Dr. Yufik is both a licensed forensic psychologist and a licensed attorney. Dr. Yufik uses his knowledge of forensic psychology and his legal training to clearly and credibly educate the judge and jury about complex matters of law and evidence using simple language that jurors can easily grasp and understand. Dr. Yufik provides wide ranging forensic services, in both criminal and civil areas of the law. He offers individualized consultations and expert testimony regarding criminal responsibility, competency, risk assessment, sex offender evaluations, bail reduction hearings and sentencing recommendations. His experience includes evaluations conducted for hospitals, government agencies and educational institutions.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: Dr.Yufik is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist in California (PSY19520) and a licensed attorney in California (247353), United States District Court Central District of California, Maryland and at the United States Supreme Court. He is credentialed by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, which is an indication of professional competence beyond the threshold qualifications of state licensure.
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: • American Psychology-Law Society Member (APA Division 41)
• American Psychological Association
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Los Angles County Bar Association
• California Psychological Association
• American Bar Association (Past Member)
• Maryland State Bar Association (Past Member)
• California Association of Professional Psychology Providers (Past Member)
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: • ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLap) Regional Directors Meeting Invited Talk "The Challenges of Outside Evaluators Working with LAP’s & Discipline." August 10, 2007
• LA Lawyer Magazine “Psychology of Justice” Expected Publication Date October 2007
• CBS KCAL 9 Forensic Expert Consultant
• Shrink Rap Radio Show with Phyllis Chase
• “Revisiting the Tarasoff Decision: Risk Assessment and Liability in Clinical and Forensic Practice” American Journal of Forensic Psychology, Volume 23, Issue 4, 2005/3
• State Bar of California Annual Meeting Monterey Presentation “In My own Defense” October 6, 2006
• Archdiocese of Los Angles County Spirit and Law Conference Presentation “Treatment in a Spiritual Framework” September 30, 2006
• Los Angeles Eastern Bar Association Presentation “Dual Diagnosis: Assessment, Treatment and Recovery” October 21, 2004
• Long Beach Bar Association “Mental Illness and Substance Abuse in Legal Populations: Treatment and Recovery”. October 30, 2004
• Legal work discussed in “While Innocents Slept” by Adrian Havil (2001) St. Martin’s Press
• County Counsels Association Santa Monica Presentation “Why are Lawyers so Unhappy?” November 17, 2005.
• Beverly Hills Legal Secretaries Association Invited Speaker “Working with Difficult People, Skills and Abilities” April 22, 2005
• American Psychological Association 2005 Convention Presentation “Revisiting the Tarasoff Decision: Liability and Risk in Clinical Practice” August 19, 2005.
• Invited Symposium at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Forensic Psychology, “Interactive Skills Workshop: Civil and Criminal” Newport Beach, California, April 14-17 2005
• Invited Panel Speaker "Substance Abuse & Mental Health Issues in the Legal Profession" Juvenile Courts Bar Association February 25, 2006
Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
A: No
Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
A: As a forensic psychologist, Dr. Yufik has conducted numerous forensic evaluations for the District of Columbia Superior Court, and for forensic hospitals in California and Maryland. He has represented Springfield Hospital Center in Maryland in involuntary detentions and civil commitment hearings. The State Bar of California also employs Dr. Yufik as a Case Specialist/Case Management Supervisor in the Lawyers Assistance Program. He has conducted numerous evaluations of sexual offenders and has consulted in many cases dealing with child abuse, elder abuse, and domestic violence and in many other forensic areas. Dr. Yufik has evaluated attorneys and has testified in State Bar Court proceedings, and he is a panelist on the California Forensic Assessment Project, and conducts evaluations for the California Conditional Release Program.
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Dr. Yufik can assist you in evaluating a wide variety of relevant issues such as; competency, insanity mitigation and evaluation of dangerousness. Dr. Yufik can assist you in child abuse cases by educating the judge/jury about the proper investigation/interrogation techniques and witness suggestibility or eyewitness identification. He can provide your client with:
• Forensic Psychological Evaluation, including Psychological Testing
• Expert Witness Testimony
• Deposition Planning
• Written Reports
• Attorney Consultation
• Jury Selection
In CRIMINAL CASES you may wish your client to be evaluated for:
• Competency to Stand Trial
• Plead Guilty
• Waive Privilege of Self-Incrimination
• Consent to a Search
• Medication Refusal
• Voluntary Waiver of Rights
• Ciminal Responsibility/Insanity Defense/Ability to form Specific Intent
In the sentencing phase of a trial, you may want a risk assessment of future violence to be conducted in order to provide mitigating factors for the judge or jury to consider. This is especially important if your case involves sexual crimes, or your client may be considered a sexually violent predator under the law. Specifically, the defense may wish to present psychological information for the court to consider in sentencing, and in recommending probation or parole.
Dr. Yufik can also provide comprehensive evaluation in CIVIL PRACTICE relating to the calculation of psychological damages resulting from workplace injury or child abuse. He can also evaluate:
• Immigration Cases: Political Asylum; Extreme Hardship; Claims of Torture or Human Rights Violations; Spousal Abuse; Citizenship Waivers
• Personal Injury
• Worker's Compensation
• Competency to make a Will
• Competency to Contract
• Developing cross-examination or deposition questions
• Review of opposing expert’s report and expected testimony
• Provide a comprehensive evaluation of the strengths and weakness of your case.
