Stephanie M. Howard, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist specializing in Forensic and Clinical Psychology
(601) 460-4729
Forensic Focused Services for Psycho-Legal Purposes
Dr. Stephanie M. Howard
Shivelight Psychological Services, LLC provides specialized forensic psychological services at the intersection of Mississippi’s mental health and criminal legal systems. Primary services include forensic mental health evaluations of Competence to Stand Trial and Criminal Responsibility (“sanity”), expert testimony in forensic and clinical psychology, and outpatient competence restoration treatment.
What I Can Do For You
Reliable, Informed & Ethical Forensic Psychological Services
I specialize in forensic mental health evaluations of adult criminal defendants for the Mississippi criminal courts. Typical evaluation types/referral questions are included below…
Competence to Stand Trial Assessments
The standard for Competence to Stand Trial is MRCrP 12.1: (a) Mental Competency. There is a presumption of mental competency. In order to be deemed mentally competent, a defendant must have the ability to perceive and understand the nature of the proceedings, to communicate rationally with the defendant's attorney about the case, to recall relevant facts, and to testify in the defendant's own defense, if appropriate.
The presence of a mental illness, defect, or disability alone is not grounds for finding a defendant incompetent to stand trial. If as a result of mental illness, defect, or disability, a defendant lacks mental competency, then the defendant shall not be tried, convicted, or sentenced for a criminal offense.
“Sanity” Evaluations - Mental State at the Time of the Alleged Offense
MSO/Sanity evaluations are based on the standard below from MRCrP 12.3:
(3) Opinion on Mental Condition at Time of the Offense. In addition, if the court so orders, the report shall contain a statement of the psychiatrist's and/or psychologist's opinion of the following: (A) the mental condition of the defendant at the time of the alleged offense;(B) if the psychiatrist's and/or psychologist's opinion is that at the time of the alleged offense the defendant suffered from a mental disease or defect, the relation, if any, of such to the alleged offense, including:(i) whether the defendant knew the nature and quality of the defendant's actions; and (ii) if so, whether the defendant knew that the actions were wrong.
Other Common Psycholegal Issues:
St Mitigation, “Any” Mitigation, Ability to Waive or Assert Constitutional Rights, Violence Risk & Sexual Violence Risk Assessments, Battered Women’s Syndrome (now known as the effects of bartering), IQ, and more.
Outpatient Competence Restoration Treatment
If an individual is determined to be Not Competent to proceed legally, the Court will often send them to the state hospital for inpatient competence restoration treatment. Current wait times for admission beds are lengthy and no outpatient competence restoration programs exist in the state. I can provide individual competence restoration services to defendants awaiting inpatient treatment, both in jail (in person or via telehealth) and on bond (via telehealth).
In some cases, individuals WILL require an inpatient forensic evaluation and competence restoration treatment at MSH, especially if a defendant needs psychiatric medication(s) that cannot be obtained on an outpatient basis.
Psychological Screening & Evaluations
Adult Evaluation/Screening for: IQ & Adaptive Functioning, Neurocognitive issues, Personality Assessment, Diagnostic Clarification, and more.
Consultation & Record Review
Need mental health records reviewed? Would a second opinion regarding psychological testing reports help? Consultative services for psycho-legal matters are available.
“ Shivelights and shadowtackle ín long | lashes lace, lance, and pair.”-That Nature is a Heraclitean Fire and of the comfort of the Resurrection
By: Gerard Manley Hopkins
About Dr. Stephanie Howard
Stephanie M. Howard, Psy. D.
Dr. Howard is licensed psychologist in Mississippi practicing forensic and clinical psychology. She graduated with doctoral and master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology from Immaculata University in Pennsylvania. Dr. Howard completed an APA internship at Mississippi State Hospital (MSH) in Whitfield where she first discovered her interest in forensic psychology. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship in psychosocial rehabilitation at the GV (Sonny) Montgomery VAMC in Jackson, Mississippi, she returned to MSH to complete informal postdoctoral training in forensic psychology.
Since 2016, Dr. Howard has worked as a licensed psychologist and forensic evaluator with Forensic Services at Mississippi State Hospital, the only inpatient forensic unit in the state. Dr. Howard has completed over 600 Court-ordered forensic mental health evaluations for the Mississippi Courts. She has been accepted by the Mississippi Courts as an expert in clinical and forensic psychology. In addition to conducting forensic mental evaluations, Dr. Howard has experience providing and supervising clinical work with forensic patients, including competence restoration treatment for those found Not Competent to proceed legally.
Special Interest Areas Include: Trauma, outpatient and jail-based competence restoration treatment, forensic treatment program development, Substance-induced and/or exacerbated psychosis, EMDR, Intellectual/ Developmental Disabilities (IDD), serious and persistent mental illness (S/PMI), and psychological assessment.
