NCJ Number
139038
Journal
Behavioral Sciences and the Law Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: (Summer 1992) Pages: complete issue
Editor(s)
R M Wettstein
Date Published
1992
Length
147 pages
Annotation
This collection of theoretical and empirical papers on criminal competencies discusses a range of issues related to competency to stand trial, competency to represent oneself at trial, and competency to be executed.
Abstract
The first article argues for a theoretical reformulation of criminal competence that would consist of two separable, but related constructs. The next two articles present a therapeutic jurisprudence perspective on the competency to be executed and review the Supreme Court's 1986 ruling in Ford v. Wainwright, respectively. The remaining articles are empirical. One reviews the last 5 years of research on evaluations for competency to stand trial. Others discuss the outcome of hospitalization for defendants adjudicated incompetent to stand trial, attorney perceptions of their clients' competence, the case law on competency to waive representation, and the diversion of mentally disordered offenders to treatment facilities. The final article presents assessment data on the recently developed Computer Assisted Competency Assessment Instrument. Chapter references