What is the process for in inmate to get a psychological evalution done?

My brother-in-law is currently in the county jail waiting for his court dates and to be sentenced and what not. As far as I know he will be pleading guilty.

I'm not sure what the actual charges will be. His latest "crime spree" started last may and ran up to December. It involved Auto-theft, B&E, etc. No violent crimes (atleast none that I am aware of).

He is drug addict and I think all if not most of his crimes were related to his addictions.

He was also diagnosed with AD/HD when he was in his early teens.

He shows signs of Bipolar (manic depression), Depression, anti-social personality disorder. I'm sure depending on whoever the dianostician is ,there could even be more issues.

How would he go about getting a psycholigical evaluation done. I'm sure since he's not "Dangerous" that's something that would not automaticly be done.

I did mention to him in one of my letters that if there was anyway possible he should have psychlogical testing done.


I know things differ from state to state (I'm in Massachusetts) but is there something that can be done for him to get an evaluation.

Does anybody know of any literatture I could send him about it?

Is there anythings I can do?

I know that if he has a diagnosis especially a dual diagnosis is will be beneficial to him while his is inside and when he gets out.

Thanks....

Generally speaking... pretrial psyche evaluations are done by order of the Court on motion by the Defense. Some are done to establish competency for the events to come.
If his defense atty hasn't thought to do this, it won't just happen.
Some other people get psyche evaluations further down the road, or for different reasons. If a given jail can't sedate or control a person they may send them out to the contracted psyche facility for the given minimum observation/evaluation but that isn't a comprehensive evaluation. Usually just long enough to get them back in their skin.
Entering any state system there is a cursory psyche evaluation which might amount to asking nothing about anything important other than establishing what medications he takes for whatever.

Short course... A full-scale psyche evaluation won't happen by faerie dust. Someone has to get the judge to Order it.
The jail's interest in having the limited deal done is only to 'contain' a prisoner who might be unmanagable.
The prison's stake in it would be to help properly classify a given person with mental disabilities/disorders in a housing unit appropriate, and to manage him better.

life, would speaking to his attorney requesting this, would that help?

Like I said, jail will do it in part if he's unruly.
Prison will do it by routine to see if he'll be unruly.
Only Defense atty would be requesting court order for psych evaluation pre-trial.
The Court can order it independently if they think competency is an issue.
The Defense usually requests the evaluation to create or document conditions which weigh on competency or will be used in mitigation at trial or in plea negotiations.
Only reason I can think of that an atty wouldn't want it is if he knows the guy is competent and doesn't think that it would help the defense of the client.
The sister in law, or the wife can certainly ask the atty if/when they plan on requesting to have an evaluation done.