Meet Dr. Stephen Reich, Psychologist and Lawyer

Stephen Reich, Ph.D., J.D. is a forensic psychologist who is also an attorney. Dr. Reich directs the Forensic Psychology Group, a team of leading providers of expert forensic psychological services. He testifies as an expert witness in state and federal courts as well as military courts martial. Dr. Reich has an extraordinary depth of knowledge and experience in forensic psychological issues and is widely known for his expertise in criminal, employment discrimination, civil, and immigration cases. Reporters from Time Magazine and Newsweek have quoted Dr. Reich in their stories on high profile cases, and he has appeared as an expert commentator on radio and network television in the United States and worldwide. (Click here to see a selection of television and print interviews featuring Dr. Reich.)

Unbiased Evaluations, Reports, and Testimony

Dr. Reich has assisted the legal community with forensic psychological evaluations in countless criminal, immigration, employment, and civil cases. For three decades, he has provided unbiased psychodiagnostic evaluations, forensic reports, and courtroom testimony. As one of the few forensic psychologists in the United States who is also an experienced attorney, Dr. Reich brings rare wisdom and poise to the stand. His psychological insight and legal background are helpful in the preparation of a case, and have proved to be significant assets in the courtroom.

A Deep Interest in Psychological Assessment

Stephen Reich received his B.A., J.D. and M.B.A. from Columbia University. His M.B.A. specialization was in Industrial Relations, and he found that he was particularly interested in the psychological aspects of industrial relations. As an Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York, Stephen Reich was involved in numerous hearings, investigations and trials concerning violations of New York State security laws and syndication laws. He interviewed many potential defendants or material witnesses in connection with alleged crimes for which they were being investigated. He began to realize that his deeper interest was in the psychological aspects of the cases--what motivated the accused to act, how they acted, and the consequences that their actions had on their lives.

A Former Prosecutor and Defense Attorney

Stephen Reich is uniquely qualified in the area of criminal law and military courts martial, both as a lawyer and as a forensic psychologist. As a lawyer, he gained experience on both sides in criminal cases -- as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney. As an Assistant Attorney General of the State of New York, he prosecuted many white collar criminal cases. As a Lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve, Judge Advocate General Corps, he defended Naval enlisted personnel during their military courts martial. Thus, he gained experience in criminal law in civilian courts and in military courts martial. His early career as a prosecutor and defense lawyer, and his subsequent training in psychology led him to the field of forensic psychology. During his training as a clinical psychologist, he studied with some of the nation's leading experts in the field of psychological assessment. As a forensic psychologist, Dr. Reich has served as an expert witness in numerous criminal cases, including military courts martial, in courtrooms and military bases around the nation.

Mentored by Leading Experts in Psychological Assessment

After practicing law for several years, Steve returned to graduate school to pursue his interest in psychology. He received a United States Public Health Fellowship in Clinical Psychology and earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Fordham University. There, he was mentored by Dr. Marvin Reznikoff, one of the leading psychological and psychodiagnostic assessment experts in the United States, and studied under Dr. Anne Anastasi, one of the foremost authorities on psychological testing. He was awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Psychology at Cornell University Medical College (now Weill Cornell Medical College) and continued to study psychological assessment under another nationally recognized expert, Dr. David Clayson, who headed the Division of Psychology at the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic. Following his Fellowship, Dr. Reich was appointed to the faculty of Cornell University Medical College in the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Psychology. For three decades he was a faculty member of Weill Cornell Medical College and on the Attending Staff of the New York Presbyterian Hospital, Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic.

Specialization in Psychodiagnostic Evaluation

Early in his career, Dr. Steve Reich specialized in psychodiagnostic evaluation, psychological assessment, and psychotherapy. At Weill Cornell Medical College, he both lectured and supervised in all three areas. In his private practice as a psychologist, he specialized in individual and group therapy. The Consolidated Edison Company invited him to become a psychological consultant to the corporation. At Con Ed, Dr. Reich helped the company set up one of the earliest Employee Assistance Programs, in which any employee could receive psychological help in a completely confidential setting.

Active in Leading Professional Associations

Dr. Reich is a member of the American College of Forensic Psychology, the American Psychological Association, the New York State Psychological Association, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, the New York State Bar Association, the National Employment Lawyers Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the New York Criminal Defense Lawyers' Association, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

A Team of Distinguished Forensic Psychologists

Dr. Reich's experiences as an expert witness in the courtroom made it clear to him that there was a great need for expert psychological services in many areas of law that was not being met. He saw what a dramatic difference that expert witness evaluations and expert testimony could make on both sides, and how they can strengthen the presentation of a case. He formed a group of clinical and forensic expert witnesses to fill this need. As Director of the Forensic Psychology Group, Dr. Reich leads a team of experts who are experienced in working collaboratively with attorneys in a wide range of forensic psychological issues.

Expert Witnesses in a Wide Range of Cases

Dr. Reich and his team of psychological experts are available to conduct evaluations and testify for the prosecution and the defense. The experts of the Forensic Psychology Group have extensive experience in all aspects of criminal law, and have testified for both the prosecution and the defense in cases of murder, rape, child rape, domestic violence, child pornography, juvenile crime, and military courts martial. They also consult and testify in civil litigation cases, such as personal injury law, including head injuries and brain damage; trauma resulting from sexual assaults; false arrest; employment discrimination; and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Forensic Psychology Group portfolio of cases also includes many employment law cases, as well as every aspect of immigration law. Dr. Reich and his colleagues are well known as clinical and forensic experts in all areas of immigration law. In addition to his forensic consultation work, Dr. Reich has an active practice in general clinical psychology. You can reach Dr. Reich at +1 212-935-6133.

In The News

In addition to giving testimony in courtrooms around the nation with respect to his psychological evaluations and reports, Dr. Reich is often asked to give interviews by the news media, interviews that have aired in the United States and worldwide. He is frequently interviewed about news topics that have forensic psychological dimensions, such as high profile crimes. Recent topics include the Joker massacre at the "Dark Knight" premiere in Aurora, Colorado, where James Holmes was charged with 24 counts of murder, and 116 of attempted murder... the Norwegian right-wing extremist who killed more than 80 teens on a rampage at a youth camp; and the Long Island serial killer, who is believed to have murdered at least ten women, based on bodies recovered near Gilgo Beach. Click here to view excerpts of some of Dr. Reich's appearances in the media.

Evaluations at ICE Detention Centers and Correctional Facilities

The doctors of the Forensic Psychology Group are available to perform psychological evaluations and criminal psychological assessments at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers and correctional facilities.