Dr. Reed has developed expertise in investigative psychology, in particular as it relates to the investigation of allegations of child abuse. Her knowledge of the literature and of best practice guidelines in this domain is extensive and ever-expanding, as is her knowledge of the abuse literature. She is also developing expertise in the domains of vulnerable adult abuse, and sexual assault between adults. Her written work and testimony in criminal trials have an impact on the prosecution as well as the defense of alleged perpetrators, and therefore on outcomes that are important to children, families, and communities. The following is not an exhaustive list of the services she provides. She loves to be challenged with new types of cases and issues, and to innovate and trailblaze to answer pointed psycholegal questions. Areas of developing expertise or interest are also included.
Areas of expertise below are used to produce services tailored to the specifics of a case:
- Expert consultation services, including for trial preparation.
- Expert report and/or testimony about best practices for forensic investigative processes (including the investigative interviews of children, witnesses, and suspects) following allegations of child or adult maltreatment, such practices reducing the potential for inaccurate reports by alleged victims, false confessions by alleged perpetrators, and wrongful convictions and incarcerations.
- Expert report and/or testimony on topics related to the investigation of child abuse allegations, such as:
- allegations in the context of divorce of child custody proceedings
- memory of autobiographical events in children at various ages
- parental and other adult influences on children’s memory
- impact of trauma and of psychotherapies on the memory of events and the reports of abuse
- delayed reporting of abuse or recantation
- Expert report and/or testimony on topics related to court procedures, such as the psychologically, developmentally appropriate use of children’s testimony in courtrooms in criminal court at various ages.
- External reviews of other professionals’ work in areas of expertise.
Areas of developing expertise or interest (for which expertise can be acquired as needed):
- Developing expertise in developmental, clinical, ethical and psycholegal issues related to the trial, conviction, and treatment of children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults in the juvenile and adult criminal justice and incarceration systems.
- Interest in jury psychology and jury-related court practices (such as juror selection, impact of prior knowledge of issues relevant to a particular case, bias, beliefs in myths about types of crimes, criminals, and victims, and group and individual processes leading to verdicts).
- Interest and competence in Rule 20 evaluations for adults and adolescents.
- Interest in police problematic and criminal behavior as it relates to their psychological and neurobiological characteristics, and their own complex histories of traumatization.
