Michael Costello
Clinical Psychologist
Court Reports and Assessments
In consultation with clients (and often their legal teams), I have a great deal of experience helping/motivating people to overcome difficulties that have led to criminal charges. I have worked extensively within the NSW Health system and private practice, in both clinical and senior management roles. This includes significant experience in areas like mental health, drug and alcohol, and forensic programs such as the Adult Drug Court and the MERIT Programs.
I also have a great deal of experience in assessing and treating people who have sustained a psychological injury due to the negligence of others. For example, being exposed to trauma at work and not receiving proper treatment from your employer or being injured in a car accident. This includes assessing past psychological functioning, treating current difficulties, and reporting about ongoing problems and treatment needs.
Comprehensive reports, including treatment plan with section 14 (Previously Sec 32) applications are available at a varying cost depending on complexity. As a rough guide, a fully comprehensive report for a section 14 application, which covers history, past mental health and any possible link between it and the offending, treatment progress since offending, changes in functioning, prognosis, and treatment plan would cost $2000 +GST
The reports can be very useful for clients to show a court or tribunal:
- Deficits at the time of committing an offence (e.g., substance dependence / mental health issues that resulted in reduced capacity to make sensible decisions)
- Willingness to change since being charged (e.g., attending counselling to reduce anger, reduce alcohol consumption, etc)
- Actual changes made since being charged (e.g., cessation of or significant reduction in drug use, employment)
A short letter of attendance is available for free if you have attended more than four sessions. This will simply state why you attended, any diagnosis, and dates of sessions.