The competence-related abilities of juveniles prosecuted in criminal court

• NCJ Number: 310622
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 119 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1999-IJ-CX-0003
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Thesis/Dissertation

Abstract

In recent years, as juvenile violent offending has escalated, the number of juveniles waived for prosecution in criminal court has increased dramatically. Several states have lowered the minimum age of adult jurisdiction to include all crimes committed by 16- and 17-year-olds. Juveniles prosecuted as adults are entitled to the same rights and due process as adults, including the right to be competent to stand trail. It is argued that juveniles differ from adults on competence related abilities, thus diminishing their likelihood of being assessed as competent to stand trial. The purpose of the study was to examine the competence-related abilities of juveniles prosecuted in criminal court using the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool-Criminal Adjudication (MacCAT-CA). Male juveniles ages 13 through 17 were administered the MacCAT-CA in order to evaluate the psychometric properties of the instrument in a juvenile population and to assess three legal abilities (Understanding, Reasoning, and Appreciation) relevant to assessment of competence to stand trial. The performance of three age groups of juveniles, 15-year-olds and younger, 16-year-olds, and 17-year-olds, were compared to the performance of adult pretrial defendants on the MacCAT-CA.

Current results indicated that the MacCAT-CA demonstrated good inter-rater reliability and construct validity. Further research is needed to examine the internal consistency of the three measures on the MacCAT-CA. The results indicated that older juveniles have similar competence-related abilities to that of adults. The current analyses also indicated that estimated Full Scale IQ, select IQ subtests, and a measure of current mental status are predictors of Understanding. A Verbal Scale subtest was found to be a predictor of Reasoning. Implications of the results are discussed. (Publisher abstract provided.)