Order Code: FITR
Manual & CD-ROM
Price: $45.00
76pp. 2006
ISBN: 156887104X
ISBN13: 9781568871042
“The FIT-R formalizes an interview using the types of questions that evaluators routinely ask defendants in competency examinations. Research shows that the FIT-R can effectively anchor both relatively brief screening evaluations for competency and more comprehensive evaluations that include assessment of the source of suspected incompetence (e.g., mental illness, mental retardation) and response style (e.g., malingering). I’ve been happily using the Canadian version in my U.S. practice for several years, and this new edition should be even more accessible for fellow U.S. practitioners. Sound research shows that the FIT-R is ready for prime time, and the publisher’s package of manual and CD-ROM is extremely user-friendly.”
-Gregory DeClue, PhD, ABPP (forensic), Private Practice, Sarasota, Florida; Author of Interrogations and Disputed Confessions: A Manual for Forensic Psychological Practice
The Fitness Interview Test - Revised (FIT-R) is a structured interview for assessing a person's competence to stand trial. Originally designed for use in Canada, this version of the instrument is applicable for use in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. Although the manual has been updated to include a review of both U.S. and Canadian law and procedure, except for minor wording changes, the instrument itself has not been changed.
A CD-ROM has been added to the manual that permits the purchaser to reproduce an unlimited number of full page (8 1/2 x 11) questionnaires for use with clients. The questionnaire includes the following sections:
- Background Information
- Section I: Understand the Nature or Object of the Proceedings: Factual Knowledge of Criminal Procedure
1. Understanding the arrest process
2. Understanding of nature and severity of current charge
3. Understanding of the role of key participants
4. Understanding of the legal process
5. Understanding of the pleas
6. Understanding of court procedure - Section II: Understand the Possible Consequences of the Proceedings: Appreciation of Personal Involvement in and Importance of the Proceedings
7. Appreciation of range and nature of possible penalties
8. Appraisal of available legal defenses
9. Appraisal of likely outcome
- Section III: Communicate with counsel: Ability to Participate in Defense
10. Capacity to communicate facts to lawyer
11. Capacity to relate to lawyer
12. Capacity to plan legal strategy
13. Capacity to engage in own defense
14. Capacity to challenge prosecution witnesses
15. Capacity to testify relevantly
16. Capacity to manage courtroom behavior - Coding Sheets
Also included on the CD-ROM are 9 U.S. and Canadian case law citations and 10 complete research citations.
Funding for the research and development of the FIT and FIT-R was provided by two grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to the first author, a fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada, a studentship from the British Columbia Health Research Foundation, a grant from the American Psychology-Law Society, and a grant from the Academy of Forensic Psychology to the second author.
* This product is available for sale only to qualified professionals who have received at least a BA in psychology, psychiatry, counseling, social work, or a closely related field and relevant training in the use of assessment instruments or verification of appropriate licensure, certification, association membership, listing in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, ABPP recognition from the American Board of Professional Psychology, or other evidence of appropriate qualifications and training. If you have not already established your qualifications with Professional Resource Press, please print out, complete and fax or mail Qualification Form.
MANUAL
CD-ROM Information
About the Authors
Preface
Fitness/Competence to Stand Trial: Background United States / Canada; Assessment Procedures; Research on Fitness/Competence
Assessment of Mental Disorder: Definition of Mental Disorder in Case Law Canada / United States; Suggestions for Assessing Mental Disorder
About the Fitness Interview Test - Revised: Purpose; User Qualifications; Development; The FIT-R as a Screening Instrument; Research with the FIT-R; Use of the FIT-R with Juveniles; Format; The Rating Scale; The Final Judgment of Fitness/Competence
The Fitness Interview Test - Revised Rating Form: Background Information; Section I; Section II; Section III
Overall Assessment of Fitness
References
Additional Suggested Sources
THE CD-ROM
CD-ROM Information / FIT-R / U.S. and Canadian Case Law / Forensic Research Citations
Ronald Roesch, PhD, is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Mental Health, Law, and Policy Institute at Simon Fraser University. He received his doctorate in clinical and community psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1977. His current research focuses on competency assessment of adults and youth, jail/prison mental health programs, and youth violence. Dr. Roesch has served as president of the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS) and as editor of Law and Human Behavior. He is currently the editor of the International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, and the AP-LS book series published by Oxford University Press. He has received awards from both the American Psychological Association and the American Bar Association for his research on competency to stand trial. In addition to the FIT-R, Dr. Roesch has recently published the Jail Screening Assessment Tool (JSAT), Guidelines for Mental Health Screening in Jails, and Psychology and Law: The State of the Discipline. He is a fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association.
Patricia A. Zapf, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is the Deputy Director and Director of Clinical Training for The City University of New York’s Doctoral Program in Forensic Psychology. She received her doctorate in clinical forensic psychology in 1999 from Simon Fraser University. She is currently an Associate Editor of Law and Human Behavior. Her research and publications in forensic psychology involve the assessment and conceptualization of various types of competencies and the utility of various methods in competency assessment as well as various aspects of forensic assessment (risk assessment, malingering, insanity), and the development and validation of forensic assessment instruments. Dr. Zapf is a fellow of the American Psychological Association.
Derek Eaves, MD, qualified in medicine at the University of Liverpool, and has worked as a psychiatrist in England and Canada. He was the Executive Director of the Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission of British Columbia for many years. He currently serves as Visiting Scholar at the Mental Health, Law, and Policy Institute, Simon Fraser University. His academic interests include risk assessment and fitness to stand trial, and he frequently gives expert evidence in court. His is a coauthor of the HCR-20, one of the most widely used risk assessment instruments available.