Ronald William Maris, Ph.D. is a forensic suicidologist who offers investigation, consultation, and testimony on a variety of civil and criminal cases as an expert witness. Dr. Maris is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of South Carolina (Columbia) and has taught for over fifty years in psychiatry, behavioral sciences, suicidology, and other academic disciplines. He has written or edited twenty-seven books and chaired or directed various academic and clinical programs and professional associations over the years. He has also been the recipient of many honors, grants, and scholarly awards. (More detailed information on Dr. Maris’s academic and professional accomplishments can be found throughout this website and in his
curriculum vitae).

Dr. Maris operates The Suicide Center (established in 1986 as a state agency in South Carolina and after 2001 as a private sole proprietor agency) in Columbia, South Carolina. Dr. Maris and his associates offer investigation, testimony, and expertise on the following subjects: suicides and homicides, suicide attempts, risk assessment and risk factors, medical and psychological malpractice, contested life insurance and manner of death determination, product liability (especially for psychiatric drugs), jail and prison suicides, hospital suicides, workers’ compensation, and standard of care issues.

Dr. Maris offers his services to clients as a testifying and non-testifying expert in contracts that may include services of professionals associated with The Suicide Center with the approval of his clients. The associates include physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, attorneys, and forensic scientists.