About Services Credentials My Process Work With Me
Available for Expert Witness Engagements

Psychiatric expertise
built for the courtroom

Dr. Ivette Cardelli-Rosen is a forensic psychiatric nurse practitioner with 15 years of clinical experience — including 6 in corrections — bringing full-spectrum psychiatric insight to criminal and civil proceedings across South Florida and beyond.

15+
Years Clinical
6+
Years Corrections
5
Advanced Degrees
DNP
Johns Hopkins
Doctoral Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Johns Hopkins University · Forensic Psychiatry
Clinical Role
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Corrections · Prescribing Provider
Primary Expertise
Bipolar Disorder · Schizophrenia · Personality Disorders
Psychopharmacology · Behavioral Impact of Medications
Expert Witness
Criminal Defense · Competency · Sentencing Mitigation
Available to travel with advance notice
Why attorneys choose Dr. Cardelli-Rosen

A rare combination of clinical depth
and courtroom credibility

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She prescribes the medications she testifies about
As an active prescribing psychiatric NP, Dr. Cardelli-Rosen understands exactly how Lithium, Risperidone, Clozapine, and other psychiatric medications affect cognition, impulse control, and behavior — not from a textbook, but from daily clinical practice.
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Six years inside corrections
She has worked directly with the population that ends up in criminal courts — inmates with serious mental illness, personality disorders, and complex psychiatric histories. This gives her an unmatched understanding of how mental illness presents under correctional conditions.
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She does her own research and preparation
Dr. Cardelli-Rosen independently reviews records, conducts evaluations, and prepares thorough written reports. She does not rely on third parties to build her opinions — her testimony reflects her own clinical judgment.
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Judges and juries understand her
She translates complex psychiatric concepts — DSM criteria, medication pharmacodynamics, the neuroscience of impulse control — into clear, accessible language that resonates in the courtroom without losing scientific precision.
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The best expert witnesses combine unimpeachable credentials with the ability to make a jury believe what they already know to be true. That is a rare skill.
Approach to expert testimony · South Florida Criminal Defense
Clinical expertise includes
Bipolar I & II Schizophrenia Antisocial PD Borderline PD Major Depression Forensic Psychiatry Psychopharmacology Competency Eval Malingering Schizoaffective
Expert witness services

What Dr. Ivette offers

From initial case consultation through live trial testimony, she provides a complete range of forensic psychiatric services for criminal and civil matters.

01
Expert Witness Testimony
Live courtroom testimony on psychiatric diagnoses, behavioral causation, medication effects, and mental state at the time of the offense. Clear, credible, and prepared to withstand cross-examination.
CriminalCivilFederal
02
Psychiatric Evaluation & Report
Comprehensive written evaluation of a defendant or patient, including diagnosis, psychiatric history, medication review, functional assessment, and a clear statement of clinical opinion for use in legal proceedings.
DefenseProsecutionNeutral
03
Competency Evaluation
Formal assessment of a defendant's competency to stand trial under Florida statute, including analysis of their understanding of proceedings and ability to assist in their own defense.
F.S. 916Dusky Standard
04
Sentencing Mitigation
Expert psychiatric analysis in support of sentencing arguments, including the role of mental illness, trauma history, medication non-compliance, and institutional factors in the defendant's conduct.
Criminal SentencingMitigation
05
Deposition Preparation & Testimony
Available for deposition proceedings with thorough preparation. Dr. Ivette's opinions are well-documented and consistent — she is an effective deponent who withstands adversarial questioning.
Pre-trialDiscovery
06
Case Consultation
Early-stage psychiatric consultation to help attorneys understand whether a psychiatric defense or mitigation argument has merit, and what records or evaluations will be needed to develop it.
Early stageStrategy
Credentials & experience

Education, training, and practice

A lifetime of training across psychiatry, advanced nursing practice, and forensic science — with direct patient care experience that keeps her opinions grounded in clinical reality.

