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Partners
Robert
H. Joss, Ph.D., is a supervising Designated Forensic
Psychologist / Forensic Mental Health Supervisor who
provides expert testimony in Juvenile, District, Superior,
and Probate Courts. As a Qualified Examiner / Retained
Expert, he performs evaluations regarding sexual dangerousness.
He testifies in probable cause hearings, renders opinions
regarding commitment, competency, criminal responsibility,
aid in sentencing, and guardianship. He has also testified
before the Sex Offender Registry Board. Dr. Joss is
Professor of Psychology at Gordon College and spent
more than a decade as psychologist for the Lynn District
Court. He performs fitness for duty evaluations, is
trained in alternative dispute resolution, and serves
as Guardian ad litem and Parent Coordinator for the
Probate Courts.
curriculum
vita
email
Dr. Joss
Frederic Krell, Ph.D., is an experienced psychologist
who provides expert testimony in Probate, Juvenile,
District, and Superior Court matters. He has performed
statutory evaluations as a Designated Forensic Psychologist
and served as a Mentor for the Certified Juvenile Court
Clinician training program. He serves as Guardian ad
litem and Parent Coordinator for the Probate Courts.
Dr. Krell has developed and administered residential
treatment programs and inpatient psychiatry services
for children and adolescents. He consults to public
and private schools. As a member of the Community Access
Board at the Massachusetts Treatment Center, he provided
evaluations and testimony regarding sexual dangerousness.
Dr. Krell also provides services in Alternative Dispute
Resolution.
curriculum
vita
email
Dr. Krell
Mark
S. Schaefer, Ph.D., is an experienced clinical and
forensic psychologist who provides expert testimony
in Juvenile, District, Superior and Probate Courts.
He has extensive experience with police and fire departments,
municipalities, corporations and schools, providing
fitness-for-duty evaluations and risk assessments. Currently,
he provides pre-employment psychological screening for
public safety candidates in numerous towns and cities
across the Commonwealth. As a Qualified Examiner/Retained
Expert, he performs evaluations regarding sexual dangerousness.
He has testified at numerous Sexually Dangerous Persons
trials, both for the Commonwealth and the Respondent,
and has testified before the Sex Offender Registry Board.
He frequently serves as Guardian ad litem for the Probate
Courts, and has experience as Parent Coordinator. As
a Designated Forensic Professional, he has rendered
opinions regarding competency, criminal responsibility,
and aid in sentencing.
curriculum
vita
email
Dr. Schaefer
Christine
Schnyder Pierce, Ph.D., is a clinical and forensic
psychologist with extensive experience performing forensic
evaluations for the Juvenile, District, Superior, Probate,
and Federal Courts. Dr. Pierce renders opinions on various
competencies, criminal responsibility, civil psychiatric
commitment, risk for violence, and aid to disposition.
For many years she served as a Designated Forensic Professional
to the Massachusetts court system. As a Qualified Examiner
/ Retained Expert, she performs evaluations regarding
sexual dangerousness. Dr. Pierce has testified at numerous
Sexually Dangerous Person trials, for both the Commonwealth
and the Respondent, and has testified before the Sex
Offender Registry Board. Dr. Pierce received forensic
training with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and a postdoctoral
fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical
School.
curriculum
vita
email
Dr. Pierce
Jeff
D. Stein, Ph.D.,is a clinical and forensic psychologist
who provides expert testimony to the Probate, Juvenile,
and District Courts. He routinely serves as a Guardian
ad Litem for several Probate Courts including Essex,
Suffolk, Middlesex and Worcester counties. He conducts
psychological evaluations of adults, juveniles, and
families, and he renders opinions regarding competency,
criminal responsibility, aid in sentencing, parental
fitness and guardianship. Dr. Stein also consults to
Special Education departments and conducts evaluations
of prospective police and fire personnel. He provides
services in Worcester as well as our Salem office. Dr.
Stein completed a post-doctoral fellowship through Harvard
Medical School and held faculty appointments at UMass
Medical School and Tufts Medical School before joining
PCS, and he obtained his certification as a Designated
Forensic Professional (DFP) from the Massachusetts Department
of Mental Health.
curriculum
vita
email
Dr. Stein
Associates
Joseph
J. Begany, Ph.D., is a pediatric neuropsychologist
certified by the Massachusetts Department of Forensic
Mental Health to conduct a breadth of forensic evaluations
with juvenile defendants. He regularly performs neuropsychological
evaluations with juvenile and young adult defendants
regarding competence to stand trial, criminal responsibility,
competence to waive miranda rights, and malingering
/ feigned cognitive impairment. Dr. Begany also conducts
neuropsychological evaluations of minors and young adults
involved in civil proceedings, including personal injury,
and at school settings for risk assessments. He is currently
a Designated Forensic Professional candidate in the
District Courts as well. Before joining PCS, Dr. Begany
worked for the Massachusetts General Hospital Children
and the Law Program providing forensic evaluations in
the Suffolk County Juvenile Courts.
Curriculum
Vita
email
Dr. Begany
Jill
G. Durand, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical
psychologist who earned a doctorate from the Massachusetts
School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Durand completed
an APA-Internship at Westborough State Hospital before
accepting a position as a post-doctoral fellow in the
Middlesex County Juvenile Court Clinic. Dr. Durand is
now a staff psychologist in the Court Clinic, providing
forensic evaluation and testimony on a variety of juvenile
matters including CHINS evaluations, competency to stand
trial and aid in sentencing. Dr. Durand has earned her
designation as a Certified Juvenile Court Clinician
I & II by the Massachusetts Department of Forensic
Mental Health. As an associate of PCS, Dr. Durand provides
forensic evaluation services for adults and juveniles,
as well as clinical risk assessments for schools.
Curriculum
Vita
email
Dr. Durand
Malissa
L. Kraft, Psy.D., ABPP-CN is a board-certified clinical
neuropsychologist and a Designated Forensic Psychologist
candidate. She conducts psychological evaluations at
the Lynn District Court, rendering decisions related
to competency to stand trial and psychiatric commitment.
At the Salem office she conducts neuropsychological
evaluations of adults and elderly clients and renders
opinions related to need for guardianship/conservatorship,
fitness for work or duty, malingering/feigned cognitive
impairment, competencies, and cognitive impairment related
to personal injury. Dr. Kraft is an Adjunct Professor
of Psychology at Gordon College. She worked for several
years in the Veterans Affairs hospital system prior
to joining PCS.
Curriculum
Vita
email
Dr. Kraft
Caleb M. Newman-Polk, Psy.D. is a Designated Forensic
Psychologist who provides expert testimony on issues
pertaining to competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility,
aid in sentencing, and civil commitments in District
and Superior Courts. He also serves as a consultant
to Special Education departments and advises on issues
relating to educational needs, mental health, and potential
risk factors. Before joining PCS, Dr. Newman-Polk completed
his doctorate in Forensic Psychology in California,
followed by a postdoctoral program in the Massachusetts
Courts at Forensic Health Services.
Curriculum
Vita
email
Dr. Newman-Polk
Ned Weisman, LICSW has
been a licensed clinical social worker for over 30 years,
during which time he has been the Director of an adolescent
day treatment program and for a secure inpatient treatment
unit (IRTP) at Tewksbury State Hospital. He has also
served as a clinical consultant to public schools, special
education programs, and a secure treatment facility
for mentally ill adolescents. Currently, in addition
to a private psychotherapy practice for adults and adolescents,
he serves as both Guardian ad litem and Parent Coordinator
as part of proceedings in the Probate and Family Court.
Curriculum
Vita
email
Mr. Weisman
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