Estimating Annual Numbers of Competency to Stand Trial Evaluations across the United States

Abstract

In the United States, criminal proceedings must be halted or suspended if a defendant is determined to be incompetent to stand trial. Competency to stand trial (CST) is one of the most notable intersections between psychiatry and criminal law, and evaluating defendants for CST is a key role for many forensic psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. Despite the significance of CST evaluations in U.S. criminal justice, the number of CST evaluations conducted across the country each year remains largely unknown. National estimates dating back to the 1970s have ranged from approximately 19,000 to 94,000 CST evaluations each year, but these numbers vary considerably and often stem from imprecise calculations. This article examines estimates of annual numbers of CST evaluations across the United States, the need to develop more accurate statistics, and ways to implement systems for tracking the numbers of CST evaluations across the country.