Fitness Interview Test - A Method for Examining Fitness To Stand Trial

• NCJ Number: 93459
• Author(s): R Roesch; C D Webster; D Eaves
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 94 pages
• Contract Number(s): 6115-60
• Sponsoring Agency: Canada Department of Justice
• Corporate Author: University of Toronto; Simon Fraser University
• Sale Source: University of Toronto
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: Research Report of the Centre of Criminology, University of Toronto, number 17.

Annotation

This Canadian monograph describes the development of a structured interview and rating scale for assessing fitness and competency to stand trial.

Abstract

The Fitness Interview Test (FIT) is based on a scale developed in the United States, the Competency Assessment Instrument. In this study, the scale was adapted to make it more useful for Canadian criminal justice systems and extended to include a more explicit focus on mental health status issues. Two studies were conducted to test the FIT both in terms of its reliability among professional groups and to see whether inexperienced raters could be taught to administer the scale to patients effectively. Reports on these studies, together with the complete manual for administration of the FIT, form the basis for this monograph. Eight tables, one figure, and 30 references are supplied. The FIT, consent forms, and a FIT training measure are appended. (Author summary modified)