Competency to stand trial in preadjudicated and petitioned juvenile defendants

As state legislatures across the United States continue to permit younger juvenile defendants to be tried in adult court, juvenile competence to stand trial has become an issue of increasing legal and forensic significance. This study examined competency to stand trial in a sample of preadjudicated and petitioned juvenile defendants. Results revealed that juveniles deemed unfit to stand trial were younger than their competent counterparts, had more severe special education needs, and had more extensive mental health treatment histories. These results are consistent with those of prior research in this area. Implications for treatment planning and system reform are discussed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. L. Ficke, K. J. Hart, and P. A. Deardorff The Performance of Incarcerated Juveniles on the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool-Criminal Adjudication (MacCAT-CA) J Am Acad Psychiatry Law, September 1, 2006; 34(3): 360 - 373. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. H. Colwell, K. R. Cruise, L. S. Guy, W. K. McCoy, K. Fernandez, and H. H. Ross The Influence of Psychosocial Maturity on Male Juvenile Offenders' Comprehension and Understanding of the Miranda Warning J Am Acad Psychiatry Law, December 1, 2005; 33(4): 444 - 454. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]