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. A parallel volume, Clinical Evaluations for Juveniles' Competence to Stand Trial: A Guide for Legal Professionals , is available for members of the legal profession. These two companion volumes offer the potential for a consensual, cross-disciplinary understanding of the legal, clinical, and developmental issues involved in the process of decisions about juveniles competence as trial defendants. Table of Contents: 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 CE Program A supplemental 3-credit/hour, 30-question continuing education program is available for this book. To order the complete program (this book and CE test module or test module alone if you already have access to this book), go to: Evaluating Juveniles' Adjudicative Competence - CE Program (3 Credits/Hours) For information about our approved continuing education sponsorships and acceptance by state boards, please click here: Continuing Education 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. |