Assessment and Reporting for Sentencing
Collateral information will be particularly important, both to inform opinion in relation to the interview and to provide objective sources of information. It might also provide information of a type that is not gathered by direct interview.
Tese records should include if possible:
• Psychiatric records • Medical records • Perinatal records • Childhood development records • Special educational needs assessments • School reports and disciplinary records • Records from care homes or foster homes • Social work records • Statements from family and friends • Police records, statements and court transcripts • Previous probation records
Formalised neuropsychological testing and personality testing might also be employed by psychologists, and incorporated within a psychiatric report (see Chapter 5).
Reporting in relation to mitigation
Te report will follow the general model with extensive consideration of early development and family history, as well as of significant events at different life stages.
Even though the person is convicted, there should be consideration of the offence with the defendant. Tis will inform in terms of determining an understanding of the offence, in terms of their disorder, if there be such. Te report might address specific questions in relation to their mental state at the time of any offence, as well as issues of capacity in relation to their understanding of their conduct.
Te following aspects of the mental health assessment are examples of factors that might be considered as mitigating factors:
• Birth complications • Childhood neglect or abuse • Developmental delay • Family history of mental health problems • Childhood mental disorders, including ADHD, intellectual disability and mood disorders • A history of intra-familial violence during the defendant’s upbringing • Inconsistent schooling • Inconsistent caregivers and disrupted attachments • Loss of significant caregivers in childhood • Psychiatric disorders in adulthood
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