NCJ Number
195477
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 46 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2002 Pages: 343-351
Date Published
2002
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The effect of competency restoration training of 75 criminal defendants with mental retardation was measured in this investigation.
Abstract
The effect of competency restoration training of 75 criminal defendants with mental retardation, was measured in this investigation. The defendants, having been originally found incompetent and referred for treatment, were later reevaluated for competency to stand trial. It was found that fewer defendants gained competency following training than those that did not, while higher IQ and being African American were predictive of restoration. The Competency to Stand Trial (CST) Education program sanctioned by the Missouri Department of Mental Health was implemented, consisting of 1-hour, once a week classes over a period of 7 weeks with the sites varying in how training was provided and materials presented. The site of training did not affect competency restoration significantly. Limitations to the study included there being no standard assessment tool to determine competency and no clear understanding of how the defendants ended up being diagnosed as mentally retarded in the first place. Generally, it was concluded that even though competency training might postpone legal proceedings and cause unwarranted detaining in treatment facilities for unsuccessful defendants, training is still recommended as a process to identify those who are able to be successfully restored to competency, thus achieving the goal of affording the opportunity for a fair trial to some mentally retarded defendants. Tables, references