ABSTRACT
Forensic experts are frequently asked to conduct competency-to-stand trial evaluations and address the substantive prongs propounded in Dusky v. United States (1960). In understanding its application to competency evaluations, alternative conceptualizations of Dusky are critically examined. With Dusky providing the conceptual framework, three interview-based competency measures are reviewed: the Georgia Court Competency Test (GCCT), the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool-Criminal Adjudication (Mac-CAT-CA), and the Evaluation of Competency to Stand Trial-Revised (ECST-R). This review has a twin focus on reliability of each measure and its correspondence to Dusky prongs. The current review is augmented by new factor analytic data on the MacCAT-CA and ECST-R. The article concludes with specific recommendations for competency evaluations.
Subject(s)
Criminal Psychology/methods , Expert Testimony , Forensic Psychiatry/methods , Interview, Psychological , Mental Competency/legislation & jurisprudence , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Humans , Reproducibility of Results , United StatesABSTRACT
Clinical applications to psychopathy encompass downward extensions to adolescent populations. In alliance with clinical practice, several prominent researchers have formulated prediction models for adolescent psychopathy that include various forms of behavioral dysregulation, including impulsivity, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and sensation seeking. As a cross-sectional study, the current investigation systematically examined behavioral dysregulation in 79 male adolescents who, as a result of adjudication, were placed them in a maximum-security facility. Impulsivity appeared to be the best predictor of both psychopathy and conduct problems. In addition, conduct-disordered symptoms were predicted mostly by impulsivity, with minor contributions from sensation seeking and ADHD symptoms.
