Can I Use an Assessment in Court?

For those who are unfamiliar, an assessment is a helpful tool used by people in many situations. People can be assessed for a wide variety of things at US Court Assessments, including behavioral and mental health issues, substance abuse issues, domestic violence, and anger management. A DUI assessment is used in situations where someone has been arrested for a DUI offense.

US Court Assessment’s evaluation process starts with a short online questionnaire. Afterward, a professional evaluator will interview you after reviewing your questionnaire. From there, they will send you a comprehensive report, written to meet the standards required for court or workplace situations.

A professional assessment completed by a qualified evaluator can help your case in court following a DUI or alcohol-related driving offense. Even if you are not required to get an assessment, it may still benefit you to get one done for many reasons, including:

• Learn if your past behavior indicates future risk: An assessment will look into your past and current behavior, including the incident leading to your arrest. From there, your evaluator can gain insight into the severity of your issues with alcohol or simply give you helpful suggestions to minimize the risk of a future offense.
• Proactively address potential issues: Getting an assessment done before your court date will allow you to start or entirely resolve potential issues before you go before the judge. For example, if the assessment recommends treatment or alcohol education classes, you can enroll, start, or even finish a class before your court date.
• Make a positive impression on the court: Your initiative to get the assessment, and any progress you have made based on the results, can both benefit your case in court. If you are unsure about sharing your results, ask your attorney for advice.
• Help Your Attorney Settle Your Case with a Favorable Plea Deal: Attorneys and prosecutors are professional negotiators and negotiators need positive bargaining chips to get a resolution. A good attorney recognizes that if they have a professional assessment in hand when approaching the negotiation table, they have more leverage to ask for concessions in your favor. Even if your assessment concludes you could benefit from some form of education, counseling, or treatment, you can demonstrate that you are ahead of the prosecutor by initiating the follow-up before negotiations with your attorney.

In general, an assessment can only help you, not hurt your case, in court. The decision to get an assessment is typically proactive and shows an investment in improving your behavior. This can signal a desire to avoid reoffending and make proper restitution for the offense.

Ensuring your Assessment is Accepted by the Court

One thing to consider when spending your money and time on assessment is their acceptance rate in court. Assessments can be costly, and time-consuming, so having an assessment rejected is a very unfortunate occurrence. US Court Assessment’s evaluations are virtually always accepted, meaning it’s rare for any of our reports to be rejected. If they are, our evaluators are usually able to work with the court to provide the necessary changes for acceptance or provide a prompt refund.

Here are some other factors that can ensure your report is accepted:

• Provide accurate and honest details: Providing a high level of detail in your initial questionnaire and during your evaluation will allow your evaluator to create a very thorough report. The report should address your substance use on an individual level and be highly tailored to your situation.
• Review report before submission: With US Court Assessments, you will receive the report securely via email. It’s a good idea to review and ensure all the information it contains is accurate. You should also have your attorney review the report.
• Get a report completed well in advance of the deadline: Allowing enough time is the best way to ensure your report is both thorough and accurate, so book your appointment as soon as you decide to seek an assessment. If you are short on time. US Court Assessments does offer rush services for an additional fee to help you make your court deadlines.

To take the next steps and obtain a DUI assessment, contact us at (833) 446-3100 or get started online.