Assistance for Juveniles’ Competence to Stand Trial

During the past 10 years, the issue of juveniles’ competence to stand trial has become an important and difficult issue for juvenile and criminal courts across the nation.   The MacArthur Foundation has funded recent research on youths’ capacities to participate in their trials, and has supported the development of methods for evaluating youths’ competence to stand trial.  Dr. Grisso (the director of NYSAP) directed those efforts, and the MacArthur Foundation has now included in NYSAP’s activities nationwide assistance to juvenile courts in addressing policy and practice in this area.

NYSAP performs a clearinghouse function regarding the development of state laws nationwide pertaining to juveniles’ competence to stand trial.   State law-makers may obtain consultation from NYSAP when reviewing their statutes for revisions that will provide for standards and practices in this area.  

NYSAP does not offer, but can assist juvenile and criminal courts in obtaining, training for judges, lawyers and mental health professionals on questions about juveniles’ competence to stand trial.   Judges and attorneys often need training in developmental issues related to youths’ capacities to participate in their trials.   Mental health professionals who perform evaluations of youths’ competence to stand trial at the request of courts need training in special methods for assessing youths’ capacities to participate in their trials.   NYSAP can assist them in locating sources of training for these purposes. 

Click here  to see a guide available for purchase that concerns clinical assessments of juveniles’ competence to stand trial.