The measurement of juveniles' competence related abilities

摘要: Juveniles’ right to be competent stand trial has been increasingly recognized since In re Gault (1967) granted juveniles essential due process rights. One formulation of competence proposes two facets: assist counsel (e.g., understanding the roles legal actors, adversarial system,) and decisional (Bonnie, 1992). The first goal this project was investigate psychometric properties relevant correlates one instrument assess counsel, Competence Assessment for Standing Trial Defendants with Mental Retardation (CAST-MR; study used only scales). Results indicated acceptable internal consistency, although concerns were raised regarding appropriateness some items. Scores related age intelligence, as in prior research. No relationship found most mental health scale scores, system involvement, contact defense or learning problems. second centered on role immaturity; specifically whether is associated immature judgment (assessed using Judgment Legal Contexts instrument) if predicts decisions made about one’s own case. current few significant relationships between intelligence variables coded from JILC (including authority compliance, risk recognition, appraisal, future resistance peer influence). Additionally, perceived strength evidence not predictive individuals’ confess, fully disclose accept a plea bargain. Juveniles who had confessed scored higher those disclosed their attorney lower