Crisis Intervention Expert Witnesses

Santa Clara, California

Mental Health, Social Work - Social Work, Triage, Lanterman Petris Short LPS, Involuntary Commitment, Suicide, Crisis Intervention, Risk Assessment, Behavioral Health, Patient Rights, Standard of Care, Severe Mental Illness (SMI), Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Anosognosia, Emergency Care, Joint Commission (JCACO), HEDIS, CMS, EMTALA

I am a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #76279) with over a decade of mental health experience across outpatient psychotherapy, acute inpatient psychiatric care, psychiatric emergency settings, and the public/community mental health system. I provide case consultation, medical-record review, and expert testimony on the mental health standard of care for both plaintiff and defense counsel. I own and operate a private psychotherapy practice, providing evidence-based individual therapy, including onsite psychotherapy on corporate campuses. I treat the full range of common mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and stress- and adjustment-related disorders. Drawing on this practice, I evaluate whether clinicians met the outpatient standard of care in clinical social work (LCSW and LMSW/MSW) — including clinical assessment and diagnosis, treatment planning and appropriate level of care, the therapeutic relationship, professional boundaries and in...

Scotts Valley, California

Mental Health, Substance Abuse - Forensics, Homelessness, Chronic Mental Illness, Crisis Intervention, Dual Diagnosis, Substance Use Disorder, Psychosocial Assessments, LPS holds, Conservatorship, Coordinated Care, Jail Mental Health, Social Work, Treatment Planning, Multidisciplinary Teams, Hospital, Psychiatric Inpatient, Behavioral and Social Sciences

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – Forensic & Community Mental Health Specialist I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 17 years of experience in behavioral health, homelessness, substance use, and forensic mental health, including 9 years of post-MSW clinical practice. My professional background spans high-acuity settings such as correctional facilities, psychiatric units, and community-based programs, where I’ve provided direct clinical services, crisis intervention, and care coordination for some of the most vulnerable populations. As a former Mental Health First Aid Instructor for Santa Cruz County Mental Health, I trained county agencies and community-based partners in identifying, understanding, and responding to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. This role highlights my dedication to community education and building mental health literacy across systems of care. My expertise includes: Crisis intervention and de-escalation Psychiatric risk ass...

Denver, Colorado

Law Enf & Criminal Justice, Police Practices & Procedures - Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice, Police Practice & Procedure, Legal, Use of Force, Police Training, Police Academies, Crisis Intervention, Field Training Program, Police Use of Firearms, Baton, Taser Discipline, Internal Affairs, Jail Operations, Gangs

Chief Alan C. Youngs retired after 33 years with the Lakewood Colorado Police Department, a suburb of Denver. He held command positions within every division of the department. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, 166th Session. He is currently a technical compliance adviser to the Department of Justice consent decree in Puerto Rico. Chief Youngs is a practicing attorney, and is a law enforcement expert witness in police policies, procedures and police academies. Mr. Youngs is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Investigative Operations Committee and the IACP Professional Standards Committee. He is a certified instructor for the recognition of Excited Delirium and Agitated Chaotic episodes, by the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, Inc. He is also certified in Fraud Prevention. He is an Americans for Effective Law Enforcement (AELE) certified Litigation Specialist and a member of the Board of Directors for AELE.

Auburndale, Massachusetts

Psychiatry - psychiatric emergencies, risk assessments, suicide, violence, substance use, standard of care, involuntary commitment, chart documentation, medical clearance, supervision of trainees and non-physician staff, restraints, crisis intervention, anxiety and depression, psychosis, involuntary holds, wrongful admission/discharge

Dr. Suzanne A. Bird is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 25 years of clinical, teaching and leadership experience in emergency psychiatry. She served as director of Psychiatric Emergency Services at Cambridge Hospital (a Harvard-affiliated community teaching hospital in Cambridge MA) for 16 years and ran the Acute Psychiatry Service in the Emergency Department at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for nearly 12 years. In addition to her clinical leadership roles, she is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, with extensive experience as an educator; training and supervising psychiatric residents, nurse practitioners and social workers, as well as medical students and junior faculty members. She has managed and overseen the management of thousands of patients in acute crisis and is recognized for her expertise in suicide and violence risk assessment, medical clearance of patients with acute psychiatric presentations, decisions around involuntary commitment, ...

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Police Practices & Procedures, Law Enf & Criminal Justice - Criminal Justice, Police Policies, Domestic Violence, Crowd Control, Use of Force, Excessive Force, Sexual Assault, Drug Enforcement, Surveillance, School Safety, Crisis Intervention, Baton, Taser, Firearm, Electronic Control Device

Award-Winning Police Officer. 25+ Years Experience including undercover operations, SWAT Team, and School Resource Officer. Certified Firearms Trainer. Graduate of the FBI National Academy, 272th Session. Law Enforcement Highlights • Trained and deployed multiple times in "Mobile Field Force / Civil Disturbances" • Undercover operations, drug buys, surveillance and preparation of over 400 search warrants • Specialized training in Barricaded gunman situation resolution • Member of D.P.D. Pistol Team • Executive Protection, and advanced driving techniques. • Served on Multi-jurisdictional SWAT Team • Patrol Rifle Operator / Designated Marksman Certification • Certified Firearms Trainer • Field Training Officer and Supervisor • Police Honor Guard 2004 through 2015 • Additional command capacities: • New World Reporting System Build Team / Training of supervisors and Officers, Mobile Field Force Unit Commander Career Accolades With Sterling Heights Police Department • (6) Merit Ci...

Seattle, Washington

Law Enf & Criminal Justice, Police Practices & Procedures - Law Enforcement, Police pursuits, Use of force, Less lethal weapons, De-escalation, Crisis intervention, Rapid intervention, Police supervision, Early intervention, Police training, Civil rights, US 1983, Legal standards for police, Best practices for police, EEO, EVOC, Discrimination, Harassment

Seattle Police Lieutenant (ret.) with 34 years of experience. I am easy to reach, and I return calls and email promptly. I will provide you with an unbiased review of the evidence and then we can determine how I can best help you with your case. I enjoy helping both defense and plaintiff attorneys. Currently, I have assisted plaintiff and defense attorneys with 60+ cases. This mix comes from my ability to examine the evidence and provide you with an honest assessment so that I can help you with your needs, whether it be an evaluation, a report, testimony, advice, etc.