Education
DNP
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Johns Hopkins University · Forensic Psychiatry concentration
MSN
Master of Science in Nursing · Nurse Practitioner
Florida Atlantic University
BS
Bachelor of Science · Psychology
University of Miami
Certifications & Licensure
PMHNP
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner — Board Certified
ANCC Certified · Active Florida Licensure
DEA
DEA Prescribing License
Active · Psychiatric medications including controlled substances
Clinical Experience
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner · Corrections
Florida Department of Corrections (current)
Provides psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and psychopharmacological treatment to incarcerated individuals with serious mental illness. Daily exposure to the clinical presentations most relevant to criminal forensic matters.
Forensic Psychiatric Expert Witness
Independent Practice · South Florida
Partners with criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, and civil litigators across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Provides evaluations, written reports, deposition testimony, and trial testimony.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner · Community & Inpatient
Multiple clinical settings · 15 years
Extensive experience treating bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, major depressive disorder, and personality disorders across inpatient, outpatient, and residential settings.
The process

How an engagement works

Dr. Ivette takes a structured, thorough approach to every case — from initial consultation to final testimony.

01
Initial Consultation
Attorney reaches out to discuss the case. Dr. Ivette reviews preliminary facts, identifies whether a psychiatric expert can add value, and confirms there is no conflict of interest.
02
Records Review & Evaluation
She independently reviews all relevant medical, psychiatric, and correctional records. Where possible, she conducts a direct evaluation of the individual. She researches current literature relevant to the case.
03
Written Report
A thorough expert report documenting her findings, clinical opinions, and the basis for those opinions — written to be clear for judges and juries, and defensible under cross-examination.
04
Testimony
Available for deposition and trial testimony. Well-prepared, composed, and credible. She is experienced at presenting complex psychiatric concepts in accessible language without sacrificing accuracy.
Based in South Florida.
Available to travel.
Regularly serves Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. Available for engagements statewide and nationally with advance notice.
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Home base
South Florida
✈️
Travel
Available w/ notice
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Remote
Video available

Let's discuss
your case

Reach out to discuss whether Dr. Ivette is the right fit for your matter. Initial consultations are confidential.

For attorneys: Please include a brief summary of the matter, the type of expert opinion you are seeking, and the relevant jurisdiction. Dr. Ivette will respond within one business day.
Location
South Florida (Miami-Dade area)
Response time
Within one business day

Your inquiry is confidential. Dr. Ivette will respond within one business day.

Frequently asked questions

What types of cases does Dr. Cardelli-Rosen work on?

Dr. Cardelli-Rosen works primarily on criminal matters — including criminal defense, competency to stand trial evaluations, and sentencing mitigation — as well as civil matters involving psychiatric injury or capacity. Her corrections background makes her especially effective in cases involving incarcerated or formerly incarcerated defendants.

What makes a psychiatric nurse practitioner qualified to serve as an expert witness?

A board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with a doctoral degree and forensic training is fully qualified to render expert opinions on psychiatric diagnoses, medication effects, and behavioral causation. Dr. Cardelli-Rosen's DNP from Johns Hopkins, combined with her active prescribing practice and 15+ years of direct patient care, gives her clinical depth that is difficult to challenge on cross-examination.

How does her corrections experience help in criminal cases?

Six years working inside correctional facilities gives Dr. Cardelli-Rosen direct clinical experience with the exact population involved in criminal proceedings. She understands how serious mental illness — bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders — presents under custodial conditions, including medication non-compliance, institutional stressors, and the impact of incarceration itself on mental state. This makes her testimony grounded in reality rather than textbook theory.

Is Dr. Cardelli-Rosen available outside of South Florida?

Yes. While she is based in South Florida and primarily serves Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, Dr. Cardelli-Rosen is available for engagements throughout Florida and nationally with advance notice. Video consultation and deposition are also available for remote matters.

What psychiatric conditions does Dr. Cardelli-Rosen have the most expertise in?

Dr. Cardelli-Rosen has deep clinical expertise in bipolar disorder (types I and II), schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and other serious mental illnesses. As an active prescribing provider, she also has specialized knowledge of the psychopharmacological effects of psychiatric medications — including how Lithium, Clozapine, Risperidone, Valproate, and other drugs affect cognition, impulse control, judgment, and behavior.