Opinion ID: 2025963
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Expert Character Evidence

Text: Admitting psychological testing on issues such as competence or insanity seems quite straightforward; admitting it on the question of defendant's likelihood to have committed a particular crime is quite a different matter. Unlike other more objective scientific tests (such as DNA testing), there is no suggestion that the MMPI is an accurate or objective indicator of whether a particular defendant committed the crime charged. [5] Dr. Davis testified during the defendant's offer of proof that the MMPI is a testing device which has been used for decades for evaluating characteristics of an individual's personality, and for establishing their emotional state at the time of testing, such as states of depression, anxiety, disturbed thinking, etc. Record at 1172-74 (emphasis added). The MMPI is used as an assessment device to aid the psychologist or psychiatrist in treating a person, not for determining whether particular conduct has occurred in the criminal context. Cf. Flanagan v. State, 586 So.2d 1085, 1117 (Fla.App. 1991) (Ervin, J., concurring and dissenting) (profile a therapeutic tool for evaluating whether child suspected of being abused should be removed from environment where abuse may have occurred); People v. Ruiz, 222 Cal. App.3d 1241, 272 Cal. Rptr. 368, 370 (1990) (MMPI not designed to determine if the subject being tested is a pedophile or sexual deviant). Some courts have approached the use of psychological profiles on the issue of guilt or innocence by applying reliability tests such as Frye to determine whether the technique has gained general scientific acceptance. E.g., State v. Cavallo, 88 N.J. 508, 443 A.2d 1020, 1025 (1982) (profile testimony offered to prove sexual abuse had not occurred excluded because not shown to be scientifically reliable); State v. Pearson, 20 Conn. App. 115, 564 A.2d 626 (1989) (testimony that defendant did not fit profile of pedophile properly excluded because Frye test not met). The parties to this litigation, however, have not presented us with argument or evidence about the general reliability of the MMPI and its use as a predictor of guilt. Accordingly, we think that resolving the MMPI issue on that basis is inappropriate on this record. We therefore address this issue as one of expert character evidence offered by the defendant to prove his good character. We adopt the majority rule and hold that a defendant may present evidence of his good character only for particular traits that are relevant to the acts charged. Byrd sought to introduce testimony by Dr. Davis that in his opinion Byrd's personality profile was inconsistent with the crime of murder. Record at 1177. [6] Dr. Davis further testified during the offer of proof that he based his opinion on his assessment of various traits such as passivity, aggressiveness, assertiveness, and social skills of the defendant. Record at 1178. However, he did not give his opinion of defendant's character for these specific traits. The proposed testimony was essentially that defendant is not the type of person who would commit murder. Byrd argued that this testimony was relevant to the knowing or intentional element of the charge of murder. We cannot conclude that such generalized testimony about a defendant's personality constitutes evidence of his character for a particular relevant trait. Nor do we think that expert opinion, whether based on a personality profile or not, is an appropriate way to prove a defendant's character for a particular trait. Cf. Hulbert, 481 N.W.2d 329. Indiana generally permits evidence of a defendant's good character to be proven only by testimony about his reputation in the community. [7] Anderson v. State (1984), Ind., 471 N.E.2d 291. Our reluctance to sanction such broad expert testimony is based in part on the events which would be set in motion by permitting it. Once a defendant opens the door to the subject of his own character, the State may introduce evidence of specific misconduct for the trait placed in issue to depreciate the weight of the evidence presented by defendant. Bond, 403 N.E.2d at 818. Because of the subjective nature of psychiatric testimony we would feel obligated to permit the State to present its own expert witnesses to rebut defendant's expert, creating a potential battle of the experts. See, e.g., Cavallo, 443 A.2d at 1025; People v. Stoll, 49 Cal.3d 1136, 265 Cal. Rptr. 111, 125, 783 P.2d 698, 712 (1989) (defendant may present character evidence that psychologist believes his personality is inconsistent with crimes charged, and state may call in rebuttal comparable expert to challenge defense expert.) The value of this contest of experts to the process of finding guilt or innocence seems very modest when compared with tangible evidence and eyewitness accounts. There is also the likelihood the jury may place excessive weight on character assessments made by an expert. Cavallo, 443 A.2d at 1025. The exclusion of this evidence was therefore not error. We otherwise summarily affirm the Court of Appeals' opinion. Ind.Appellate Rule 11(B)(3). The cause is remanded to the trial court for retrial. DeBRULER, GIVAN, DICKSON and KRAHULIK, JJ., concur.