• 2005 186pp paperback ISBN: 9781568870953
Due to recent changes in the law pertaining to youths in
juvenile and criminal court, the need to evaluate a young persons
competence to stand trial has increased dramatically. This is the first
comprehensive guide offering clinicians the special concepts,
procedures, and methods necessary to perform these evaluations using a
developmental perspective. The book's approach to evaluating youths'
competence to stand trial is consistent with nearly a decade of research
by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Research Network on
Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice.
Written in 17 brief units, this guide for forensic clinicians
begins with essential concepts that provide a sound legal and
developmental psychological foundation for these evaluations. The guide
then proceeds to describe in detail special considerations for designing
the evaluation, collecting data in ways that are sensitive to deficits
in youths abilities due to clinical disorders and potential
developmental immaturity, and interpreting the results to address the
special challenges associated with identifying juveniles capacities and
deficits as trial defendants. The guide's Appendices provides a number of original forms and
checklists for use in this evaluation process, including a structured
interview - the Juvenile Adjudicative Competence Interview (JACI) - that
assists clinicians in obtaining essential data related to youths
strengths and deficits with legal and developmental relevance for their
competence to stand trial. Book includes a link for purchasers to download reproducible materials for use with individual clients.
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Purpose of the Guide
Development of the Guide
Tour of the Guide
Using the Guide
Qualifications of the Examiner
Continuing Education
Caution Regarding Law and Policy
The Guide as a Standard
PART I - FUNDAMENTAL LEGAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONCEPTS
UNIT 1: The Legal Concept of Adjudicative Competence (Competence to Stand Trial)
Adjudicative Competence in the Criminal Justice Process / Adjudicative Competence in the Juvenile Justice Process
UNIT 2: A Developmental Perspective for Evaluations of Juveniles Adjudicative Competence
Developmental Maturity and Immaturity / Research on Youths' Capacities as Trial Defendants / Special Considerations for a Developmental Perspective in Competence Evaluations
PART II - PREPARING FOR THE EVALUATION
UNIT 3: The Referral - Determining the Purpose of the Evaluation
The Objective / The Process / Discussion of Special Issues
UNIT 4: The Defense Attorney - Making Contact
The Objective / The Process / Discussion of Special Issues
UNIT 5: The Plan - Deciding the Scope and Methods
The Objective / The Process
UNIT 6: The Caretakers - Making Contact and Invitations
The Objective / The Process / Discussion of Special Issues
UNIT 7: Obtaining Records
The Objective / The Process / Discussion of Special Issues
PART III - DATA COLLECTION
UNIT 8: Overview of the Data Collection Process
Relevance: What Data Are Needed? / Reliability: How Should Data Be Collected? / Responsiveness: Adapting to Case Demands
UNIT 9: Preparing the Youth and Caretakers
The Objective / The Process / Discussion of Special Issues
UNIT 10: Obtaining a Developmental and Clinical History
The Objective / The Process / Discussion of Special Issues
UNIT 11: Evaluating Developmental and Clinical Status
The Objective / The Process / Discussion of Special Issues
UNIT 12: Assessing Competency Abilities
The Objective / The Process / Discussion of Special Issues
UNIT 13: Exploring Caretakers Perceptions of Youths Adjudication
The Objective / The Process / Discussion of Special Issues
PART IV - INTERPRETATION
UNIT 14: Overview of Interpretive Objectives
Legal Structure for the Forensic Question / Clinical Theories, Concepts, and Knowledge / Hypothesis Testing / Communication
UNIT 15: Formulating Opinions Related to Competency
The Objective / The Process / Discussion of Special Issues
UNIT 16: Formulating Remediation
The Objective / The Process / Discussion of Special Issues
UNIT 17: Writing the Report
The Objective / The Process
References
Supplemental References
Appendices
Appendix A: Clinicians Records
Appendix B: Interview Guides
Preparing the Youth and Caretakers
Developmental and Clinical History
Developmental and Clinical Status
Caretakers Perceptions of Youths Adjudication
Appendix C: Juvenile Adjudicative Competence Interview (JACI)
Appendix D: Attorney CST Questionnaire
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About the Author
Thomas Grisso, PhD, ABPP, is Professor of Psychiatry, Director of
Psychology, and Director of the Law and Psychiatry Program at the
University of Massachusetts Medical School. His research, teaching, and
clinical practice during the past 35 years have focused on legal
competencies, forensic clinical evaluations, and developmental
psychology applied to juvenile legal issues. He has authored or
co-authored numerous books and evaluation instruments on juvenile
forensic issues, including the following titles published by
Professional Resource Press: Forensic Evaluation of Juveniles - Second Edition (2013), Clinical Evaluations for Juveniles' Competence to Stand Trial
(2005), Miranda Rights Comprehension Instruments (MRCI) (2012). The present
work is a product of the collaborative efforts of the members of the
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Research Network on Adolescent
Development and Juvenile Justice, for which Dr. Grisso directed a
research project on juveniles' adjudicative competence. Dr. Grisso is Executive Director of the American Board of Forensic
Psychology, and has authored a number of texts on forensic evaluations.
His research and writing to support the quality of mental health
professionals' evaluations for courts have been recognized by
distinguished contribution awards from the American Psychological
Association, the American Board of Professional Psychology,
and the Isaac Ray Award from the American
Psychiatric Association.