Forensic Services

Juvenile Court Ordered Evaluations

Under Tennessee law, the Department has provided inpatient evaluations at regional mental health institutes for treatment of juveniles involved in the juvenile justice system. When new juvenile court procedural rules were enacted, juvenile courts could additionally order evaluations for competency to stand trial and mental condition at the time of the crime.

In 1998, the Department began collaboration with juvenile courts to provide evaluations by contract providers, when possible, in the community. Shortly thereafter, the Department established performance standards and began monitoring the quality of evaluations provided either in the community, the regional mental health institutes or by contracted inpatient providers.

The TDMHDD is authorized under T.C.A.§ 37-1-128(e) to provide evaluation and treatment for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. TDMHDD contracts with community mental health providers for evaluations in the community. Evaluation services and treatment necessary for the evaluation are also provided by designated regional mental health institutes (RMHIs) and three contract facilities.

Juvenile Court ordered evaluations help determine if the youth is mentally ill, identify mental health care and treatment needs and resources to provide those services, and address the need for voluntary or involuntary commitment for inpatient or residential services. Courts may also order evaluation for the forensic issues of competency to stand trial and/or mental condition at the time of the offense. This evaluation, by statute, is limited to a maximum of thirty (30) days.