelines confirm what forensic mental health professionals at CDTC already observe daily: telepsychological services are as effective as in-person services for court-ordered evaluations and treatment.
Telehealth at CDTC includes secure virtual interviews and the administration of psychological testing through HIPAA-compliant platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. This model adheres to APA principles and the forensic gold standard that clinical decisions—including the use of telehealth—must be determined by the forensic examiner based on clinical indication, not by technological convenience alone.
Addressing the Competency Crisis Through Telehealth
The legal system faces a mounting competency crisis. Courts and correctional facilities are overwhelmed with referrals for mental health evaluations, but the pool of qualified professionals is limited. Telehealth allows forensic examiners to conduct multiple interviews across facilities within a single day, vastly improving efficiency without compromising quality.
Because CDTC employs psychologists certified under PSYPACT—an interstate compact that permits the practice of telepsychology across state lines—the potential examiner pool expands significantly. This accelerates evaluation timelines, relieves pressure on local systems, and upholds defendants' rights.
Telehealth allows us to meet more individuals in need while maintaining the standards our courts expect," Palacios adds. "It's a modern solution to a systemic bottleneck.
Enhancing Timeliness and Legal Compliance
Telehealth eliminates the travel-related delays that often interfere with timely report submission. In forensic practice, time matters. Courts rely on evaluations to inform decisions impacting liberty, treatment, and community safety. Through virtual interviews, examiners can begin report writing immediately following the session, significantly increasing the likelihood of delivering reports within the statutory 30-day window.
Delayed reports strain the legal process and can lead to legal violations and unnecessary detainment. Telehealth thus serves as a risk management strategy—not just for safety but also for legal compliance.
Risk Management and Safety During Telehealth Sessions
Forensic mental health often involves working with individuals who are experiencing acute psychiatric distress or instability. By conducting evaluations remotely, CDTC mitigates physical risk to the examiner and the justice-involved individual.
Should a person endorse suicidal or homicidal ideation during an evaluation, CDTC examiners can immediately notify correctional staff via virtual videoconferencing tools or telephone while remaining on the virtual videoconference with the person. This immediate responsiveness ensures the safety of the examiner if the person endorses homicidal or violent ideation.
Cost-Efficiency and Resource Conservation
Every court-ordered evaluation carries logistical and financial weight. In-person evaluations typically require transport of justice-involved individuals, which pulls correctional staff from their primary responsibilities and incurs transportation and security costs. These costs are either absorbed by facilities or billed back to the courts.
Telehealth negates these expenses, preserving staff bandwidth and budgetary resources. In the rare case where in-person evaluations are deemed necessary, CDTC proceeds accordingly and transparently bills the court for the associated travel and accommodation costs.
This model promotes a fiscally responsible approach to mental health services in the legal system, allocating more funding toward improved care, training, and technological upgrades.
Consistency of Clinical Observations
A frequent concern is whether the digital medium diminishes the quality of the evaluation. Research and experience indicate that individuals present consistently across communication modes. Whether exhibiting symptoms of psychosis, depression, or substance use, these presentations are recognizable in both virtual and in-person settings.
Forensic examiners are trained to distinguish authentic signs and symptoms from feigned presentations. Behavioral markers such as speech patterns, attention, mood, and intellectual functioning are equally assessable through video. Examiners may direct correctional staff to adjust camera angles or provide supplemental information if clarification is needed about a defendant's environment or behavior.
In summary, technology does not interfere with the validity of the assessment.
Fostering Engagement and Reducing Stigma
Attending mental health services within correctional settings can carry stigma and logistical discomfort. Telehealth allows for private, stigma-reducing interviews and sessions, which may encourage higher engagement rates.
Furthermore, justice-involved individuals often have disrupted schedules due to court dates or transfers. Telehealth enables continuity of care through flexible scheduling and access. This flexibility is essential for justice-involved individuals navigating multiple systems simultaneously.
Confidentiality, Security, and Compliance
CDTC's commitment to privacy and security is unwavering. All virtual evaluations are conducted through HIPAA-compliant platforms with encryption protocols that protect sensitive data. Examiners are trained not only in forensic methodology but also in secure digital practices.
This attention to confidentiality is especially vital in forensic mental health, where breaches can have legal and ethical consequences. CDTC's policies are built to uphold the dignity, privacy, and rights of every individual served.
Reframing the Narrative: Telehealth as a Structural Support
Rather than viewing telehealth as a workaround, CDTC frames it as a "support structure" embedded in modern forensic practice. It serves as a bridge between the judiciary and mental health systems, facilitating transitions that are smoother, safer, and more just.
This is especially important in CDTC's role as a collaborative partner to the courts. CDTC's use of telepsychology affirms its commitment to helping courts make informed, timely decisions by increasing efficiency and preserving report integrity.
Conclusion: A Strong Foundation for the Future
Telehealth services are no longer an experiment, especially within the forensic setting. It is an evidence-based, ethically aligned, and legally compliant method of delivering care. At CDTC, it is used not to cut corners but to ensure that no individual falls through the cracks of a stressed system.
By leveraging telehealth, CDTC builds a solid foundation for future growth—one that prioritizes accessibility, protects privacy, supports the judiciary, and contributes to a safer, more efficient legal system.
To learn more about CDTC's forensic mental health services or to schedule a consultation, visit https://courtdiagnostic.com.
Jonnah Docherty, Psy.D. is a Forensic Examiner and PSYPACT-certified Licensed Psychologist (State of Pennsylvania) at Court Diagnostic & Treatment Center in Toledo, Ohio, where she provides court-ordered forensic mental health examinations to justice-involved individuals via telehealth.