Forensic Services

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities is responsible, under Tennessee law, for the evaluation and treatment of adults who are involved in the criminal justice system and who are thought, because of a mental illness or mental retardation, to be incompetent to stand trial, and/or not criminally responsible due to a severe mental illness or mental retardation at the time of the crime (insanity defense). These services are known as “forensic services.”

These forensic evaluations are performed as "friends of the court" and assist the legal system in understanding mental health issues such as a defendant's competency to stand trial and/or mental condition at the time of the alleged offense.

Forensic services are divided into pre-trial evaluations and treatment, and post-trial evaluation and treatment. Services may also be provided to defendants in the Department of Correction (DOC) who require psychiatric treatment beyond the services provided at DOC.