What is a Pre-sentencing Report?
A Pre-sentencing report falls under the domain of forensic psychology. This is a report that is usually requested after an individual has been found guilty or pled guilty to a criminal offence. The courts will be wanting more information about any mitigating factors, risk factors or psychological factors that could inform them of the best sentence to hand down to the offender. These forensic psychology assessments can also be requested if the offender is a youth, a repeat offender, or the offender has committed multiple violent and/or sexual offences.
What Information is Contained in a Pre-sentencing Report?
Pre-sentencing reports are usually fully comprehensive reports containing, but not limited to:
- Your full background information,
- Your full mental health background which usually includes any psychological, social, occupational and/or psychiatric interventions and treatments, as well as any contact that you may have had with mental health care agencies,
- Your full criminal history including any previous charges laid and/or domestic violence orders,
- Details of any static and/or dynamic risk factors,
- A fully comprehensive risk analysis as per certain questionnaires,
- Personality and pathology assessments,
- Collaterol information in the form of affidavits, court documents, previous assessments as well as information obtained from significant others, colleagues, employers etc.
- The report will provide recommendations to the court along with your protective, perpetuating and predisposing factors.
Dr Pauline Baleta Has Extensive Experience As a Forensic Psychologist
She has worked in correctional settings and in the forensic unit of a psychiatric hospital in South Africa for just under 3 years, until leaving the government sector to pursue a private practice. In private practice she was contracted to the Department of Justice performing pre-sentencing reports as well as fitness and responsibility reports. She also performed these services for the private sector. Since immigrating to Australia, she has continued this work and her extensive experience in high-risk environments is ideally suited to this area.
How Many Sessions Are Required For Pre-sentencing Reports?
Pre-sentencing reports usually involve two to three individual sessions:
- the administration of the assessments
- the collection of the collateral information
- as well as the time taken to read any additional information collected and compile the report
The cost for these varies from case to case. Feel free to contact Dr Baleta for further information of the costs involved.
Dr Baleta provides pre-sentencing reports as requested by your attorney or court of law. If you are requiring a pre-sentencing report, kindly email Dr Baleta your referral or court order and she will assist you in scheduling an appointment.
