Forensic Consulting
Bergenfield Forensic Services
You cannot fairly represent a client you don't understand.
Autistic communication and behavior can be misunderstood in legal settings, particularly when individuals are questioned under pressure or their responses are interpreted through expectations that do not account for neurodevelopmental differences.
Bergenfield Forensic Services provides specialized consultation to attorneys and legal teams, bringing an autism-informed, scientifically grounded perspective to the interpretation of behavior, communication, and decision-making.
Our work helps legal professionals distinguish what can be observed from what may be inferred, identify alternative explanations for behavior, and consider how autism may influence an individual's experience of legal proceedings.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Interviewing, Interrogation & Apparent Admissions
Examining how autism, uncertainty, arousal, and communication differences may influence responses during questioning, including the interpretation of statements that appear inconsistent, compliant, ambiguous, or self-incriminating.
Behavioral Interpretation
Providing alternative perspectives on behaviors that may otherwise be interpreted as evasive, deceptive, uncooperative, or indicative of intent, particularly when sensory processing, emotional regulation, and communication differences have not been considered.
Uncertainty, Arousal & Predictive Processing
Applying a predictive processing framework to explore how uncertainty, rapidly changing expectations, and heightened arousal may influence an autistic individual's communication, behavior, and ability to process information during high-pressure interactions.
Autism & Legal Proceedings
Helping legal professionals understand how autistic characteristics may affect participation in interviews, communication with counsel, and other aspects of legal proceedings.
OUR SERVICES
Case Consultation & Review
Review of relevant case materials, including interview recordings, body-camera footage, transcripts, and supporting records, to identify communication dynamics and factors that may be relevant to the interpretation of behavior.
Expert Analysis & Testimony
Preparation of written analyses, expert reports, and testimony, where appropriate, addressing autism-related communication and behavioral considerations within the scope of the consultant's expertise.
Attorney Education & Training
Educational presentations and consultation for attorneys, legal teams, and other professionals seeking a more informed understanding of autism in legal settings.
OUR TEAM
Sarah Bergenfield
Forensic Consultant | Autism & Predictive Processing
Sarah is an autistic educator, writer, and forensic consultant whose work focuses on autism, predictive processing, uncertainty, and the interpretation of human behavior.
She brings together psychological theory, contemporary neuroscience, and lived experience to examine how autistic communication and behavior may be misunderstood, particularly during questioning, interrogation, and other high-pressure interactions.
Sarah also has five years of experience working as a trial paralegal, providing familiarity with litigation processes and the practical demands of legal proceedings.
Her work emphasizes the importance of distinguishing observable behavior from assumptions about its meaning and considering the role of uncertainty, arousal, and individual differences in communication.
Glenn Bergenfield
Legal & Litigation Advisor | Retired Trial Attorney
Glenn is a retired trial attorney with 40 years of experience specializing in legal malpractice litigation.
He provides legal and procedural support to Bergenfield Forensic Services, drawing on his extensive litigation experience to assist with case preparation, legal processes, and the effective presentation of subject-matter expertise.
His role complements Sarah's autism-focused consultation, bringing an experienced litigation perspective to the practice.
A Different Perspective Can Change the Interpretation
Behavior does not always mean what an observer assumes it means.
An apparent admission, an inconsistent response, unusual emotional expression, or difficulty answering a question may have multiple explanations. Understanding autism does not determine which explanation is correct, but it can reveal considerations that might otherwise be overlooked.
Our approach is grounded in careful analysis, scientific evidence, and recognition of the limits of what can reasonably be inferred from behavior alone.
Request a Consultation
Bergenfield Forensic Services welcomes inquiries from attorneys and legal teams seeking autism-focused case consultation, expert analysis, or professional education.
Please contact us with a brief description of your inquiry. We can then discuss the nature of the matter, the relevant questions, and whether our expertise is appropriate for your needs.