PD&A Expert Spotlight: Forensic Psychology Expert: Allison Paganelli, Psy.D., ABPP

Dr. Paganelli is a board-certified forensic psychologist with wide experience conducting forensic evaluations and psychological testing.  Dr. Paganelli’s clinical and forensic expertise includes:

  • Evaluation of mental damages of plaintiffs in civil litigation for sexual abuse and other torts

  • The diagnosis and long-term effects of complex trauma

  • Psychological assessment of cognitive and neurocognitive functioning, possible psychopathology, and/or personality disorders

  • Standard of care in forensic hospitals and forensic psychology

  • Violence and sexual violence risk assessment

  • Malingering in forensic assessments

  • Criminal competencies (trial competence, mental state at the time of the alleged offense, competency to waive Miranda rights)

  • Appellate cases, particularly those involving serious and persistent mental illness

  • Atkins evaluations in death penalty cases

Dr. Paganelli has PSYPACT credentials that allow the practice of psychology in person for 30 days each calendar year (TAP) and the unlimited practice of interjurisdictional telepsychology (APIT) in 41 states and the District of Columbia.

Other specific areas of interest include:

  • Special Issues with competency to stand trial (e.g., the roles of memory, rote participation, cultural differences) and methods of competency restoration

  • Risk assessment and management of child pornography offenders

  • Psychological diagnoses and rule outs

  • Mitigation evaluations

  • The development and monitoring of Positive Behavioral Support Plans for those with severe and persistent mental illness and/or impaired cognitive functioning

Dr. Paganelli has been qualified as an expert witness in forensic psychology and clinical psychology across numerous counties and districts in Connecticut, Georgia, and Alabama. She has experience testifying in Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity trials, competency trials and hearings, juvenile waiver hearings, and sentencing hearings.  She has worked at both maximum and medium secure forensic units at state hospitals, did forensic evaluations within a group practice, and had a private forensic practice from 2018 until May 2025, when she joined PD&A.

Dr. Paganelli was educated in Alabama and Georgia, with predoctoral training at a state psychiatric hospital in Denver, CO, and Yale-accredited postdoctoral training in the community with persons diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness. Dr. Paganelli holds a part-time psychologist position in the adult mental health division of a state psychiatric hospital serving primarily involuntarily committed patients with severe and persistent mental illness. She is attuned to the complexities of the intermix of developmental disabilities, neurocognitive disorders, psychiatric diagnoses, medical illnesses, and substance abuse.

Her board certification is through the American Board of Forensic Psychology, a branch of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). The ABPP attests that the board-certified forensic psychologist has the ability to clearly and effectively articulate the theoretical, ethical, and legal foundations for her work in forensic psychology, and the credential has been recognized by judicial decisions, regulations, and statutes in some jurisdictions as the standard of professional competence in forensic psychology.

Dr. Paganelli is frequently invited to speak at conferences at the county (Cobb County Criminal Defense Bar), state (the Connecticut Psychological Association and the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers), and national levels (the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers). She has also been an active participant in providing Crisis Intervention Training to various police departments in the state of Georgia. Each year, Dr. Paganelli attends various workshops affiliated with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology which are taught by many of the pioneers of forensic psychology and include topics such as Special Issues in Criminal Responsibility Evaluations, Ethics, Expert Testimony, and Forensic Case Law.

Aaron Cohen