Who we are

About

James H. Andrews, PhD, LCSW, LICSW

I am a forensic social worker, clinical social worker, and expert witness with over three decades of experience in behavioral health practice, systems oversight, and risk management.

My work operates at the intersection of clinical practice, legal standards, and organizational accountability. I provide expert analysis in matters involving standards of care, documentation, violence risk assessment, abuse and neglect, and institutional response to high-risk situations.

I have been recognized as an expert in both state and federal courts.

Professional Focus

My work is grounded in a central principle: in high-stakes behavioral health situations, decisions must be structured, defensible, and ethically sound.

I specialize in:

  • Forensic behavioral health analysis and expert testimony

  • Violence risk and threat assessment

  • Clinical documentation and standard of care evaluation

  • Institutional and systems-level failure analysis

  • Trauma-informed and ethics-based consultation

This is not simply clinical work. It is the application of social work knowledge to questions that carry legal, ethical, and often irreversible consequences.

Practice & Consulting

Through my practice, Forensic Behavioral Associates, LLC, I work with attorneys, healthcare organizations, and behavioral health systems to clarify complex clinical issues and support informed decision-making.

My approach integrates:

  • Structured clinical judgment

  • Research-informed practice

  • Trauma-aware analysis

  • Clear, defensible reasoning suitable for legal contexts

I have contributed to over 150 legal and regulatory matters, including wrongful death, abuse and neglect, professional liability, and behavioral health system failures.

Academic & Teaching Role

In addition to my forensic work, I serve as a social work educator and have taught across graduate programs in clinical practice, ethics, diagnosis, and forensic social work.

My teaching is grounded in real-world application, preparing clinical social workers to navigate complexity, ambiguity, and ethical tension in practice.

Approach

I approach this work with a clear understanding:

In clinical settings, the goal is to help.

In forensic settings, the goal is to tell the truth clearly, objectively, and with integrity, regardless of outcome.

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